UNIDO showcases eight projects, two in Asia and six in Africa, to analyse the benefits of renewable energy as a tool for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) through building renewable energy-based mini-grids for productive uses in rural communities. The case studies are taken from UNIDO’s technical cooperation project portfolio, and include:
- Chad,
- Côte d’Ivoire,
- Guinea-Bissau,
- India,
- Sri Lanka,
- Tanzania,
- The Gambia, and
- Zambia
The report presents the technical, regulatory, financial and business approach as well as end-user and community involvement for each case study. The projects are assessed for their ability to meet five criteria which are deemed critical for the long-term success of mini-grids. These criteria are (i) sufficient revenue to support the mini-grid; (ii) the willingness and ability of consumers to pay bills; (iii) community participation; (iv) capacity of national regulator/ utility / renewable energy agency to support and promote off-grid projects; and (v) local manufacturing capacity.
The interim conclusions should be interpreted as being a snapshot, as many of the cases have only recently been installed. The interim conclusions will be revisited in the next 12 to 18 months.
Download the report HERE
