This document summarizes a discussion on micro-grid projects in Africa. It defines micro-grids and outlines the potential for micro-grids to provide clean, reliable energy to 600 million Africans not connected to the main power grid. The discussion focuses on a specific case study of a village in Tiegba with 4,000 inhabitants and proposes a business plan for a 20-year micro-grid project that would provide the village with electricity, water, and internet connectivity. The project is estimated to generate €370,000 in cash flow over 20 years while saving 8,000 tons of CO2 emissions and promoting local economic development. Next steps proposed are to pilot the project design in a supportive country and find financing to scale the approach

1. 1
Participants :
Contributors :
Ghislain D Dessieh Africa for Green
Daouda Konkobo Head of Analytics for Exvivo
Mehdi Berrada,Alto Solution CEA & Founder
Gilles Rocchia, Directeur Marketing Stratégie et Marchés chez Socomec
Paul-Francois Cattier, SE Internatinal - President West & Central Africa, Caibean, Indian & Pacific isles
Demba Diallo, Expert A4T
Rachid Yazami (CS A4T)
Priscilla Air Liquide
Facilitator:
Samir Karoum connector A4T

2. 2
WHY Micro-grids ? Provide clean & reliable energy to 6OO Millions African
CIGRÉ Micro-grid definition : Micro-grids are electricity distribution systems containing loads and distributed energy resources,
(such as distributed generators, storage devices, or controllable loads) that can be operated in a controlled, coordinated way either
while connected to the main power network or while is landed.
0
2
4
6
8
2015 2020 2024
Micro-Grid worldwide Installed base (in GW)
Micro Grid Installed base in GW
What about Africa ?
- Let’s target a leap frog such as Mobile Telco
- Let’s make it Africa for Africa
- Let’s make frugal & linking several fields
Main Challenges & REX:
- Uncertainty on technologies & profitability
- It’s not a “do it yourself” type of projects
- Mixing Energy & Water improves ROI’s
2 approaches :
Publics sector: Launch tender for batches of micro-grids (60 villages or more) => Back to « normal» financing
Private sector or village: Consider pilot projects - with the smallest micro grid brick - to scale later on

3. 3
HOW ? Focusing on a specific Case = Tiegba 4000 inhabitants
1- Soft conditions of Success
-Check Government regulations on Electricity resale
-Fully on Board Village Community in the project
- MOOC to train and increase awarness/involvement
2- Financial Conditions of Succcess
-Financial attractivity, (secure the ROI)
- Integration of Electricity, Water & Connectivity
1 Village Partial 200 Homes , 150 Watt / Home = 30 K/W
3- Applications for community Development :
Commercial activities, Livestock Breeding, Food prod,
Food processing , Foodstorage , Food for sale , Media &
Entertainment, internet access, Energy service, School &
Education, Health station, Water management, Village
community life…
LOCAL community project
Electricity + Water +
Internet connectivity
Several indirect benefits

4. 4
HOW ? Micro-grid project simplified value chain principles
Components
manufacturing
System
Engineering
System
Integration
Construction
Operation &
Maintenance
Reduce cost of
technology
Frugal Operation &
Maintenance
LV network =
local employment
It represents an significant cost
contributor of the project to
ensure reliable LV Network
construction & connexion.
Installation will be performed by
/ sub-contracted to a local
company allowing economical
activitie
Main criteria considered Low
Cost , Eproved technology,
Ecological solution, Sustainable
solution have led to the
following choice :
PV + Battery + Pump + water
Tank + Router + Internet
connexion to allow maximum
synergies.
Buy
Make
Through Digital innovation
develop MOOC to train Operators,
Improve population awareness
and involvement , Train
population on consumer to
adapted behavior to save energy
Manage Spare parts availability
involving the community via =>
Common stock

5. 5
WHAT ? Micro-Grid project Business Plan 20 years
BENEFITS:
Profitability : 280.000€ invested => cumulated cash-flows over 20 years = 370.000 €
8000 tonnes of C02 saved
Health issues due to carbon & wood heater usage avoided
Economical developpement of the village
WHAT’S NEXT ?
1/ Identify and start with a project pilot in Africa (in a country with adapted regulation)
2/ Find financing option for a batch of villages to scale (Institution, partnershhip, crowdsourcing…)
3/ Develop remote pilote & Maintenance + related services

6. 6
Main References :
Mini-grid definition from CIGRE, DOE USA, energypedia.info
Introduction to microgrids from Smartgrids-cre.fr
Green power for mobile GSMA report march 2014
Sharing Business models & scaling up mini-grid in Asia Pacific TERI report 2013
PV innovation for micro-entreprise GIZ (German innovation) report 2016
AFD & BAD report on 2050 horizon of energy in Africa
Increasing rural energy access through mini-grids- CIF (Climate Investment Fonds) report march 2014
Mini-grid policy toolkit – UE Energy associative & Moroccan Solar Cluster - 2016 quarterly report
Electricity for rural population in Senegal report from “Fondation Energie pour le monde”
Smart village business model for off-grid electricity - Cambridge Workshop report Jan 2016
Project Design on the renewable energy in Kenya _ Economic Consulting Associate s (ECA) Nov. 2014