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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.

This document is a directory of actors in the renewable energy sector in Togo, published in January 2021 by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE). It provides a comprehensive list of government bodies, private companies, NGOs, academic institutions, international partners, and financial entities operating within the country's energy transition landscape.

This case study describes the development of rural electricity networks in Tanzania by Rift Valley Energy, starting with a 4-megawatt hydro-power station in the Mufindi district. The company utilizes an 'ABC model' to serve anchor customers, businesses, and communities, expanding its infrastructure to include a 2.4-megawatt wind farm to ensure reliability during dry seasons.

This case study describes a pilot project by HT Energy (S) Sdn Bhd (HTES) to install a 2.88 kWp solar-powered hydrogen generation system at the Long Loyang Clinic in Sarawak, Malaysia. The system is designed to replace irregular and costly diesel power, providing 24/7 electricity for essential medical services, including refrigeration for vaccines and medicines.

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 policy brief by RMI examines the 'undergrid minigrid' model piloted in Mokoloki, Nigeria, and discusses its potential application to improve electricity reliability for underserved rural communities in India. The model involves a privately owned solar minigrid sharing existing distribution infrastructure with a utility company to provide reliable last-mile service.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE), supported by GET.invest, advocates for the use of Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) to electrify rural health care facilities, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This case study describes the Mokoloki project in Ogun State, Nigeria, which launched in February 2020 as the country's first rural commercial undergrid minigrid. Developed through a partnership between Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Nayo Tropical Technology (Nayo Tech), and the Mokoloki community with advisory from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the project replaces a weak grid connection with a solar hybrid system to improve reliability and reduce utility losses.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes a participatory backcasting exercise conducted with a rural off-grid community in Machakos County, Kenya. The study aimed to co-develop a transition pathway to achieve 100% electric cooking by 2030, exploring the behavioral, cultural, and infrastructural changes required from the perspective of rural households.

This report, published by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) in April 2020, outlines a roadmap to ensure the survival and growth of the decentralized renewable energy (DRE) sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the crisis threatens the viability of DRE companies and the delivery of electricity to rural communities, potentially hindering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) by 2030. The document provides specific financial, political, and technical recommendations for governments, donors, and charities to protect the sector and leverage the crisis to accelerate universal electrification.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) issued a call to action in April 2020 to protect the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report argues that the sector is critical for achieving universal electricity by 2030 and proposes a series of financial, policy, and technical interventions to prevent sector collapse and accelerate sustainable electrification.

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).

This report outlines the potential for 'undergrid' minigrids in Nigeria, detailing the economic benefits for distribution companies, operators, and communities, and proposing four collaborative business models to implement these projects.

This research paper examines the intersection of gender, culture, and energy transitions in rural Africa, specifically analyzing the Mpanta solar mini-grid in northern Zambia through the Energy Cultures Framework to demonstrate how socio-cultural norms affect the distribution of benefits from modern energy services.

This report introduces the concept of "undergrid minigrids" to improve electricity service for communities in sub-Saharan Africa that are within distribution company territories but remain underserved by unreliable or non-existent power.

This case study describes a partnership between Anzana Electric Group (formerly Virunga Power) and Songa Energy to develop small hydro projects in Burundi, aiming to establish a rural utility through a private concession.

This case study describes the 'Luz en Casa Amazonia' initiative by the ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation, which implements a third-generation solar home system (3GSHS) model to provide electricity to remote, low-income communities in the Peruvian Napo basin.

The 2018 report by RMI and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) analyzes the commercial minigrid market in Nigeria, identifying it as a high-potential investment opportunity to address the fact that 55% of the population lacks electricity. Through audits of ten commercial projects, the report establishes best practices in site selection, community engagement, and owner-operator business models. It outlines a regulatory environment that is generally supportive but hindered by overlapping mandates and import barriers, and proposes specific interventions across the project development, construction, and operation phases to scale the market toward a potential annual revenue of ₦2.8 trillion (US$8 billion).

This policy brief examines the role of off-grid solar energy in Ethiopia's rural electrification efforts under the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II). While solar adoption has grown, the document identifies significant policy, financial, and administrative barriers that hinder private sector investment and the availability of high-quality equipment.