GDS International – Innovative Rural Electrification Microgrid (Benin)

A case study on GDS International's decentralized renewable energy mini-grid project in rural Benin, designed to provide electricity to thousands of households and productive users through a result-based grant-funded model.

• GDS International is implementing a decentralized renewable energy (DRE) mini-grid project in Benin with an initial capacity of 1.7 to 3 MW to serve domestic, public, commercial, and productive users. The project aims to address a significant energy gap in rural Benin, where World Bank data indicates only 17% of the population has electricity access.
• The project's total estimated cost is under 10 million EUR, with approximately 50% of the initial investment provided via result-based grant funding through the Off-Grid Clean Energy Facility (OCEF) program.
• The system is designed to scale over 20 years. Initially, it will meet the 10-year energy needs of nearly 3,800 households, 1,600 productive activities, and 70 community infrastructures, eventually expanding to serve over 6,000 households, 2,400 productive activities, and 100 community infrastructures. The project expects to employ over 100 people during both construction and operation phases, with women making up more than half of the workforce.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (2022). GDS International – Innovative Rural Electrification Microgrid (Benin). https://renewelec.org/case-study/gds-international-innovative-rural-electrification-microgrid-benin/

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. GDS International – Innovative Rural Electrification Microgrid (Benin). 2022. https://renewelec.org/case-study/gds-international-innovative-rural-electrification-microgrid-benin/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=GDS International – Innovative Rural Electrification Microgrid (Benin) |date=9 August 2022 |url=https://renewelec.org/case-study/gds-international-innovative-rural-electrification-microgrid-benin/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrification2022gds, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{GDS International – Innovative Rural Electrification Microgrid (Benin)}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://renewelec.org/case-study/gds-international-innovative-rural-electrification-microgrid-benin/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }