Publications
AMDA's Benchmarking Africa's Minigrids Report 2024
Unveiling Africa's Minigrid Evolution
Comparison Trend Analysis of the 2020 – 2022 BAM Reports.
L'évolution des mini-réseaux en Afrique
How to unlock financing for mini-grids in Africa at scale through multi-stakeholder collaboration
This publication is based on discussions during the Mini-grid CEO Roundtable, which was co-hosted by REPP and AMDA in partnership with ESMAP and The World Bank. The event took place on the sidelines of the ESMAP Action Learning Event in Nairobi, March 2023.
AMDA's Benchmarking Africa's Minigrids Report 2022
With this report, the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) presents the key findings report of the second edition of its Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrids series. Nearly all AMDA members submitted data across 2020 and 2021 for this effort, representing 35 companies across 12 countries.
Enhancing Minigrid Regulatory Framework Bankability in Nigeria
This paper focuses on regulatory and policy aspects in six technical areas:
- National electrification planning.
- Permitting of isolated and interconnected mini-grids.
- Tripartite Contracts for interconnected mini-grids.
- Arrival of the main grid.
- Tariff-related considerations.
- Transfer of mini-grid project legal documentation.
This publication provides an overview of the key issues discussed, and recommendations proposed to address them.
Impact of Insecurity on the Development of the Nigerian Mini Grid Sector
Since 2018, Nigeria has faced rising insecurity from banditry, kidnapping, herder-farmer clashes, and insurgency, threatening lives and property. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported over 2600 civilian deaths from armed banditry in 2021, particularly in Kaduna and Plateau states. This security instability presents serious challenges for mini grid developers in high-risk areas, despite the urgent electricity demand from 85 million Nigerians. An online survey conducted in 2021 gathered insights from mini grid developers, revealing that security concerns often lead to disregarded development sites, increased Operations and Maintenance costs, and limited tariff adjustments as developers shy away from these areas. Furthermore, many developers experienced revenue declines of up to 30 percent due to project delays and challenges in securing community agreements, underscoring the urgent need for strategic support in the mini grid sector.
Key Findings of the Benchmarking Africa's Minigrids Report 2022
The report builds on data and findings from the first benchmarking report published in 2020. It is the first and only sectoral report that provides a comparative analysis of consumption and revenue trends for the same minigrid sites over multiple years.
The SDG7 Gap Analysis Report
The SDG7 Gap Analysis conducted in 15 markets across Africa – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Nigeria, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, DRC, Cameroon, Benin, Mali, Zimbabwe and Mozambique – shows that adopting a Least-Cost Model for electrification, which combines minigrids and national grid extension programs, will save USD 90 billion by 2030.
Kenya's VAT Impact Study Report
The purpose of this study is to support an economic and fiscal impact analysis of amendments to tax legislation covering VAT and investment incentives that are expected to negatively impact the mini-grid sector in Kenya.
Clean Energy Minigrid Policy Development Guide
Benchmarking Africa's Minigrids
With this report, the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is opening the door to a new era in the minigrid sector. One of continental transparency in performance, cost, and scale information that will allow decision-makers in national governments, donor institutions, and investors to make more informed choices than ever before. And it will help minigrid companies understand how they are performing vis-à-vis their peers for the first time as well.
Africa Mini-grid Developers Association (AMDA) SMART RBF Policy Recommendation
The dominant means of providing them power is through grid connections. Due to the high costs
( – +1 for someone living >4km from the grid) to connect them, governments and donors typically subsidise main grid connections by 85-100%2 of the capex.
Mini-Grids on the Trajectory of Rural Electrification in Africa
A decade ago, the emergence of mobile phones and mobile data services made the introduction of
traditional cable-bound phone and data networks in Africa obsolete. The rapid evolution in distributed
energy technologies and services is showing us that, Smart Grids will similarly soon overtake outdated
electrification approaches based solely on hub-and-spoke main-grid extension. In this evolution, mini-grids are already playing an important role as nuclei and test centers for Smart Grid development.