Catalysing Bankability of East African Mini-grids by Integrating Transport Energy Demand 

Partners: New Resource Partners (Nrp), Sustainable Transport Africa (Sta), Vai Capital, Knights Energy,

Country: Kenya

Technology: Smart green grids, including mini and main grid technologies

Stage: Mid 

Stage: 9

This project offers the potential to accelerate clean energy access in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, including for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and supporting gender equality, by creating new business models for Integrated Mini-grids.

The project directly targets energy access for presently unserved energy users, through rendering rural mini-grids investable, and providing the means (software) for developers and investors to identify portfolios of many such projects, which will positively impact many more villages than presently reached by Kenya’s rural electrification programmes.

In addition to providing energy access, deployment of the business models envisaged will displace reliance on fossil-fired transport energy. In addition static battery energy storage systems will be investigated to help balance the demand for energy in mini-grids with the timing of solar/wind supply. Finally, Demand Side Response (DSR) and other efficient demand management practices will be investigated for their balancing potential.