Berlin, 1st April 2021 – EEP Africa will support a Solarworx pilot in Zambia for decentralized smart grids based on interconnecting solar home systems (SHS). Solarworx and its local partner LittleSun will install SHS that can be stacked like Lego bricks in high-density communities. These will then be connected to form a decentralized 60V solar smart grid. The solution enables power trading between producers of excess electricity and consumers. This power trading supports productive use appliances (up to Tier 4) across the grid. The cost for each connection is considerably lower than for AC mini-grids, enabling bottom-of-the-pyramid households to receive a grid-like electricity connection. This innovative technology has been tested in the lab and EEP Africa financing will enable it to be piloted in a real operating environment.
Outcome and Impact
The project aims to distribute up to 300 SHS/connection points to rural households, which will upgrade SHS owners to small-scale independent power producers (prosumers) and extend access to higher tiers of electricity in the community. With 45 kW clean energy capacity, this project will reduce GHG emissions by 100 tCO2e per year. The partners aim to recruit 50% women sales agents.
About EEP Africa
The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) is a clean energy financing facility hosted and managed by the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) with funding from Austria, Finland and NDF. It is guided by a vision for a climate-resilient, zero-carbon future with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the Paris Agreement on climate change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EEP Africa provides early-stage grant and catalytic financing to innovative clean energy projects, technologies and business models in 15 countries across Southern and East Africa. Since 2010, EEP Africa has invested close to EUR 50 million in 250 pioneering projects.
