REGULATIONS FOR MINI-GRIDS TEMPLATE

The 'Regulations for Mini-Grids Template' is a guide provided by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification to help countries standardize mini-grid licensing, technical standards, and tariff regulations to reduce transaction costs and attract private investment in rural electrification.

• The template establishes three distinct types of mini-grid licenses based on the system's connection status and power capacity: a Simplified Licence for isolated systems up to 100 kW, a Full Licence for isolated systems between 100 kW and 5 MW, and an Interconnected Mini-Grid Licence for systems up to 5 MW connected to a main-grid operator's area.
• The document outlines a structured license application process requiring applicants to submit legal documentation, a company profile, tax clearance, O&M plans, tariff calculations, and technical feasibility studies, including geo-referenced depictions of the network and environmental impact certificates.
• Tariff calculation is designed to balance financial viability with consumer affordability. The average tariff is determined by dividing the total revenue requirement (operational expenditure minus subsidies, plus depreciation and weighted average cost of capital) by the total kWh sold, with lower rates targeted for households and competitive rates for productive users.
• The template provides a mechanism for site reservation where a community can grant a developer exclusivity for up to 12 months. This agreement is only valid if the Authority confirms the site is not part of the main-grid operator's 5-year network extension plan.
• For isolated mini-grids under a Full Licence, the template defines compensation options if the national main-grid extends into the area. The licensee can either convert to an Interconnected Mini-Grid Licence or transfer assets for compensation based on the remaining depreciated value and revenue generated 12 months prior to connection.
• The guide includes specific minimum technical standards for Simplified Licences, covering cable dimensioning to prevent melting and fire, voltage drop limits (recommended not to exceed 10%), and grounding requirements where ground resistance should preferably be smaller than 2 Ohm and never greater than 10 Ohm.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (n.d.). REGULATIONS FOR MINI-GRIDS TEMPLATE. https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mini-Grid-Regulation-Template.pdf

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. REGULATIONS FOR MINI-GRIDS TEMPLATE. n.d. https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mini-Grid-Regulation-Template.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=REGULATIONS FOR MINI-GRIDS TEMPLATE |url=https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mini-Grid-Regulation-Template.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrificationndregulations, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{REGULATIONS FOR MINI-GRIDS TEMPLATE}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, url = {https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mini-Grid-Regulation-Template.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }