Contracted by the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa of the African Development Bank in 2026, we developed the first phase of a proposed national programme to delivery energy access through mini grids and solar home systems to households that are difficult or costly to connect to the grid. The first phase looks at electrifying 200,000 households across the Mpumalanga Province – the heart of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Agenda. The work looked at where off-grid solutions could have the greatest impact, which technologies would be most suitable, and how the programme could be funded and delivered sustainably over the long term. We also assessed different subsidy designs, funding options, defined the roles of government, municipalities and private energy companies, and developed an approach for tracking performance and lessons from implementation. The project provides government with a practical foundation for testing solar home systems and mini grids in Mpumalanga, with the aim of using the lessons to inform a wider national rollout.
