SustainSolar: Switch On for the First EASE Mini-grid (Malawi)

This case study describes the installation of a 12kW solar mini-grid in Mthembanji, Dedza District, Malawi, developed by SustainSolar in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, United Purpose, BNG Electrical, and Steamaco. The project provides 220 V power to 60 domestic and commercial customers, utilizing a containerised system with lithium-ion batteries and remote monitoring to address energy access gaps in a region where less than 12% of the population is connected to the national grid.

• The mini-grid in Mthembanji, Dedza District, Malawi, consists of a 12kW solar generation unit that provides 220 V power to 60 customers for domestic and commercial purposes, including TVs, fridges, and phone charging.
• The project targets energy access challenges in Malawi, where the national grid reaches less than 12% of the population. This specific installation is described as cheaper, faster to implement, and potentially more financially sustainable than larger capacity mini-grids used in the country, while providing more electricity than solar home systems.
• The technical setup features a 20 ft insulated shipping container containing lithium-ion batteries and inverters from German companies Tesvolt and SMA. The SMA online portal enables remote monitoring of generation output and system performance for troubleshooting.
• The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has granted approval for the sale of electricity following a visit to the site, although a full technical assessment is still required for a registration certificate.
• Funding from EASE has been secured for a second mini-grid in Dedza, with plans to use monitoring and evaluation from these pilots to inform a national scaling-up business model.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (2020). SustainSolar: Switch On for the First EASE Mini-grid (Malawi). https://renewelec.org/case-study/sustainsolar-switch-first-ease-mini-grid-malawi/

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. SustainSolar: Switch On for the First EASE Mini-grid (Malawi). 2020. https://renewelec.org/case-study/sustainsolar-switch-first-ease-mini-grid-malawi/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=SustainSolar: Switch On for the First EASE Mini-grid (Malawi) |date=28 August 2020 |url=https://renewelec.org/case-study/sustainsolar-switch-first-ease-mini-grid-malawi/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrification2020sustainsolar, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{SustainSolar: Switch On for the First EASE Mini-grid (Malawi)}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {https://renewelec.org/case-study/sustainsolar-switch-first-ease-mini-grid-malawi/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }