Thu, 20 June, 2024
Through the New Energy Policy (2015), the Madagascar Government has set an ambitious goal to increase electricity access to 70% by 2030, with 85% of the energy coming from renewable sources. This creates a market worth £83M for mini-grids (African Development Bank, 2020). Madagascar has a promising emerging off-grid solar market, but it's limited by low affordability (World Bank, 2023).
Around 150 conventional AC mini-grids have been set up in the past two decades by the public utility JIRAMA and a few private operators, but population growth has far outpaced the rate of new connections. At the same time the mini-grid sector receives strong support from international development partners like.
Over the last ten years, individual solar systems have started to close the electricity access gap, thanks to significant support from the World Bank. These systems are now the primary source of electricity for 22% of the un-electrified population, supported by private players in the sector.
Supporting the above is the World Bank, which is about to launch a £314M support plan for Digital and Energy Connectivity for Inclusion in Madagascar, expected to significantly boost the sector and create opportunities for local actors like the PowerPath consortium partner Nanoe, who have been in Madagascar for eight years and established relationships throughout the supply chain.