Many small and medium-sized farms and rural grain-milling businesses across Nigeria and Kenya remain disconnected from national electricity grids. Instead, they rely on costly and polluting petrol or diesel generators to power operations vital to local food supply chains.
A growing body of research explores whether renewable energy-powered mini-grids could provide a cleaner, more affordable, and commercially viable solution.
Energy, agriculture, and development experts, including Temilade Sesan and Lucy Baker, have investigated how mini grids could serve as a lifeline for these rural agribusinesses while delivering electricity to low-income households in off-grid communities.
Mini grids are small-scale electricity networks, typically generating between 10 kilowatts and 10 megawatts of power. Unlike national grids, which produce thousands of megawatts, mini grids are designed for decentralised use in remote areas.
These systems often run on solar photovoltaic panels, small hydro systems, or hybrid setups combining solar and diesel.
For example, a 1-megawatt mini-grid can power up to 2,000 Nigerian homes. This makes mini-grids ideal solutions in hard-to-reach areas where connecting to the national grid is either logistically impossible or economically impractical.
Reliable electricity is essential for modern farming—for milling grains, preserving produce, or running irrigation systems. In Nigeria, around 40% of the population lacks access to electricity, with rural areas worst affected.
The government has recently launched a national mini-grid programme to install 2,700 new mini-grids by 2030.
Kenya is also leading the charge, with over 110 mini grids already operational and an additional 150 in development. These efforts could transform productivity for rural farmers, especially those currently limited by fuel scarcity and power outages.
Despite their promise, mini grids across rural Africa have often struggled to stay profitable. Low-income farmers may find tariffs too high, especially if access to electricity doesn’t quickly boost their income. That’s why researchers are now looking into how mini grids can help rural businesses scale up, become more productive, and generate enough revenue to justify the investment.
The hope is to strike a balance, delivering affordable, reliable electricity that empowers agribusinesses while ensuring returns for investors.
If achieved, mini grids could become a cornerstone of rural development, enhancing food security and economic growth.
