From the bottom up: how small power producers and mini-grids can deliver electrification and renewable energy in Africa

Most Sub-Saharan African countries try to promote rural electrification through both centralised and decentralised approaches. This guide focuses on the decentralised approach, providing practical guidance on how small power producers and mini-grid operators can deliver both electrification and renewable energy in rural areas. It describes four basic types of on- and off-grid small power producers, as well as several hybrid combinations that are emerging in Africa and elsewhere. The guide highlights the ground-level regulatory and policy questions that must be answered by electricity regulators, rural energy agencies, and ministries to promote commercially sustainable investments by private operators and community organisations. Among the practical questions addressed is how to design and implement retail tariffs, quality of service standards, feed-in tariffs, and backup tariffs. The guide also analyses the regulatory implementation issues triggered by donor grants and so-called top-up payments.