Identify and test an appropriate solar-energy storage mechanism for remote households deployment in rural communities of Papua New Guinea

Partners: PR Corporation SA, Kazi Tanzania Ltd, Cotit, Mt. Kilimanjaro Business Consulting LLC

Country: South Africa

Technology: Mini grids

Stage: Late

Stage: Round 10

This is a three-year ‘proof-of-concept’ project in which three off-grid rural communities in Tanzania will be provided with an affordable and reliable supply of electricity, and easy, affordable access to electrically-powered “Productive Use Equipment” (PUE) such as agri-processing equipment for the workplace e.g. maize milling machines, commercial refrigeration for crops, fruit-juice processing equipment, and electric cooking facilities for the home, so that the project will:

a) create immediate demand for electricity by establishing ‘anchor clients’ for each mini-grid (thereby reassuring investors that RoI will accrue from the guaranteed use of mini-grid electricity)

b) create jobs, reduce post-harvest crop losses, adding value and volumes to crop sales, and generally creating wealth at village level (wealth which later translates into the purchase of more electrical appliances for the home and thus a greater demand for electricity).