Policies and benefits
Off-grid for Energy Access
About
Access to energy is a central building block of socio-economic development. It empowers people and communities to increase their income and productivity, enhance their access to healthcare, water and education, and improve their overall well-being. Without universal access to modern energy services, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030 will be almost impossible.
The good news is that the technology solutions needed to extend electricity access to the over 733 million people already exists. The business case to deploy off-grid renewable energy solutions (stand-alone and mini-grid systems) in rural areas has never been stronger. Costs have fallen dramatically – by more than 80% since 2010 for PV panels, for example, with substantial improvements in technology efficiency and reliability. The modularity of renewable energy technologies mean that they can be rapidly deployed and customised to meet energy demand using locally available resources and capacities.
Dedicated policies and regulations are crucial to facilitate the deployment of off-grid solutions to expand electricity and clean cooking access. IRENA analyses best practices and lessons learnt from diverse country experiences and provides policy advice on the design of tailored policies and regulations to accelerate deployment and maximise benefits for well-being and livelihoods.
E-learning course on policy and regulatory frameworks for renewables-based mini-grids
Renewables-based mini-grids are increasingly recognised as a means to expand electricity access in a timely, sustainable and cost-effective manner. Appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks are a necessary pre-condition to address investment risks, scale up deployment and ensure mini-grid operations are sustainable in the long term. Developing and implementing these frameworks in turn requires strengthening the capacity of policy makers.
This IRENA course is designed for mini-grid policy makers, regulators, developers and community leaders seeking to build that capacity. It covers what mini-grids are, their role in expanding electricity access in remote and rural communities, and the policies and regulations that enable their sustainable deployment.
Structured across five modules, the course highlights best practices from both successful and unsuccessful mini-grid projects around the world.
