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What's the best way to house a mini-grid system in remote areas? Should developers opt for the plug-and-play convenience of containerized solutions, the flexible modularity of prefabricated structures, or the permanence of traditional powerhouses? This question lies at the heart of scaling sustainable energy access to millions without electricity.

Recorded live at the Energy Access Investment Forum 2025 in Kampala, this episode brings together Julie Roberts from SustainSolar and Abishek Bharadwaj from Equatorial Power for an illuminating debate on mini-grid infrastructure. Julie champions containerized systems where all components are pre-integrated and tested before shipment, reducing on-site technical risks. Abhishek advocates for prefabricated panels that can be transported individually and assembled like "Lego blocks," offering unprecedented flexibility for expansion or relocation.

The conversation reveals how terrain accessibility fundamentally shapes solution viability. While containers provide turnkey reliability, they require good roads and heavy equipment for installation. Prefab solutions excel in difficult terrains where panels can be hand-carried, while traditional construction, though permanent, introduces quality control challenges and extended timelines.

Cost considerations extend beyond initial investment to long-term operational impacts. Both guests share fascinating real-world examples—from relocating entire mini-grid systems within days using prefab structures to designing container interiors like "Tetris puzzles" to maximize space efficiency. The discussion extends to critical factors like weather resistance, thermal management, and community engagement across different approaches.

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Minigrids need scale to become profitable — and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) can be a powerful way to get there fast. But what does it really take to acquire or merge with another mini-grid company? How do you structure a deal that works?

In this episode, host Kellie Murungi (INENSUS) sits down with Matthew Orosz (OnePower) and Prosper Magali (Ensol), who share firsthand insights from their recent M&A experience. Together, they unpack the challenges, breakthroughs, and practical lessons from the deal-making process.

We also hear from legal expert Cynthia Opakas (Greenmax), who offers strategic advice on how to structure M&A transactions to ensure success and sustainability.

This episode was recorded live at the 8th Mini-Grid Action Learning Event, held in Lusaka from April 1–3, 2025.

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Join Kellie, Diego, and Nico from INENSUS' management as they peer into the future of the mini-grid sector for 2025 and beyond. If you're still shaping your strategy for the year, this episode could offer valuable insights to guide your planning.

Disclaimer: Projections discussed are speculative, and INENSUS assumes no liability for their accuracy.

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In recent years, DC mesh grids have gained recognition as a cost-effective and safe low-voltage solution for rural electrification, particularly for residential customers and small shops with power needs below 3-5 kW. In this episode, host Nico dives into the advantages and challenges of this emerging technology and the business models it enables. Joining the conversation are Afnan Hannan of OKRA Solar and Felix Boldt of Solarworx, two leading innovators in mesh grid solutions.

The discussion explores how mini-grid and solar home system companies are deploying DC mesh grids, examining how these technologies can complement one another in the quest for sustainable rural electrification. Nico also delves into the key differences between OKRA Solar's and Solarworx's approaches, comparing their technology and CAPEX implications. Whether you're an industry insider or just curious about the future of off-grid energy, this episode offers valuable insights into this transformative technology.

Okra Solar
Solarworx – Advanced products for the off-grid market

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Migration remains a pressing issue in Europe and the United States, often spurred by conflict but increasingly influenced by climate change as a root cause. In this episode, Nico Peterschmidt and Jakob Schmidt-Reindahl from INENSUS explore how rural electrification and industrialization in Africa can strengthen resilience against climate impacts, potentially reducing migration pressures on Europe in the future. They delve into actionable steps for implementing large-scale rural industrialization and why the moment to act is now. 

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Community-owned electric cooperatives transformed rural electrification in the USA, raising access from 10% to 90% in just 15 years starting in the late 1930s. This successful model has since been replicated in regions like South America and countries such as the Philippines and Bangladesh. In Africa, this movement is now beginning to take shape. In this episode, Doreen Chipika Bwalya and Frank Bergh from NRECA International discuss how electric cooperatives - rooted in member ownership and democratic governance - offer inclusive energy solutions while keeping electricity costs low. They also compare these community-driven models with investor-owned alternatives, shedding light on the seven cooperative principles that encourage local engagement and resilience.

By combining the strengths of cooperatives in local management with the innovation and complexity-handling capabilities of for-profit mini-grid companies, synergies may emerge that could lower tariffs and speed up mini-grid deployment. Could this hybrid approach become a viable model for accelerating rural electrification in Africa?

For more insight into NRECA's work, watch this video: https://youtu.be/gCOqxPax5lw?si=FgvN1BXim0a5c6H2 

NRECA International would like to thank the USAID Cooperative Development Program for funding their work in Zambia and Malawi. 

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Minigrid scale-up efforts are currently falling short of meeting SDG 7 targets, particularly in Africa, where private minigrid companies must evolve and professionalize to achieve sustainable growth. With limited capital available for building the next generation of top-tier utilities, the sector faces a significant corporate financing gap. At the same time project finance tailored to minigrid needs remains scarce.

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of minigrid financing with experts Cliff Aron from GreenMax Capital and John Ouko from the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA). We explore the historical challenges of rural electrification, emphasizing the urgent need for development capital to support emerging companies. We also discuss the transformative impact of investing $100 million in human resource development for selected developers and the creation of a billion-dollar minigrid infrastructure fund to attract private investment.

Our conversation addresses the potential for a paradigm shift in minigrid financing, examining current and future financing instruments that could support this transition. We also consider the role of government in facilitating this shift and how minigrid companies might need to adapt their business models to align with the evolving financing landscape.

Tune in to discover how innovative financing solutions can pave the way for a sustainable and scalable minigrid sector.

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Project finance has been instrumental in scaling large, grid-connected renewable energy projects, with well-established approaches that have facilitated trillions of dollars in lending to the sector. The result has been access to low-interest, long-term financing. This is exactly what mini-grids need to achieve similar success and growth. Like large-scale renewable power systems, mini-grids are critical infrastructure, yet they face unique challenges, particularly the risk associated with selling power at the retail level. Additionally, mini-grids differ from large-scale renewable projects in their stakeholder structures.

In this episode, Kellie Murungi, Head of Business Africa at INENSUS, joins host Nico Peterschmidt, CEO of INENSUS, to explore the principles of project finance and discuss what it will take to make mini-grids viable for this type of financing.

Discover why a wave of mergers and acquisitions is anticipated in the mini-grid sector, and how diversifying revenue streams through rural industrialization, edge computing from surplus electricity, and renewable energy certificates can make mini-grids more attractive for project finance.  Additionally, learn how, over time, the financing sector may become more familiar with mini-grids as a new asset class.

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Mini-Grid CEOs have long voiced concerns over the inconsistent and overly complicated funding methodologies that vary significantly across different funders and countries, leading to prolonged delays in electrification efforts. Similar frustrations are echoed in the processes of securing equity and debt.

Host Nico is joined by Kyle Schutter from Sunlight Reviews and Ashish Shrestha from the World Bank’s ESMAP to discuss these challenges. Kyle shares insights on how Sunlight Reviews is helping stakeholders better assess funder reliability and timelines, while Ashish explains how ESMAP is responding to industry feedback to improve program designs. This episode offers a deep dive into the efforts being made to streamline funding processes and accelerate progress in the Mini-Grid sector.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sunlight Reviews - Discover the Best Funders in Africa

https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/mushtaq-khan-institutional-economics/ 

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Interconnected Mini-Grids provide reliable electricity to underserved main-grid connected customers.
They are a new phenomenon in the mini-grid space and beyond that provide profitable investment opportunities to mini-grid companies thanks to significantly larger electricity demand in semi-urban areas, where interconnected mini-grids are typically situated compared to rural sites, where isolated mini-grids can typically be found.
Can interconnected mini-grids become the "leapfrogging" opportunity that the sector has been waiting for?
Aaron Cheng from Power Gen, operating an interconnected mini-grid in Nigeria and Chris Greacen who published a book covering the interconnected mini-grid subject discuss the above subjects with host Nico Peterschmidt.

Resources:
 
Mini Grid Solutions for Underserved Customers: New Insights from Nigeria and India Open Knowledge Repository (worldbank.org)

Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers (worldbank.org)

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