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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
The problem with access to electricity
- In certain parts of the world, access to electricity is limited. Communities that cannot rely on transmission from the national grid must find other ways to light their homes and power their businesses.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Sub-optimal solutions
- Traditionally, people in these communities have relied on either manual labor or a diesel-powered generator to provide their power. Neither of these solutions is ideal.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Defining mini-grids
- Enter: mini-grids. A mini-grid is best defined as a small-scale electricity generator interconnected to a distribution network that supplies electricity to a localized group of customers.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Size
- The size of a mini-grid is not strictly defined, but the general consensus is that a mini-grid should supply more than a few kW of electricity to multiple consumers.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Solar mini-grids
- There are several different technologies that can power a mini-grid; the first is solar. Solar mini-grids are popular now due to the falling price of solar panels, but they do rely on battery storage to meet demand at night.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Wind mini-grids
- Next up are wind mini-grids, which use turbines to convert wind energy into electrical energy. Wind mini-grids are site specific and they depend on wind speed.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Hydro mini-grids
- Then there are hydro mini-grids, which are very cost-efficient and have a low environmental impact. These are only a viable option in places with a certain geography, however.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Hybrid mini-grids
- Finally, we have hybrid mini-grids, which use more than one energy source, including sometimes a non-renewable one. The benefit of a hybrid mini-grid is that it is flexible and can generate power on demand.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Statistics
- According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in 2019 some 47 million people worldwide were already connected to a total of 19,000 mini-grids.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Success
- Indeed, in many communities where they have been implemented, mini-grids have emerged as the superstars of reliable and quality electricity supply.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Social impact
- In addition to providing electricity access in rural communities, mini-grids have also been shown to have a positive social impact by improving the local governance structure.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Autonomous decision-making
- This is because with mini-grids, members of the community can be involved in the decision-making process linked to their own energy system.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Opportunities with mini-grids
- There is a lot to be said for scaling mini-grids and increasing their global uptake. Firstly, they are a great way to increase the reliability of energy supply.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Less power theft
- Since they are small scale in nature and have a higher level of local ownership than the national grid, the problem of power theft can be significantly reduced.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Reliable power supply
- The reliability of supply is greater still with hybrid mini-grid systems: if for some reason one system is not working, the availability of power is not disrupted.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Environmental benefits
- There are also obvious environmental benefits to building more mini-grids, both in terms of efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Environmental benefits
- Hybrid mini-grid systems, for example, often have an energy supply that comes from 75-99% renewable energy sources.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Creating growth
- Mini-grids are also great for creating economic opportunity in countries where the national grid system is not well developed, but there is a strong private sector.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Adaptable
- Furthermore, mini-grids are adaptable in the sense that they can be connected to the national grid as the economy expands.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Economically attractive
- Finally, mini-grids are becoming more economically attractive as the cost of fossil fuels goes up and the cost of renewable energy sources goes down.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Subsidies
- Subsidies are still required for certain mini-grid schemes, but they tend to make up a smaller percentage of the investment than with on-grid schemes.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Challenges
- That is not to say that mini-grids are without their challenges, however. Indeed, there is a reason their penetration remains low in most developing countries.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Poor maintenance and technology
- The first common challenge is a lack of maintenance and/or the use of poor quality or untested technology when building the grid system.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Shortages
- This can be due to a lack of sufficient funding to sustain the project over its lifetime and/or a shortage of local skills to maintain the mini-grid.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Lack of resources
- In certain areas, there is also a problem with access to sufficient primary energy resources. There are several bio gasification projects that remain in their infancy for this reason.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
In Zambia
- This is also the case for several diesel-powered mini-grid projects in countries such as Zambia, where the infrastructure is not adequate and the projects therefore remain in their pilot stages.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Lack of data
- Another problem is that a lack of data on the local physical parameters can make it difficult to do a proper assessment prior to building the mini-grid.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
A lot of data needed
- To build an efficient mini-grid, a wealth of data is needed on parameters such as population density, types of terrain, and seasonal resource fluctuations. This can be difficult to obtain.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Sole focus
- Finally, some developers have found it difficult to sustain their mini-grid project because they don’t pay due attention to developing supplementary programs.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Not sustainable
- Mini-grid projects must go hand in hand with programs that deal with things like market access and SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) development. If they don’t, they are usually not sustainable. Sources: (Energypedia) (UNIDO) See also: The energy breakthrough that could change everything
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
The problem with access to electricity
- In certain parts of the world, access to electricity is limited. Communities that cannot rely on transmission from the national grid must find other ways to light their homes and power their businesses.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Sub-optimal solutions
- Traditionally, people in these communities have relied on either manual labor or a diesel-powered generator to provide their power. Neither of these solutions is ideal.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Defining mini-grids
- Enter: mini-grids. A mini-grid is best defined as a small-scale electricity generator interconnected to a distribution network that supplies electricity to a localized group of customers.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Size
- The size of a mini-grid is not strictly defined, but the general consensus is that a mini-grid should supply more than a few kW of electricity to multiple consumers.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Solar mini-grids
- There are several different technologies that can power a mini-grid; the first is solar. Solar mini-grids are popular now due to the falling price of solar panels, but they do rely on battery storage to meet demand at night.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Wind mini-grids
- Next up are wind mini-grids, which use turbines to convert wind energy into electrical energy. Wind mini-grids are site specific and they depend on wind speed.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Hydro mini-grids
- Then there are hydro mini-grids, which are very cost-efficient and have a low environmental impact. These are only a viable option in places with a certain geography, however.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Hybrid mini-grids
- Finally, we have hybrid mini-grids, which use more than one energy source, including sometimes a non-renewable one. The benefit of a hybrid mini-grid is that it is flexible and can generate power on demand.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Statistics
- According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in 2019 some 47 million people worldwide were already connected to a total of 19,000 mini-grids.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Success
- Indeed, in many communities where they have been implemented, mini-grids have emerged as the superstars of reliable and quality electricity supply.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Social impact
- In addition to providing electricity access in rural communities, mini-grids have also been shown to have a positive social impact by improving the local governance structure.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Autonomous decision-making
- This is because with mini-grids, members of the community can be involved in the decision-making process linked to their own energy system.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Opportunities with mini-grids
- There is a lot to be said for scaling mini-grids and increasing their global uptake. Firstly, they are a great way to increase the reliability of energy supply.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Less power theft
- Since they are small scale in nature and have a higher level of local ownership than the national grid, the problem of power theft can be significantly reduced.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Reliable power supply
- The reliability of supply is greater still with hybrid mini-grid systems: if for some reason one system is not working, the availability of power is not disrupted.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Environmental benefits
- There are also obvious environmental benefits to building more mini-grids, both in terms of efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Environmental benefits
- Hybrid mini-grid systems, for example, often have an energy supply that comes from 75-99% renewable energy sources.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Creating growth
- Mini-grids are also great for creating economic opportunity in countries where the national grid system is not well developed, but there is a strong private sector.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Adaptable
- Furthermore, mini-grids are adaptable in the sense that they can be connected to the national grid as the economy expands.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Economically attractive
- Finally, mini-grids are becoming more economically attractive as the cost of fossil fuels goes up and the cost of renewable energy sources goes down.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Subsidies
- Subsidies are still required for certain mini-grid schemes, but they tend to make up a smaller percentage of the investment than with on-grid schemes.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Challenges
- That is not to say that mini-grids are without their challenges, however. Indeed, there is a reason their penetration remains low in most developing countries.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Poor maintenance and technology
- The first common challenge is a lack of maintenance and/or the use of poor quality or untested technology when building the grid system.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Shortages
- This can be due to a lack of sufficient funding to sustain the project over its lifetime and/or a shortage of local skills to maintain the mini-grid.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Lack of resources
- In certain areas, there is also a problem with access to sufficient primary energy resources. There are several bio gasification projects that remain in their infancy for this reason.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
In Zambia
- This is also the case for several diesel-powered mini-grid projects in countries such as Zambia, where the infrastructure is not adequate and the projects therefore remain in their pilot stages.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Lack of data
- Another problem is that a lack of data on the local physical parameters can make it difficult to do a proper assessment prior to building the mini-grid.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
A lot of data needed
- To build an efficient mini-grid, a wealth of data is needed on parameters such as population density, types of terrain, and seasonal resource fluctuations. This can be difficult to obtain.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Sole focus
- Finally, some developers have found it difficult to sustain their mini-grid project because they don’t pay due attention to developing supplementary programs.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Not sustainable
- Mini-grid projects must go hand in hand with programs that deal with things like market access and SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) development. If they don’t, they are usually not sustainable. Sources: (Energypedia) (UNIDO) See also: The energy breakthrough that could change everything
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
What are mini-grids and how do they work?
A powerful solution for communities without reliable electricity
© Shutterstock
When it comes to electricity, there are many places in the world where people cannot count on a reliable connection. Whether they live with constant blackouts, or they have to rely on manual labor to produce their own electricity, there are many communities that have to make do with very poor access to power. Well, one potential solution to this problem is mini-grids, which offer an alternative supply of power to communities that are not connected, for whatever reason, to the national grid.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
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