Beyond The Grid

Power Africa recognized the need to support off-grid electricity access and launched the Beyond the Grid sub-initiative focused exclusively on unlocking investment and growth for off-grid energy solutions on the African continent.

WATCH: POWERING SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA'S COVID-19 RESPONSE - BEYOND THE GRID


Through Power Africa and USAID, the United States Government is increasing access to electricity for health centers and communities across sub-Saharan Africa. Improved access to electricity strengthen's our partner countries' self-reliance and capacity to manage COVID-19.

 

BEYOND THE GRID OVERVIEW


Two out of three people in sub-Saharan Africa live without access to electricity. Although many of these people will be connected to the electricity grid in the future, some live in remote areas that will never be connected. Even those who will be connected may face a long wait as the infrastructure build-out tries to keep up with population growth. Power Africa recognized the need to support off-grid electricity access and in 2014 launched the Beyond the Grid sub-initiative focused exclusively on unlocking investment and growth for off-grid energy solutions on the African continent.

Beyond the Grid leverages Power Africa’s innovative transaction-focused model to unlock finance and drive systemic reforms relating to off-grid energy solutions. Beyond the Grid has partnered with over 40 investors and companies that have committed to invest over $1 billion. These private sector commitments will be significant in helping Power Africa deliver first-time electricity access to households and businesses. 

 

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In the eco-village of Yeuma, Senegal, Little Sun Founder Frederik Ottesen and Yeuma residents install a prototype of the Little Sun community solar mobile phone charger, large enough to serve the charging needs of an entire village.
In the eco-village of Yeuma, Senegal, Little Sun Founder Frederik Ottesen and Yeuma residents install a prototype of the Little Sun community solar mobile phone charger, large enough to serve the charging needs of an entire village.
Samuel Dansette of Little Sun

Beyond the Grid is accelerating off-grid electricity access, focusing on two strategic priorities – household solar and mini-grids – to add 25-30 million new connections by 2030, in support of achieving the overall Power Africa goal of adding 60 million new home and business connections.

ACCELERATING OFF-GRID ENERGY ACCESS


Beyond the Grid Objectives

  • Unlock investment and growth for off-grid energy solutions on the African continent.
  • Enable 25-30 million new off-grid energy connections by 2030
  • Accelerate Solar Home System and Mini-grid connections in partnership with 250+ companies

Beyond the Grid Activities

  • Support off-grid companies to promote innovative products and services, enhance management skills, and successfully scale up and grow their businesses
  • Help off-grid companies maximize value proposition through market and business intelligence
  • Support the development of business models and private sector participation, tailored to each country’s regulatory environment and market dynamics
  • Offer transaction advice support and facilitates access to finance for off-grid companies

Achieving Results

  • Over 28 million new household and business connections added
  • Helped private sector off-grid companies secure over $1.2 billion in financing to grow their businesses and accelerate energy access

BEYOND THE GRID SUCCESS STORIES


For more Beyond the Grid success stories, visit Power Africa's blog

 

OFF-GRID ENERGY RESOURCES


Power Africa's Beyond the Grid (BTG) program has developed resources to provide valuable market intelligence for off-grid energy stakeholders, including:

HUMANITARIAN ENERGY


In 2018, Power Africa/USAID and Mastercard co-launched the Smart Communities Coalition, a public-private partnership to improve private sector-led delivery of essential services in displacement settings, in particular connectivity, digital tools, and energy access. It acts as the bridge connecting humanitarian organizations and private sector companies, from startups to large corporations, in order to improve the delivery of services. Active in Uganda and Kenya, the SCC seeks to mobilize collaboration by 1) networking and matchmaking, 2) financing, and 3) generating new models to enhance lives and livelihoods in refugee settings. As part of its support to the SCC, Power Africa funded and launched the SCC Innovation Fund to support innovative solutions for displaced solutions.

Beginning in 2023, SCC has become the private sector engagement forum of Response Innovation Lab, helping to harness the considerable creative and scaling power of the for-profit world to support effective and sustainable solutions to the most pressing humanitarian and development challenges.

OFF-GRID ENERGY FOR PRODUCTIVE USE


 

Power Africa recognizes that in order for off-grid energy solutions to improve lives and livelihoods, they must ultimately be linked to productive uses.

Given that agriculture in particular is a source of livelihood for 86% of those living in rural areas, economic development and income growth for farmers and their families will depend on linking energy to the agricultural value chain.

But bringing these types of solutions to scale is not always easy.

That is why Power Africa funds activities focused on growing the productive use sector, in order to drive the widespread adoption and expansion of these technologies. Beyond the Grid’s technical advisors are working with an emerging cohort of productive use companies to achieve scale, helping companies like Simusolar to secure new investments.

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In addition to supply-side support, Beyond the Grid also works on demand stimulation, for example, Power Africa funded an awareness campaign in an isolated island community that stimulated a variety of new industry services such as dairy production, steel welding and fish processing.
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Productive Use Fact Sheet