Mini-grids for Energy Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Tanzania

About this grant

In Africa, 315 million rural people are expected to gain access to electricity by 2040; of this, 140 million are projected to gain access through small-scale electrical grids. To achieve this goal, between 100,000 and 200,000 small-scale electrical grids will have to be developed. Several East African countries have had success in creating attractive policy environments, and projects are beginning to proliferate. However, little has been documented about how these small-scale electrical grids are operating in practice. The World Resources Institute, working with a Tanzanian research institution, will undertake research to document the accumulated knowledge, expertise, and community-level experience in deploying small-scale electrical grids in Tanzania. The research will form the basis of Webinar and training workshops to provide useful lessons for African countries, donors, and private-sector investors.