Isolated mini-grids in remote rural communities can only realize the full set of benefits if the electricity gained from solar or hydropower is used for productive purposes to diversify livelihoods and generate income.
Green People’s Energy Ethiopia supports communities of already existing micro-hydropower mini-grid sites in identifying small-scale business opportunities that arise from the use of clean energy. These opportunities may encompass milling and other kinds of agricultural product refinement, as well as services such as hairdressing, movie screening or cooling of drinks and foods.
At several of these mini-grid sites, experts commissioned by the project are currently undertaking a detailed business opportunities identification exercise with potential productive users. As a next step, the project will develop together with the identified entrepreneurs some simple and contextually adapted business and financing plans. This activity goes along with advice on what electric appliances best suit needs, and where these can be purchased. Productive users will be linked with micro-finance institutions. But if found inevitable, the project will provide limited subsidies to selected purchases of material to help the businesses getting started. Throughout all the above activities, particular attention will be given to female entrepreneurs in order to enable them to increase their income and diversify their livelihoods.