The Mini-Grid Business
Episodes
Mission 300
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailEveryone in our sector has heard about Mission 300. But who knows the range of instruments and processes behind this term?We sit down ...
Learnings from Nigeria
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textNigeria shows what happens when mini-grids move from pilot projects to infrastructure policy. With over 200 million people and a vast rural...
Master Micro-Utility Management in 4 Hours - Playing ELECTR!FY
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe INENSUS team introduces ELECTR!FY, a real-data simulation game that allows players to run a virtual mini-grid company and experience...
The TAMARSO story
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhen TAMARSO’s founder returned to Somalia after the end of the war, he knew exactly where to focus: solar minigrids.A countdown to te...
Learnings from Sierra Leone
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTariffs fell, demand jumped, and batteries died faster—that’s the uncomfortable arc of many rural mini-grids in Sierra Leone. We sit...
Electricity and Power: The Geopolitics of Energy Independence (English interpretation)
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSigmar Gabriel — former Vice Chancellor of Germany, former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, and former Federal Minister for Econo...
Electricity and Power: Energieunabhängigkeit in Zeiten geopolitischer Umwälzungen
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSigmar Gabriel — ehemaliger Vizekanzler der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, ehemaliger Bundesaußenminister sowie früherer Bundesminister...
The CEESOLAR Story
25 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat if electricity didn’t stop at lighting a room but kick-started a local economy? We head to Nigeria to unpack CEESOLAR’s journey...
Cold Chains powered by Minigrids
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBas Hetterscheid from Wageningen University and Nico discuss Cold Chains in Africa and the role minigrids can play in their development....
Mini-grid company valuation in equity transactions
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textUnlock the hidden complexities of mini-grid company valuation with the brilliant minds of Brian Lukera Wambani from Camco and Michael Fe...
Boosting managerial capacities - The AMAP 2.0 opportunity
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, Benjamin Curnier from AfDB’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) breaks down AMAP 2.0—what it is, who it’s ...
State of the Sector: Nico at INENSUS’ 20th Anniversary
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us for a special episode featuring Nico’s State of the Sector address, delivered in Nairobi during INENSUS’ 20th anniversary ce...
Bridge Financing Minigrid Construction
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textResults-Based Financing (RBF) is now the go-to model for mini-grid subsidy disbursement—but there’s a catch: the money only comes af...
Containers vs. pre-fab vs. constructed power houses
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat's the best way to house a mini-grid system in remote areas? Should developers opt for the plug-and-play convenience of contain...
Mergers and acquisitions as a path to financial sustainability of mini-grids
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMinigrids need scale to become profitable — and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) can be a powerful way to get there fast. But what...
INENSUS' 2025 Mini-Grid Market Outlook
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin Kellie, Diego, and Nico from INENSUS' management as they peer into the future of the mini-grid sector for 2025 and beyond. If ...
DC Mesh Grids
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn recent years, DC mesh grids have gained recognition as a cost-effective and safe low-voltage solution for rural electrification, part...
How minigrids can help solve the migration crisis
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMigration remains a pressing issue in Europe and the United States, often spurred by conflict but increasingly influenced by climate cha...
The cooperative movement
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCommunity-owned electric cooperatives transformed rural electrification in the USA, raising access from 10% to 90% in just 15 years star...
Impact and reach - Is it time for a paradigm shift in minigrid financing?
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMinigrid scale-up efforts are currently falling short of meeting SDG 7 targets, particularly in Africa, where private minigrid companies...
Project finance for mini-grids
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textProject finance has been instrumental in scaling large, grid-connected renewable energy projects, with well-established approaches that ...
Mini-grid funder ratings
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMini-Grid CEOs have long voiced concerns over the inconsistent and overly complicated funding methodologies that vary significantly acro...
Interconnected Mini-Grids: Opportunities and Challenges
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textInterconnected Mini-Grids provide reliable electricity to underserved main-grid connected customers.They are a new phenomenon in the min...
Rural Industrialization with mini-grids
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this flagship episode, we uncover the transformative power of Rural Industrialization through mini-grids with insights from industry ...
Mini-grid consultancy - beneficial or harmful?
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMini-grid consultants support the establishment of regulation or grant funding programs for the sector, advise on transactions or conduc...
The Mini-Grid Due Diligence One-Stop-Shop
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMini-Grid Due Diligences are always complex and costly? - Wrong!The Mini-Grid Due Diligence One-Stop-Shop established by INENSUS, DETAIL...
Productive for whom? - balancing energy productivity and community productivity
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, Aaron Leopold and Edwin Kwesiga from EnerGrow discuss the impact of introducing productive electricity in rural areas. ...
The mini-grid and solar home system multi-technology approach – a way towards more finance for the sector?
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textLearn from Lynne Wesonga of Crossboundary Access and Gillian-Alexandre Huart from ENGIE Energy Access about the untapped potential of in...
I-RECs, P-RECs, D-RECs, R-RECs - revenue opportunities for mini-grid companies
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textExplore with us Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), a potentially lucrative revenue stream for operators of renewable mini-grids. We d...
Mini-grid financial modeling
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEmbark on a journey to the heart of Africa's energy business, where the intricate dance of numbers in financial modeling for mini-g...
Mini-Grid Marketing and Advocacy
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, my guests Penny-Jane Cooke and Brian Kawuma from Power for All, Abraham Mudasia from AMDA, and William Brent from Husk ...
Solar mini-grid technology - trends and markets
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us as we explore the future of solar mini-grid technology with INENSUS experts Dipta Majumder and Mike Arasa Ratemo. This episode i...
Managing complexity - digital tools for the mini-grid space
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe complexity of the mini-grid business stands at the forefront of Tobias Engelmeier from VIDA and Emily McAteer from Odyssey Energy&ap...
Mini-grid logistics - daring the impossible
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEvery mini-grid construction is a high-stakes adventure, where the unexpected lurks at every turn. In this gripping podcast episode, my ...
The mini-grid year 2023 wrapped up
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textExplore the African mini-grid sector's pivotal moments in 2023 in this year-end episode. Join Joanis Holzigel, COO of INENSUS, and ...
Where to go next – Which countries are at the top of the funders’ list? PART 2
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHere is PART 2 of "Where to go next – Which countries are at the top of the funders’ list?". Enjoy!LinkedIn: https://www.l...
Where to go next – Which countries are at the top of the funders’ list? PART 1
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEver wondered how mini-grid grant funders think, decide and act?In this insightful episode, we're thrilled to host a panel of exper...
A little mini-grid history (from an INENSUS perspective)
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this enlightening episode, join Jakob Schmidt-Reindahl and Nico Peterschmidt, co-founders of INENSUS and pioneers in the mini-grid do...
The perfect RBF - standardized vs. custom fit
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, we're graced by the presence of Anita Otubu from SE4All's Universal Energy Facility and Lamide Niyi-Afuye fro...
The mini-grid monopoly – Gift or curse
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode we are thrilled to host Grace Perkins, Chief Growth Officer of the African Mini-Grid Developers Association (AMDA), and ...
Surviving Due Diligence - how to meet investors' & financiers' expectations
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this pivotal episode, we unravel the often misunderstood process of due diligence in the context of mini-grid financing. We are joine...
Price elasticity in mini-grids - Impacts of an effect that everybody knows but few understand
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this intellectually stimulating episode, we delve deeper into economic phenomena that are often overlooked in the context of deep rur...
Monetizing stranded electricity to reduce demand risk - A way towards 100% renewable mini-grids
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this insightful episode, Nico Peterschmidt from INENSUS takes the helm, engaging in a fascinating dialogue with Kyle Hamilton of Nuru...
How to respond to exacting demands - Challenging relations with mini-grid customers
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textUncover the intricacies of managing customer relations in the world of mini-grid operations with our seasoned experts, Anayo Okenwa from...
Anchor loads, productive use and rural industrialization - Business model successes and failures
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDive into the fascinating realm of mini-grids and Rural Industrialization in this podcast episode with Brad Mattson of Husk Power and Jo...
The Financing Jungle – Getting access to finance for infrastructure without having a profitable business
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDid you know that financing mini-grids in Africa can spark a transformation in the infrastructure sector? Beatrice Mutoni from InfraCo A...
Trailer: The Mini-Grid Business
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAre you ready to redefine your understanding of solar mini-grids and their influence on rural electrification? Brace yourself for a thri...