Solar Energy Mini-Grids Solar Panel Kits
Electricity access is essential for people’s lives and livelihoods: from using fridges to store food and medicine; charging mobile phones to stay connected; lighting up households and schools at night; to powering local businesses.
Applications include:
Providing electricity to rural populations can take three forms: grid extension; standalone solar systems; and mini-grids.
Grid extension works by extending a national electricity grid to households and communities without access. Extending the grid is cost-effective in connecting large, densely-populated communities who live close to the grid, but the cost of extension rises exponentially when the population density falls.
For those living in the most remote areas, standalone solar systems operating independently of the grid can meet electricity needs such as phone charging and lighting but may struggle with larger electricity loads such as powering machinery and agricultural equipment.
Mini-grids operate in a space between the two; when the population is too small or remote for grid extension and standalone solar systems aren’t viable for larger electricity needs.
Essentially mini-grids are independent, decentralized electricity networks that can function separately from a national grid.