According to estimates by the mini-grid industry and well-known international organisations, more than 200,000 mini-grids must be deployed in Africa to achieve the goal of universal electricity access in the continent by 2030. Most of the large volume of needed capital must come from private investors. This will only be possible if business models for mini-grids can be defined that are financially viable and can maintain this condition permanently, i.e., if the business models are sustainable. In addition, it is necessary that these business models can be scaled up to the necessary dimension, both in terms of the required financing and the technical and managerial capability of the mini-grid developers to install all the mini-grids identified in the electrification plan.

Following the ASR Online Conference on Sustainable and Scalable Mini-grid Business Models and the ESMAP 7th Mini Grids Action Learning Event, there were some outstanding issues that we wanted to probe into further under the ASR Talk event.

The ASR Talk was a live online event with registered participants, a moderator, one or two discussants, and an expert discussing a particular topic of interest.