EnergyDemocracy

Category: Blog

Katse hydropower dam in Lesotho

Lesotho’s Affluence of Water and Wind Resources and Energy Poverty Tale

Lesotho’s Affluence of Water and Wind Resources and Energy Poverty Tale Lesotho is known as the “Water Tower of Southern Africa,” due to its abundant water resources that give it a high potential to generate abundant hydroelectricity. Its high-altitude geography with an extensive network of rivers and mountain terrain also lends it a potential to […]

Mini-grid solutions in Chitandika, Zambia

Mini-grid Solutions in Chitandika, Zambia Energy poverty, lack of access to clean and affordable energy is a pressing global issue. Mini- grids have emerged as a promising solution to addressing energy access challenges in the remote and underserved communities around the world. Situated in the East of Zambia, Chitandika, a small rural village located about […]

semonkong hydropower plant building in lesotho

Semonkong Mini-Hydro Power in Lesotho

Semonkong Mini-Hydro Power in Lesotho Semonkong is located in the highlands surrounding the capital of Lesotho, Maseru. The community comprises of just over 8,000 people, and Semonkong itself is one of the coldest places in Lesotho with frequent heavy snowfall, and hence electricity access is a priority for the community to replace traditional, unsustainable sources […]

solar panels at ha-makebe mini-grid in lesotho

Ha-Makebe Community Solar Mini-Grid in Lesotho

Ha-Makebe Community Solar Mini-Grid in Lesotho The Ha-Makebe community solar mini-grid was initially installed in October 2018 by OnePower Lesotho, with financing support from the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP). The project is located on the outskirts of the Berea district, north-east of the capital, Maseru. Ha-Makebe is the first privately-owned Independent Power Producer (IPP) […]

Solar panels at the Motete solar mini-grid in Lesotho

Motete Solar Mini-Grid Project in Lesotho

Motete Solar Mini-Grid Project in Lesotho The Motete mini-grid project is in the district of Butha-Butha, in the remote Northern region of Lesotho. The project is being implemented through the Smart Villages Research Group, MOSCET (a local off-grid energy company), the National University of Lesotho and Gram Oorja, the Indian technical lead for the project. […]

Solar panels at the Yebu community mini-grid in Nigeria

Yebu Solar Community Mini-Grid in Nigeria

Yebu Solar Community Mini-Grid in Nigeria How democratic are the decision-making processes in decentralized electricity markets? Our Nigerian project team decided to investigate these processes in Yebu, a community in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, close to Abuja. Yebu is a community of roughly 80,000 inhabitants, with a predominantly primary industry focused economy, with […]

As national grid extension costs rise, a growing space for minigrids emerges over off-grid or grid solutions. Small-to-medium size settlements with average economic capacity and high distances-to-grid offer a strong argument for mini-grid solutions

Energy from Community Roots in Sub-Saharan Africa

Energy from Community Roots in Sub-Saharan Africa Dr Jon Cloke writes on the decentralization argument for energy access, implementation challenges, and justice in energy transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa The global energy crisis between 2019-2021 has worsened energy access in Africa – it has been estimated that the population of SSA without electricity will increase by […]

A photo of the Mpanta mini-grid solar array, showing ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels.

Mpanta Solar PV Project in Zambia

Mpanta Solar PV Project in Zambia In our latest blog, Nandi Mbazima writes on the Mpanta solar mini-grid project in Zambia. As the first community-based renewable mini-grid developed in Zambia, the Mpanta Solar PV Project was developed as a demonstration project to showcase a viable inclusive governance scheme that can provide and sustain electricity to a […]

Share of renewable energy in Lesotho's total final energy consumption from 1990 to 2015. Renewables share peaks at 57% in 2000 before falling to 52% in 2015.

Lesotho’s Renewable Energy Opportunities

Lesotho’s Renewable Energy Opportunities Dr Moeketsi Kali writes on the current situation and potential for renewable energy developments in Lesotho. Lesotho’s leading renewable energy generation is state-owned and managed by Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC). The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) generates electricity, and LEC transmits and distributes it across the country. In addition to hydro, […]