Minigrids Are the Cheapest Way to Bring Electricity to 100 Million Africans Today

A cross-boundary analysis shows why mini-grids are vital to achieving affordable, sustainable, modern energy for all.

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/minigrids-are-the-cheapest-way-to-electrify-100-million-africans-today#gs.Y4jRH4A

Minigrids are self-sufficient electricity grids with their own power generation, storage and transmission capacities. They can serve households and businesses isolated from or integrated with the main grid.

The potential for mini-grids to play a role in universal electrification in Africa has been well recognized. Beyond their ability to integrate with the main grid, they are also the least-cost option for many people in rural Africa. The International Energy Agency in 2014 estimated that mini-grids could serve 140 million people by 2030. In an updated projection last year, it put that number at 290 million, or more than double the original estimate.

Range of Connections Benchmarked Across Africa for Main Grid Extensions, Minigrids and Standalone Systems