World Bank urges acceleration of solar mini grids to power 490m people by 2030

Solar mini grids can power almost half a billion people by 2030 but to achieve this action is needed to accelerate their deployment, the World Bank said on Tuesday.

Solar mini grids have become the least-cost source of uninterrupted electricity for towns and cities with no or weak grid connection, with their costs falling to USD 0.38 per (EUR 0.39) kWh now from USD 0.55 per kWh in 2018.

To help unlock their potential, however, the cost of electricity from solar hybrid mini grids should go down to USD 0.20 per kWh by 2030. Other supportive actions include incorporating mini grids into national electrification plans and devising financing solutions adapted to mini grid projects’ risk profiles, explained Riccardo Puliti, Infrastructure Vice President at the World Bank.

“Now more than ever, solar mini grids are a core solution for closing the energy access gap,” stated Puliti.

According to the announcement, about 733 million people, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to electricity.

To power 490 million people by 2030, more than 217,000 mini grids will need to be built at the cost of USD 127 billion. At the current rate, 44,800 new mini grids will be built at a cost USD 37 billion which will be only enough to power 80 million people.

The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP), has published a book on mini grids, entitled Mini Grids for Half a Billion people: Market Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers.

(USD 1 = EUR 1.037)

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