Deploying Solar Microgrids in Malawi: Lessons Learned and Implications for the Malawian Microgrid Ecosystem

Through the Rural Energy Access through Social Enterprise and Decentralisation (EASE) project (funded by the Scottish Government, two solar microgrids have been installed in the rural villages of Mthembanji and Kudembe in Dedza district, generating and distributing power for domestic and productive customers. The microgrids installed in Dedza offer reliable, renewable electricity to over 500 people through solar PV generation, low voltage distribution networks and smart meters. Performance monitoring through robust data collection is highly beneficial to multiple stakeholders in the microgrid sector including system operators, donors, investors and policy makers seeking to increase the scale and impact of the sector. The purpose of this policy brief is to disseminate EASE project learning through sharing first hand experiences and primary data on technical, economic and social impact from two solar microgrids.