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The Nepal Energy Foundation piloted a distribution grid automation project in the Tallo Nallu load centre of Lalitpur District to address reliability issues caused by radial feeder configurations and manual fault detection. The project integrated smart energy meters with a GIS-based monitoring platform using OpenDSS and Python, achieving a visualisation error of 2.47%. Key technical achievements include a fault localisation algorithm based on voltage sag measurements and the installation of an automatic voltage regulator (AVR), which reduced voltage regulation fluctuations from over 15% to below 2% and increased minimum consumer endpoint voltage from 0.65 pu to above 0.94 pu.

This case study describes how Lumos, a solar energy provider in West Africa, partnered with Upya Technologies starting in 2023 to digitise field operations and automate workflows using a no-code platform to overcome the rigidity and cost of previous IT systems.

Burhani Solar installed four off-grid solar PV systems (three 7 kW and one 16 kW) with lithium battery storage for Beach Management Units in Kenya. Funded by the European Union as part of the Go Blue Programme, the project provides reliable power for cold chain infrastructure, water purification, and solar lanterns for women fish traders, transitioning operations from diesel to 100% renewable energy.

GadgetroniX installed a 6.48 kWp off-grid solar system with battery storage and hybrid inverter technology at Lekule Secondary School in Arusha, Tanzania. The system, which includes JA Solar panels and a 20 kWh Freedom Won battery, replaced a reliance on inconsistent grid electricity and fossil fuel generators. This transition has enabled students to study after dark, reduced the school's carbon emissions, and lowered operational expenses.

GadgetroniX installed a 9.72 kWp off-grid solar system with battery storage and remote monitoring at Matale Secondary School in Tarime, Tanzania. The project addressed frequent power outages and dependence on expensive energy alternatives, resulting in a 40% reduction in energy costs and the provision of uninterrupted power for students and administrative operations.

ENGIE Energy Access has published a white paper titled "Maximising Impact: Transforming Grant Funding for Energy Access," which advocates for a fundamental shift in the structure and delivery of grant funding to address the energy access gap in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Phaesun GmbH, in collaboration with Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH and Efficiency for Access, installed a solar-powered cold room in Homabay, Kenya, between April and September 2024. The facility, operated by WeHub Victoria Limited, uses SelfChill technology and thermal energy storage to chill up to 500 kg of agricultural products daily to 10°C. Built with wood and straw to minimize costs and carbon footprint, the project was funded by the Siemens initiative Cents4Sense, Siemens Stiftung, and the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund, keeping total investment costs under 30,000 EUR.

The project aims to support rural entrepreneurs in Benin through two main pillars: electricity access via mini-grids, electrified activity zones (ZAE), or solar kits, and the provision of efficient cooking stoves for agri-food processors. Targeting 20 small businesses and 108 women's groups, the initiative seeks to consolidate 100 jobs, increase incomes, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 17,000 tCO2eq.

The document describes the 'Zones d’Activités Électrifiées' (ZAE) initiative in Mali, which replaces polluting gasoline generators with reliable electricity to support local entrepreneurs. It highlights the installation of 8 ZAEs in rural areas, with 5 more in development, and provides specific economic data from the Moro Moro zone, including the creation of 34 jobs and access to services for approximately 7,300 people. The text also details a success story of a bakery in Koury and mentions the expansion of similar low-carbon development programs to Benin.

JLA Hydro, with Belgian funding, restored a 1960s-era 60 kW hydropower plant in Murhesa, DRC, which had been inactive for 15 years. The project involved civil works, the installation of a custom crossflow turbine, and the creation of a regulated minigrid. The restored power now supports a health centre, schools, and several food production and processing facilities, demonstrating the efficiency of hydropower rehabilitation for rural electrification.

The document introduces a technical guide developed by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and ADEME to support the electrification of rural healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa using solar photovoltaic (PV) energy. It is designed as a decision-making tool for technicians, service providers, and policymakers regarding the implementation and sizing of solar systems.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification's 'Renewables for Impact' campaign showcases the role of distributed renewable energy (DRE) in Sub-Saharan Africa through a photo contest and impact stories. The campaign highlights projects supported by Team Europe that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 7, 8, and 12, focusing on productive use, women's empowerment, industrial power, manufacturing, and green job creation. Specific examples include hydro-powered irrigation in Malawi, solar cooling for herbal farms in Kenya, solar-powered water infrastructure in Mali, mini-grids in Senegal, and mini-grid construction in Benin.

The document asserts that gender equality is essential for achieving universal energy access by 2030, noting that women reinvest up to 90% of their income into community livelihoods. It provides a framework of recommendations for renewable energy (RE) companies to use gender-disaggregated data and promote female leadership, and for investors to fund capacity building and digital tools for women. The paper illustrates these points through three case studies: a solar irrigation project in Jharkhand, India; the DESFERS vocational training programme in the Sahel region; and a female-led solar enterprise in Maharashtra, India.

The Kizimbani Pemba solar project replaced an unstable grid and fuel-dependent water system with a 36.8 kWp off-grid solar array. This installation provides the community with 30,000 litres of water per hour, reducing operational costs and carbon emissions while supporting local agriculture and businesses.

The Weni Pemba borehole solarisation project replaced an unstable grid and fuel-powered pumping system with a 41.4 kWp solar array. The system provides 45,000 litres of water per hour to homes, farmers, and businesses, eliminating fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions.

GadgetroniX installed a solar-powered reverse osmosis (RO) system at Lake Ndutu Tented Lodge in Tanzania to provide a reliable supply of 1,000 liters of potable water per hour. The system integrates an 8.64 kWp solar array, lithium battery storage, and remote monitoring to reduce grid reliance, lower operational costs, and decrease the lodge's carbon footprint.

GadgetroniX installed a 59.4 kWp off-grid solar system with 100 kWh of lithium battery storage at the Saadani Kasa Bay Lodge in Tanzania. The project was designed to replace unreliable and costly grid electricity that disrupted essential operations such as water pumping and laundry. The installation includes a 100 kW hybrid inverter, a remote monitoring system, and a backup generator, resulting in lower operational costs, reduced carbon emissions, and energy independence for the lodge.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to electrifying rural health centers in sub-Saharan Africa using solar PV. It emphasizes the necessity of professional technical consultancy to avoid project failure, provides detailed mathematical formulas for dimensioning components (panels, inverters, and batteries), and compares different system architectures (Off-Grid, On-Grid Backup, and On-Grid). The guide also details various financing models, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and stresses the importance of a two-level maintenance strategy and the appointment of an energy manager ('Monsieur/Madame Energie') to ensure long-term system viability.

A partnership between Phaesun GmbH and WeHub Victoria Limited (WeTu) deployed two solar-powered 'SelfChill' cold rooms in Kenya to reduce post-harvest losses for small farmers. The first unit in Mbita, operational since January 2024, saw monthly occupancy growth of 7% to 14%, eventually reaching 85% occupancy on several days by the ninth month. The project observed a shift in user behavior from storing small quantities of unsold produce to traders buying larger volumes (6 to 12 crates) for daily sale, leading the team to target wholesalers for the second unit in Homabay.

Project ASTHA, a partnership between PRADAN and Schneider Electric in Sehal Bara Soli, Jharkhand, India, replaced unsustainable diesel pumps with solar-powered pumps and installed solar microgrids. This transition enabled farmers to grow multiple crop cycles annually, increasing family incomes by USD 710 to USD 830 and reducing rural-urban migration rates from 54% to 17%. The initiative also empowered women through the Ghagara Women Farmer Producer Company and improved educational opportunities via reliable electricity.