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This white paper by the ARE Financier Circle examines how Results-Based Financing (RBF) for mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa can be optimized to better mobilize private commercial capital. It argues that current RBF designs often prioritize short-term connection numbers over long-term business viability, creating 'cliff-edge risks' and administrative barriers that deter investors. The paper proposes a four-pillar approach focusing on aligning impact metrics with commercial sustainability, adjusting disbursement schedules to support capital raises, introducing lifecycle risk mitigation instruments, and fostering ecosystem-wide collaboration.

The ARE Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) 2026, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21 to 24 April 2026, served as a platform for advancing renewable electrification. The event brought together 1,400 participants, including 215 investors, to discuss funding landscapes, green mini-grids, grid modernisation, and productive uses of energy. Key outcomes included the launch of a USD 25 million project preparation facility by COMESA and the rebranding of ARE to the Alliance for Renewable Electrification.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the role of community-based renewable energy (RE) mini-grids in providing electricity to remote areas of Eastern Indonesia. Through four case studies in East Nusa Tenggara and East Kalimantan, the report identifies community ownership and consensus as critical factors for the success and sustainability of decentralized RE projects, contrasting these with the significant lack of private sector interest due to high costs and perceived risks.

This executive summary outlines the 'Accelerating Private Sector Investments in Green Mini-Grids' report, which examines the Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) mini-grids sector in Africa and the collaborative efforts required to overcome barriers to deployment.

This case study describes the efforts of Hamara Grid Private Limited to implement solar mini-grids in the Mon district of Nagaland, India. The project employs a Public-Private-People’s-Partnership (PPPP) model to address the poor reliability and quality of the national grid in remote areas, aiming to integrate clean energy with rural economic development, health, and education.

A case study on the installation of two 13.5 kWp solar mini-grids in Kyamugarura and Kanyegaramire, Uganda, by the University of Southampton's Energy for Development (e4D) Programme. The project provided electricity to over 144 businesses, two health centres, and two schools starting in 2015, though rapid demand growth eventually exceeded design capacity, leading to planned upgrades.

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.

The 100 Days Report details the activities of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) from February 5 to May 15, 2021. The organization focused on advocacy for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), supporting the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and the COP26 Energy Transition Council, and providing technical assistance for energy access in several developing nations.

This research paper examines the integration of user experiences into the design of mini-grid business models, focusing on a 6 kW solar PV mini-grid in northwestern Tanzania to improve service responsiveness and user satisfaction.

This case study describes a hybrid solar-wind mini-grid project implemented by Ryse Energy in Ada Foah, Ghana. Originally intended only for agricultural output, the project scope expanded to provide basic electricity to a village of approximately 500 people experiencing extreme energy poverty. Funded by a United Nations grant, the system integrates wind turbines, solar arrays, and battery storage to provide reliable energy for irrigation and community needs, avoiding 85 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

The Clean Energy Mini-Grid Policy Development Guide outlines models for public-private cooperation to scale mini-grid deployment for universal electricity access, highlighting critical trade-offs between government control, subsidies, and tariffs, while emphasizing the need for demand risk mitigation and termination risk considerations.

This executive summary, commissioned by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), provides guidance to the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) for the sustainable development of its mini-grid sector. It compares the regulatory frameworks, tariff structures, and subsidy schemes of Sierra Leone and Nigeria, while emphasizing the role of Productive Use of Electricity (PUE) in enhancing rural economic development and mini-grid viability.

This case study describes the establishment and operational success of the Totota Electric Cooperative (TEC) in rural Liberia, a solar hybrid mini-grid utility developed through a partnership between NRECA International and USAID/Liberia.

A case study on a decentralized renewable energy project by Ryse Energy in the Los Lagos region of Chile, which installed hybrid wind and solar mini-grids across 16 remote islands to power critical infrastructure.

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.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines the potential of renewable energy mini-grids to help Kenya achieve universal electrification by 2022. It argues that mini-grids are often more cost-effective than national grid extension for rural and remote areas and can provide significant socio-economic and climate benefits, though they remain under-represented in national planning documents like the 2018 Kenya National Electrification Strategy (KNES) and the 2017-2037 Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP).

The 'Consumer Protection Principles for Clean Energy Mini-Grids', launched in October 2019 by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and partners, establishes a global framework of minimum standards to safeguard consumer rights in the mini-grid sector, particularly in poor and remote villages.

This case study profiles Kivu Green Energy (KGE), a recipient of the "Energy Access Booster" award, and its efforts to address severe energy deficits in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through the deployment of solar-based mini-grids.

This guide examines how retail tariff policies and subsidy designs can be used to increase revenues for private mini-grid operators, aiming to make energy access more sustainable and profitable in un-electrified communities.

This report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) analyzes the financing needs for electricity and clean cooking access in Madagascar to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030. It evaluates current access levels, identifies financial gaps for off-grid solar, mini-grids, and improved cookstoves, and provides policy recommendations to overcome barriers such as low household purchasing power and lack of quality standards.