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In 2011/12, Phaesun installed a 3kWp off-grid PV system with battery storage at Yandup Island Lodge in the Kuna Yala archipelago, Panama. The system replaced a diesel generator that previously served the kitchen, reducing high fuel costs and delivery challenges. The installation consists of 40 monocrystalline solar modules and 32 Trojan batteries, providing reliable power for the kitchen, administration, staff accommodation, and tourist bungalows.

A case study on a peak shaving project in New Delhi, India, featuring a 100 kWp ground-mounted PV plant and 466 kWh of Cegasa lithium LFP battery storage to address India's record-high peak electricity demand.

The report argues that decentralised renewable energy (DRE) is the most effective solution for electrifying rural health facilities, particularly during health crises like COVID-19. It proposes a delivery model combining 'smart grants' for upfront capital expenditures (CAPEX) with market-based compensation mechanisms, such as long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to ensure both rapid deployment and long-term financial and technical sustainability. Through 16 case studies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the document demonstrates how DRE can improve maternal and child health outcomes, enable the storage of vaccines, and foster socio-economic development by integrating health facilities as central nodes for wider community electrification.

Geres advocates for a holistic approach to universal energy access that moves beyond binary measurements to ensure high-quality, affordable, and reliable energy services. The organization focuses on the 'base of the pyramid' (BoP), integrating renewable energy deployment with energy sobriety and efficiency to avoid environmental degradation. Key operational models include Green Business Areas (GBAs) to foster rural entrepreneurship and the promotion of energy-efficient cooking and cooling solutions. Geres emphasizes capacity-building, gender equality, and the use of social enterprises to ensure the long-term sustainability and scalability of energy projects in rural and peri-urban areas.

The Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) is seeking expressions of interest for its 2025 Investment Academy, a hybrid training programme running from 31 March to 17 October 2025. The programme is designed to help up to 12 early-stage decentralised renewable energy (DRE) SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa improve their access to finance and investor relations through eight training modules, culminating in a pitching session to financiers in Nairobi, Kenya.

The report examines the role of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) in overcoming barriers to agricultural productivity, such as lack of energy access and finance. It presents 15 case studies across Africa, Asia, and South America, showcasing technologies like solar water pumps, cooling systems, and biomass steam engines. Key findings emphasize the need for holistic, customer-centric designs, innovative financing (including grants, equity, and debt), and the integration of capacity building to ensure long-term sustainability and job creation in rural communities.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) provides capacity building through two primary channels: Investment Academies, which help small and medium enterprises secure finance through modules on business planning and pitching, and the CORE Initiative, which offers technical training on DRE systems like mini-grids and solar thermal energy. These programs have trained 3,050 practitioners and 210 trainers across 15 countries, targeting the development of bankable projects and the transfer of engineering skills to enhance energy access and security in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

The "Scaling sustainable and inclusive Solar Home Systems" project in Uganda, funded by Team Europe and ENGIE Energy Access, aims to electrify 1,248,000 people. As of November 2024, 203,387 households have been connected, with 67,450 systems sold to women-led houses, impacting over 900,000 people and avoiding 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The project utilizes a Result-Based Financing agreement via the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa to reduce customer costs and employs a network of service centres for sales, support, and the recycling of end-of-life components in Kampala.

Nuru, funded by Team Europe and Gaia Impact, has deployed solar-hybrid mini-grids in the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing renewable energy to approximately 15,000 people and 796 SMEs. The portfolio has installed 1.7 MW of capacity, created 116 local jobs, and mitigated 3,300 cumulative tonnes of CO2 emissions to date.

The Concession Agreement Template establishes a legal framework for the construction, operation, and maintenance of mini-grid facilities. It defines the rights and obligations of the Conceding Authority and the Concession Holder, covering asset management, service quality, insurance, and termination procedures, including detailed compensation mechanisms for various termination scenarios.

The report argues that integrating DRE infrastructure to power both mines and local communities—termed 'inclusive mining'—can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational costs, and catalyse rural socio-economic development. It identifies key barriers such as complex energy regulations, limited local technical skills, and the high upfront capital costs of renewable systems. Through four case studies in Australia, Madagascar, and Mali, the document demonstrates various models for community electrification, including shared microgrids, indirect feeding into local grids, and the repurposing of end-of-life mines. The authors recommend establishing inclusive governance structures, investing in productive use of renewable energy (PURE) to stimulate demand, and embedding a gender lens to ensure equitable benefit sharing.

The document details several Team Europe-funded green energy projects in Africa, focusing on solar mini-grids and solar home systems (SHS). Key initiatives include ANKA's Angovo project in Madagascar, ENGIE Energy Access's SHS scaling in Uganda, FRES's energy-as-a-service model in Mali, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Guinea-Bissau, and projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, and Sierra Leone. These projects aim to increase electricity access for households, SMEs, and public institutions while reducing CO2 emissions and fostering local economic growth through job creation and improved services in health and education.

This document is a Request for Proposals (RfP) and Terms of Reference (ToR) issued by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) to procure event logistics, branding, and coordination services for the 2024 Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF).

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the booking of a venue and catering services for the ARE Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) 2026, scheduled for April 21-23, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.

ENGIE Energy Access identifies a critical funding gap and strategic misalignment in the effort to achieve universal energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report argues that current grant funding is too limited, fragmented, and often diverted from core household electrification toward higher-tier or niche goals. It proposes four strategic shifts: refocusing on basic household access (Tier 1–2), tailoring financial instruments to specific market segments, increasing the share of grants in the capital mix to approximately 50%, and transitioning to coordinated programmatic platforms with standardised administration.

This template establishes a legal framework for contracts between a government contracting authority and a private contractor for the design, construction, and optional operation of mini-grid facilities. It defines the scope of work, payment structures, performance testing, and risk allocation to ensure transparency and flexibility in rural electrification projects.

The report examines the potential for decentralised renewable energy (DRE) equipment to drive socio-economic development in Benin, Cameroon, and Madagascar, focusing on agricultural productive uses. It identifies significant opportunities in value chains such as cotton and cashew in Benin, cocoa and sorghum in Cameroon, and rice, fishing, and livestock in Madagascar. While solar pumps and refrigeration are the most common technologies, the report highlights barriers including high initial costs, lack of technical standards, and the absence of formal e-waste recycling systems. It recommends market development measures such as increased awareness, technical standardisation, and the integration of microfinance to accelerate adoption.

The document is a template for an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) designed for clean energy mini-grids, particularly solar hybrid systems. It outlines the purpose of an ESMP as a tool to eliminate or reduce adverse risks during a project's life cycle, from construction to decommissioning. The guide details specific environmental and social risks associated with key components—such as PV panels, battery banks, and fuel generators—and provides corresponding mitigation and monitoring measures. It also includes a matrix of minimum environmental and social parameters (indicators) that proponents should track across different project phases.

The Angovo project, implemented by ANKA in southern Madagascar, aims to install over 3.5 MWp of solar mini-grid capacity to serve 15,600 clients and approximately 70,000 beneficiaries. With a total budget of EUR 14,550,000, the project utilizes a blended finance model involving the EU, AFD, GIZ, and private investors. Beyond electricity provision, the initiative integrates e-health, e-education, and Agrigrid© programs to stimulate rural economic development and mitigate up to 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The document establishes a business case for gender equality in the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector, asserting that women-led businesses are often as profitable as or more profitable than those led by men. It provides a framework of recommendations for DRE companies, civil society organisations (CSOs), and investors to improve gender equality at the community, organisational, and investor levels. The report includes 17 case studies from various global regions demonstrating the impact of gender-sensitive interventions, such as solar kiosks in Togo, feminist microgrid development in Haiti, and technical training for women in Brazil.