Mini-Grids Can Give Millions Power, but Bureaucracy and Technical Issues Still Stand in the Way

Across Africa and Asia, exciting plans for new mini-solar grid projects are being announced at a rapid pace. However, a surprisingly small percentage of these projects are actually being built and activated, according to Infinergia Consulting, a group based out of Grenoble, France. Mini-grids can give millions power, but bureaucracy and technical issues still stand in the way. 

Infinergia Consulting released “Mini-grids for Village Electrification: Industry and African & Asian Markets Analysis—2020 Edition,” a report that showcases the recent developments of this market. Infinergia analyzed the regulatory situation and projects, installed and planned, in more than 20 African and 11 Asian countries.

The report celebrated that more than 3,000 mini-grid projects are slated to open by the end of 2022 in Africa and Asia. But these announcements mean little compared to the results of 2019, the report also found that 1,600 projects were announced and only 150 are classified as completed in Africa. This is just a 9.3 percent completion rate.

Read the full story on Solar Magazine’s website.