Sustainability, Inclusiveness and Governance of Mini-Grids in Africa

Although access to clean energy has been recognized as a critical element for the sustainable development of societies, millions of people around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, lack access to electricity. Mini-grids have emerged as an electrification strategy for such population but various technical, economic, socio-political and governance issues militate against the sustainability of mini-grids. This book reports the results of a collaborative research that investigated the effectiveness of mini-grids as an electricity access option for delivering sustainable development of rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Are mini-grids offering a reliable, secure supply to meet current and future needs? Are they offering affordable electricity and ensuring universal access? Are these ventures financially viable and attractive to investors? Are they contributing to local sustainable development agenda? What is the future of mini-grids and how can a large-scale roll out be planned to support the SDG 7 agenda?This book attempts to offer answers to these questions through a systematic analysis. The work has relied on extensive review of academic and practice-oriented literature and has combined existing secondary data with primary data collected through fieldwork. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, the book shares novel insights and recommendations to shape the future of mini-grid development globally. The novel, evidence-based insights from the book would benefit a wide range of stakeholders in shaping and improving the mini-grid ecosystem.