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A case study on an off-grid hybrid solar power plant at the Rangers Headquarters on Fraser Island, Australia, featuring 81.34 kWp PV and 464 kWh of Cegasa lithium LFP battery storage, aiming for an 80% reduction in diesel use.

The LAC region has a high overall electrification rate of 97%, yet 18.1 million people remain without electricity and 65 million are underserved. The report argues that off-grid renewable energy solutions are the best fit for at least 40% of this access gap, particularly in rural 'last-mile' communities. While the region possesses vast renewable resources, market growth is hindered by socioeconomic constraints, limited regulatory frameworks for private off-grid actors, and a lack of coordinated data. The document provides detailed country profiles for Haiti, Honduras, and Suriname, highlighting their specific challenges and the potential for productive use of renewable energy (PURE) to drive local economic development.

The Matongo Birthing Clinic in Kenya installed an 8.7 kW solar and storage microgrid to combat frequent power outages that previously deterred patients. Since August 2020, the facility has seen facility-based deliveries increase to 95%, reduced energy costs, and improved 24-hour operational reliability.

The Okra – Steung Chrov Project deployed a 50 kWp / 300 kWh mesh-grid system to electrify 140 households across three remote Cambodian villages. The project, supported by the UNDP and the Cambodian government, utilized a plug-and-play hardware and software solution to overcome the impracticality of national grid extension and the commercial failure of conventional mini-grids. While the levelised cost of energy is USD 0.45/kWh, the system is sustainable on ongoing operations and maintenance costs under full utilization, with users paying a subsidized tariff of approximately $0.16/kWh.

The document identifies decentralised renewable energy (DRE) as the most cost-effective option for over half of the electricity connections needed by 2030 in emerging markets. To scale this, it proposes three 'building blocks': increasing public investment to leverage private capital, establishing stable political and regulatory frameworks to mitigate investment risks, and creating an enabling environment through capacity building and innovation. The author highlights a partnership with AISER Benin as an example of concrete market development activity.

The project in Malenville, Benin, involves a 450 kWp roof-mounted photovoltaic solar power plant integrated with a Cegasa High Energy Storage solution. The system utilizes lithium LFP batteries with a storage capacity of 484 kWh (672 Vdc) to ensure a reliable power supply for the Juxtaposed Control Stations at the Benin-Niger border post, addressing the challenges of an underdeveloped local grid.

The document details a project by Phaesun, University Hohenheim, and Solar Cooling Engineering to deploy solar cooling systems for smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya. By introducing the 'Milky Way' and 'SelfChill' technologies, the project aimed to address high microbial contamination and milk losses, which are estimated at 20-30% due to a lack of cooling. The implementation of these systems across approximately 10 farms and cooperatives reduced milk losses by about 25% and increased income for at least 50 people. The project, funded by GIZ and BMZ, also validated a monthly payment model for the service and transitioned to a modular, pay-as-you-go compatible 'SelfChill' concept to meet demand for medium-scale cooling.

Ryse Energy deployed a hybrid renewable mini-grid in Ada Foah, Ghana, consisting of wind turbines, solar arrays, and battery storage. Originally intended only for agricultural output, the project scope expanded to provide electricity for a community of approximately 500 people. Funded by a EUR 180,000 United Nations grant, the system generates over 316 kWh/day, avoids 85 metric tonnes of CO2 annually, and supports water pumping and irrigation.

The Clean Energy Mini-Grid Policy Development Guide outlines models for public-private cooperation and the key policy decisions required to scale mini-grid deployment for universal electricity access. It emphasizes that government decisions directly influence the level of private sector involvement and highlights the inherent trade-offs between government control, subsidies, and consumer tariffs. The guide also stresses the need for demand risk mitigation instruments and the consideration of termination risks in rural electrification frameworks.

The OffgridSun project installed nine solar pumping systems in Zimbabwe's Lupane and Makoni districts to improve water access and food security. Funded primarily by a grant from AICS, the initiative provided solar-powered wells that increased agricultural productivity by 15% and created income opportunities for 135 people.

The Totota Electric Cooperative (TEC) in rural Liberia, established in 2018 through a partnership between NRECA International and USAID/Liberia, has achieved financial self-sufficiency within two years. The utility utilizes a solar hybrid mini-grid to provide electricity to over 1,500 people across 341 households and businesses, supporting local economic growth through services like cold storage. To improve operational efficiency and monitoring, NRECA International developed the 'TEC Dashboard,' an automated web-based platform that tracks key performance indicators such as energy use, power outages, and bill payments in real time, replacing cumbersome manual data collection.

The document provides a comprehensive directory of stakeholders involved in Togo's renewable energy landscape. It lists government bodies responsible for policy and regulation, private companies providing technical support and EPC services, NGOs promoting sustainable energy, academic institutions offering training, and international partners and financial institutions providing funding and technical assistance.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE), supported by GET.invest, examines the intersection of gender equality (SDG-5) and affordable, sustainable energy (SDG-7) within the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector. It utilizes 17 case studies from ARE members to provide recommendations for DRE companies, civil society organisations, private investors, and international funding partners to implement gender-sensitive approaches across the DRE supply chain.

OffgridSun, an Italian company, provides 'Energy Station' plug-and-play solar home systems to rural farmers in Eastern Rwanda. This initiative supports Rwanda's goal to increase off-grid electricity access from 14% to 48% by 2024 through private sector partnerships and localized products.

Ryse Energy deployed hybrid mini-grids consisting of 5 kWp wind turbines and 3 kWp solar arrays across 16 islands in Chile's Los Lagos region to power schools and health care facilities. Funded by the Government of Chile for EUR 400,000, the project provides electricity access to a population of approximately 2,000 people, reduces annual CO2 emissions by an estimated 18 tonnes, and created 35 jobs. To ensure sustainability in these remote locations, Ryse Energy provided a one-week intensive operation and maintenance (O&M) training course to community members.

Phaesun GmbH installed a 14.4 kWp solar PV system with battery storage at Orotta Hospital in Eritrea, funded by the NGO Archemed for EUR 75,000. The system provides a reliable power supply for pediatric cardiac surgery and neonatology wards, mitigating frequent grid blackouts and unreliable diesel generators. Since December 2014, the system has enabled round-the-clock operations for critical loads, managed and maintained by the Eritrean Ministry of Health.

Vaya Energy and Schneider Electric installed a solar-powered microgrid at the Dakwa Primary Health Centre in Nigeria to provide 24/7 electricity to a facility that had lacked grid power since 2014. The project, funded via corporate social responsibility, enabled the use of vaccine refrigerators and night-time lighting, contributing to a 50-60% reduction in maternal and child mortality and an 80% increase in night-time deliveries. While successful as a pilot, the document notes that non-profit health centres in marginalised communities cannot afford the upfront costs of solar installation without coordinated support from governments and private entities.

HT Energy (S) Sdn Bhd (HTES) is implementing a pilot 2.88 kWp solar-powered hydrogen system at the Long Loyang Clinic in Sarawak, Malaysia, to replace irregular and costly diesel power. The system uses solar PV and an electrolyser to store energy as hydrogen gas (30 Nm3 capacity), providing 25-30 kW of electricity daily for essential medical services. The project aims to avoid 13 to 33 tonnes of CO2 annually and serves as a model for 57 other rural clinics in the region.

The project deployed a containerised 12kW solar generation unit in Mthembanji, Dedza District, Malawi, providing 220 V power to 60 domestic and commercial customers. Developed through a collaboration involving the University of Strathclyde, United Purpose, and SustainSolar, the system uses lithium-ion batteries and smart meters to offer a more sustainable and higher-impact alternative to solar home systems. The project has received approval from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) for electricity sales and serves as a pilot to inform the national scaling of mini-grid operations.

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.