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Tag: mini-grids

  • Husk Power Systems to deploy 1,000 mini-grids in Nigeria 

    Husk Power Systems to deploy 1,000 mini-grids in Nigeria 

    Husk Power Systems, a pioneering renewable energy company, has unveiled ambitious plans to deploy 1,000 mini-grids in Nigeria, marking a significant stride in their Africa Sunshot Initiative. 

    The announcement came during the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) held in Nairobi, Kenya, where Husk Power Systems outlined its mission to accelerate climate-resilient economic growth in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

    Read also: Husk Power installs 8 Solar Microgrids across Nigeria

    Mini-Grids: Illuminating the Path to Sustainable Energy

    But what exactly is a mini-grid? A mini-grid represents a strategic aggregation of electrical loads, coupled with one or more energy sources, all designed to deliver reliable electricity to communities. In the modern era, these mini-grids encompass a mix of renewable and fossil fuel-based generation, energy storage solutions, and advanced load control systems.

    Husk Power Systems is committed to mobilizing a substantial investment of $500 million in equity and debt to realize its Sunshot vision. According to the World Bank, electrifying the lives of 380 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 will necessitate the creation of over 160,000 mini-grids, entailing a total expenditure of $91 billion. Without this massive industry scale-up, achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) of universal access to affordable and clean energy will remain an elusive aspiration.

    Commitment to Excellence and Collaboration

    Manoj Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Husk Power Systems, underscored the importance of operational excellence in meeting the Africa Sunshot targets. “We are ready to mobilize immediately,” he affirmed. Sinha also stressed the crucial role of government support in crafting policies that seamlessly integrate mini-grids into national electrification and energy transition strategies. Moreover, he emphasized the vital role of investors, including development finance institutions, infrastructure funds, and commercial debt providers, in providing the necessary capital to meet accelerated timelines.

    Olu Aruike, Husk’s Nigeria Country Director, highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts in Nigeria to foster climate-resilient growth. He expressed readiness to expand these initiatives across the continent. “Now is the time to support a 10-fold increase in the mini-grid industry and supercharge low-carbon and climate-resilient growth in rural Africa,” Aruike declared. “We’re already doing it at scale today in Nigeria, the world’s largest off-grid market, and it’s time to roll out that scale across the continent.”

    Empowering Local Communities

    Husk Power Systems recognizes that the success of its initiative hinges on community involvement and empowerment. As part of their approach, they plan to engage local communities in the construction and maintenance of these mini-grids. This approach not only creates jobs and skills development opportunities but also fosters a sense of ownership among the residents, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these energy solutions.

    The Africa Sunshot Initiative by Husk Power Systems aligns perfectly with the global push to address energy poverty and combat climate change. Access to reliable and clean energy is a fundamental human right, and initiatives like these are essential steps in achieving universal access to affordable and clean energy (SDG7).

    By deploying 1,000 mini-grids in Nigeria, Husk Power Systems is not only lighting up rural communities but also contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These mini-grids will reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate environmental damage, and promote a more sustainable future for all.

    A Bright Future for Rural Africa

    Husk Power Systems’ commitment to deploying 1,000 mini-grids in Nigeria reflects a bold step towards providing sustainable and affordable electricity to underserved communities. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to address climate change and drive economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, offering a ray of hope for a brighter, cleaner, and more prosperous future for the region. As the world grapples with the challenges of the 21st century, innovative solutions like these will play a pivotal role in building a more sustainable and equitable world for all.

  • Rwanda’s InfraCo and Equatorial will invest $1.7 million in solar mini-grids

    Rwanda’s InfraCo and Equatorial will invest $1.7 million in solar mini-grids

     

     

    A subsidiary of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), InfraCo Africa, has signed a deal with Equatorial Power (EP) under Rwanda’s InfraCo. Equatorial will invest US$1.7 million in solar mini-grids to expand its avant-garde mini-grid concept in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

    The tech firms will devise four new mini-grids and four agri-processing hubs (APHs) on Idjwi Island in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These will be followed by four additional solar mini-grids and three additional APHs in southeast Rwanda. Smaller businesses will be able to get energy, which will help reach SDG 8 by creating direct and indirect jobs in the local supply chain.

    The new small grids, which range in size from 60kW to 85kW, will include battery storage to handle erratic sunlight during the nation’s wet seasons. By 2023, the project is expected to connect more than 3,330 low-income customers in the DRC and 2,500 in Rwanda. This will give more than 35,000 people access to clean energy and help reach SDGs 7 and 13.

    Read also: Shell Buys First Africa Based Solar Company, Daystar Power

    Equatorial Power is a decentralized energy infrastructure enterprise that provides renewable power services to developing regions. EP owns and manages agri-processing hubs (APHs) that provide local communities with services like water filtration, cold storage, fish drying, and maize milling. These services generate an anchor load for the mini-grid and help the economy grow.

    EP provides business incubation programs to promote renewable energy via appliance finance and skills training. Nabil Saimi, Head of Business Development for InfraCo Africa, said, “InfraCo Africa has a good track record of implementing mini-grid projects in sub-Saharan Africa, and we are excited to bring our knowledge to Rwanda and the DRC.”

    We are dedicated to providing access to sustainable energy and are thrilled to support EP’s creative strategy to combine electricity availability with agri-processing and other critical economic development impulses.”

    Mini-grids are increasing in Africa

    During the COVID-19 epidemic, Africa’s mini-grid sector increased the number of people it connected to modern, dependable energy.

    500,000 individuals, schools, and businesses in sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to AMDA’s Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrids study. This is the only sectoral study that compares mini-grid use and income across numerous years.

    AMDA used the research to ask governments and donors for more help for the mini-grid industry in Africa, which is strong right now but faces financial, economic, and regulatory limits.

    KarmSolar Launches a New Minority Stake Round

    Clean mini-grids for Africa

    The industry is having trouble growing and delivering on its promise to speed up access to clean, cheap energy. This is especially true in the rural parts of the continent, where 600 million people still don’t have access to electricity, which is more than half the population.

    Jessica Stephens, the CEO of AMDA, says that the mini-grid industry has the chance to create new, smart, and long-lasting energy infrastructure that helps local economies and communities grow. “Energy is the cornerstone of all of the SDGs, and as such, it requires the same level of government and donor support that conventional utilities have. This is a must if the industry is to reach its full potential and give hundreds of millions of people access to reliable infrastructure for renewable energy.