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The Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) and its partners argue that the COVID-19 pandemic has endangered decentralised renewable energy (DRE) projects and the broader sector's future, threatening the achievement of SDG7 and other 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. To prevent the sector's failure, the document proposes five specific interventions: the creation of a 'Global DRE Relief Fund', the fast-tracking of procurement and funding procedures, the establishment of a 'Rural Electrification Stimulus Plan', the formal recognition of the DRE sector as an 'essential service', and increased technical assistance for DRE companies.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) warns that the COVID-19 pandemic threatens the survival of the decentralized renewable energy (DRE) sector, which serves over 420 million people globally. To prevent the collapse of rural electricity supply and the failure of Sustainable Development Goal 7, the ARE proposes the creation of a 'Global DRE Support Fund' providing low-interest loans and grants, a 'Rural Electrification Stimulus Plan' to mobilize long-term investment, and the official recognition of DRE as an 'essential service' to allow personnel movement during lockdowns. The report also calls for urgent technical assistance in risk mitigation and health training for field staff.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) warns that the COVID-19 pandemic threatens the survival of the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector, with many companies facing liquidity crises and only 3-6 months of survival capacity. To mitigate this, the report proposes the creation of a 'Global DRE Relief Fund' providing grants and low-interest loans (up to 3%), the implementation of a 'Rural Electrification Stimulus Plan' to close the investment gap for SDG7, and the official recognition of DRE as an 'essential service' to allow staff movement during lockdowns. It also calls for the reform of fossil fuel subsidies to fund these transitions and the provision of technical assistance for crisis management and risk analysis.

The document asserts that off-grid renewable energy, such as solar home systems and mini-grids, outperforms grid extension in cost, emissions, and deployment speed. It provides quantitative evidence showing that off-grid solutions can reduce investment costs by up to 30% and save 500 to 800 Mt of CO2 by 2030. The paper recommends integrating off-grid renewables into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), implementing financial de-risking mechanisms, fostering digital and storage innovations, and enforcing technology and consumer protection standards.

The guide argues that sustainable mini-grid deployment requires a balance between government control, public funding, and retail tariffs. It introduces 'fourth generation mini-grids' as a tool for rural industrialization and provides a decision tree to help governments select appropriate delivery models, such as ESCO or split-asset models. Key recommendations include mitigating demand and termination risks through flexible contracts and phased implementation, and utilizing the 'Cost of Service' model to ensure financial viability. The document emphasizes that scaling requires efficient, digitalized administrative processes and portfolio-based licensing to reduce bureaucratic burdens.

The document argues that sustainable rural electrification requires a stable regulatory framework that balances government control, public funding, and consumer tariffs. It introduces 'fourth-generation' mini-grids that integrate productive use of energy to drive rural industrialization. The guide provides a decision tree to help governments select implementation models—ranging from public utility-led to private-sector driven—and details mechanisms for risk mitigation regarding demand volatility and project termination.

The document outlines strategies for implementing clean energy mini-grids, emphasizing the need for a balance between government control, financial subsidies, and consumer tariffs. It introduces 'fourth-generation mini-grids' as tools for rural industrialization and provides a decision-making matrix to help governments select the most appropriate delivery model based on their financial and operational capacities.

The project utilizes 'Down Draft Gasification' technology to convert bamboo into electricity for 1,250 households in Mentawai, Indonesia. Funded primarily by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the project employs a business model involving a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the state-owned utility PLN and a 20-year Feedstock Supply Agreement with local villages. The initiative has created approximately 450 jobs and aims to expand to 50 MW of capacity across Mentawai, eastern Indonesia, and Nias within five years.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), in collaboration with AMDA, Smart Power India, and Swedfund, launched the Consumer Protection Principles for Clean Energy Mini-Grids in October 2019. These principles establish minimum standards of practice across six key areas: quality consumer care, supply quality and safety, fair contracting and billing, data privacy, professional organisation, and social measures. The framework allows mini-grid companies, investors, and governments to either 'endorse' the principles as a goal for alignment or 'commit' to them as an embodiment of their daily operations.

Virunga Power and Songa Energy are collaborating to develop two small hydro projects in Burundi with an estimated cost of USD 32 million. The partnership aims to leverage Virunga Power's expertise in contracting and stakeholder engagement to navigate Burundi's challenging regulatory environment and lack of private renewable energy precedents. Following these initial projects, the partners intend to establish a rural utility through a private concession involving further renewable energy projects and inter-connected distribution assets.

The 'Luz en Casa Amazonia' program, implemented by the ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation, provides third-generation solar home systems (3GSHS) to remote, low-income communities in the Peruvian Napo basin. The model utilizes a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system and local management committees to overcome the technical and economic barriers of national grid connection in high-ecological-value areas. Since February 2017, the pilot project has served 325 people across 61 households, reducing reliance on polluting lighting sources and lowering energy expenditures by approximately 50%. The initiative is funded by a mix of Spanish Cooperation, Peru's FONDECYT, and ACCIONA Microenergia, with goals to scale to 1,000 users and integrate 3GSHS into the Peruvian regulatory framework via a social tariff.

Between 2012 and 2016, the ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation implemented the "Luz en Casa Oaxaca" program, providing third-generation solar home systems (3GSHS) to over 7,500 households in remote areas of Oaxaca, Mexico. The initiative, structured as a public private partnership for development (PPPD), benefited more than 30,000 people with a total investment of Euro 2.5 million. The program replaced polluting energy sources like diesel generators and oil lamps with solar technology, resulting in 1,200 tons of CO2 savings and the avoidance of 13.3 tons of batteries. Technical sustainability was supported by the creation of six Supply & Service Centres (Centros Luz en Casa), three of which are managed by women.

In November 2013, the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) conducted a three-day training workshop in Nairobi for Kenya Power and the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). The program aimed to reduce reliance on expensive and polluting diesel generators in rural areas, where the electrification rate was only 5% in 2013. The training covered system engineering, energy audits, and tendering processes to help the Government of Kenya scale up renewable energy integration in remote mini-grids.

The Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) developed electrification plans for five Nigerian states to achieve 100% electrification using a combination of grid extension, solar hybrid mini-grids, and solar home systems. The project addressed challenges such as data scarcity, modelling complexity, and undefined institutional structures through the use of GIS and energy system simulation tools. In cooperation with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), the initiative included capacity-building workshops for stakeholders on data management and energy demand modelling to provide local governments with evidence-based investment and capacity requirements.

The project, completed in 2015 and funded by the European Union, installed off-grid PV systems in 40 health centres and a 20 kWp system at Kynyinya Hospital in Burundi. The initiative aimed to improve vaccine preservation and maternity conditions, benefiting at least 30,000 people. The total cost was approximately 1,300,000 EUR, with technical implementation led by ENERSOL (Belgium) and ETRAVE (Burundi).

The 'Green Business Area' in Konseguela, Mali, is a pilot project by GERES that provides 11 rural businesses with electricity via a 12.5 kWp hybrid mini-grid using solar photovoltaics and locally produced agro-fuels. The project utilizes bioclimatic construction and a pricing model based on space rental and energy sales, creating 24 direct jobs within its first year of operation.

The Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) developed a methodology combining GIS-based data analysis and simulation models to evaluate the viability of hybrid power systems in Africa. The analysis indicates that integrating PV and battery storage into existing diesel grids can significantly lower production costs, outperforming diesel-only systems across nearly the entire continent. In most cases, renewables provide 35% to 40% of the energy, with higher shares in remote areas where fuel transportation costs are high.

In November 2013, RENAC conducted a three-day training session in Nairobi for Kenya Power and the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to improve the design of tenders for PV-diesel hybrid mini-grids. The initiative aimed to address the high costs, supply chain risks, and environmental impacts associated with diesel-only power in rural Kenya, where the electrification rate was only 5% in 2013. The training covered system engineering, energy audits, and tendering, establishing a knowledge base to scale up renewable energy solutions in remote areas.

The 'Luz en Casa' programme, implemented by ACCIONA Microenergía Peru (AMP), provides solar home systems (SHS) to approximately 3,000 isolated rural households in Cajamarca, Peru. The model utilizes a regulated tariff and cross-subsidy to ensure affordability, with users paying less than USD 3.5 per month of a USD 17 monthly tariff. The systems, consisting of PV panels, batteries, and energy-efficient lamps, are maintained by trained local technician-entrepreneurs. The programme has reduced user costs for electricity components by 33% and improved health by replacing diesel lamps.

Phaesun GmbH and Horn Renewables have deployed 'Business Opportunities with Solar Systems' (BOSS) solutions in Somaliland since 2012, focusing on the commercial sector in non-electrified areas. Key implementations include solar charging stations for mobile phones and LED lamps, as well as solar cooling and freezing kits for fishermen and shop owners. By the end of 2015, the partnership established over 50 charging stations across 23 locations and installed 33 cooling kits. These interventions have enabled fishermen to preserve catches and achieve higher margins by selling fresh fish in cities. The project has also introduced solar-powered fans, TVs, and agricultural processing services, with plans to develop a 'solar market place' in a village square to further enhance community prosperity.