Microgrids can supply electricity to concentrated settlements, including domestic, business and institutional customers, with power at or above grid quality level. Today, we are seeing great potential in microgrids using for example pay-as-go payment models and productive uses of renewable energy (PURE) based on anchor business. Despite the potential to greatly accelerate electrification of off-grid areas, renewable energy micro/mini-grids remain a relatively new phenomenon, especially the ones developed by private companies. The tendency of governments to require national grid tariff equity creates additional business challenges for the private sector, namely reaching agreement between regulators and private sector to agree on a tariff that is affordable to the end-users while being sustainably profitable. From a project developer perspective, it is also often challenging to navigate shifting or non-transparent policy frameworks and conditions.

This session discusses these issues, and shares the experiences of industry experts in delivering off-grid, mini/microgrid power systems in various regions.