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Community energy

Facts, challenges & objective

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), over 600 million people lack access to modern energy technologies and services, and only 25% of the rural population has access to electricity. Energy poverty increases economic inequality in rural regions. Lack of access to electricity prevents higher productivity and hinders economic development.

In addition, rural and off-grid communities are difficult to connect to national energy grids, due to distance and economic cost. Low purchasing power in rural communities also means less chance of ownership for renewable energy solutions. Lower cost and modern alternatives are required to overcome these issues, and provide adaptable solutions based on national requirements.

In the field of community energy, the aim is to provide off-grid rural communities with energy solutions to increase economic, social and environmental well-being.

Green People’s Energy for Africa works together with political stakeholders and communities to provide support for:

  • Small and medium-sized businesses to generate and use renewable energy
  • Engaging citizens and communities as partners for green energy in Africa, in particular cooperatives
  • Creating job prospects in the energy sector
  • Productive use of renewable energies for improved agricultural value chains
  • Mobilizing investment locally

The initative helps pilot short-term innovative ideas, building a foundation for taking them to scale. Additionally, it builds on cooperation with other programmes, using synergies, implementing efficiently, and anchoring best practices sustainably.

    Articles on community energy

    DebateSDG 7

    Energy communities for sustainable energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa

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    Energy communities can contribute to the global energy transition. Douglas Logedi Luhangala and Kweku Koranteng explain how.
    StorySDG 7

    Solar repairs for less e-waste in Zambia

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    SolarAid and Green People’s Energy help reduce e-waste through easy repairs.
    FeatureSDG 7

    Mini-grids for productive use in Namibia and Uganda

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    The role of mini-grids and tariffs and how they are perceived differently.
    FeatureSDG 7

    Sustainable energy supply for social institutions in Zambia

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    Solvienta’s Johannes Hertlein talks about Zambia’s market for renewables and offers an outlook.
    ProfileSDG 17

    German Namibian partnership to develop industry association

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    Germany’s BSW supports partner REIAoN in organisation and membership recruitment
    ProfileSDG 7

    Wind turbines made in Uganda

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    Open source wind turbine for pumping water and generating electricity.
    StorySDG 1

    Solar drying – and avoiding crop losses

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    In Ethiopia, Green People´s Energy is testing solar drying for fruits, beans and crops.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Solar power helps women increase their agricultural yields         

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    Solar-powered light, water and machinery will help women in the communities of Thian Worou and Tantaga to process various agricultural products.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Project for the economic autonomy of rural communities through the productive use of renewable energy

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    Supporting the purchase of photovoltaic systems to set up income-generating activities, as well as providing training for setting up and maintaining these systems.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Solar energy increases local value-creation by women        

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    Thanks to the expansion of a mini-grid, entrepreneurs in Senegal can really get going.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Refugee shelters need sustainable solar solutions 

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    Clean electricity for refugee families in Uganda Through approximately 330 savings communities in refugee shelters and host communities, ZOA aims to promote the market for sustainable solar solutions.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Electrifying San communities with solar energy  

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    Decentralised PV systems will improve the livelihoods of a nomadic San community and highlight the role of women in it.
    StorySDG 3

    “The most important facility of the village is now electrified”

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    Cedikope with its 800 inhabitants is located on an island in the southern part of Lake Volta. It takes 30 minutes to get there by boat. Seth Mahu, the Director of Renewable Energy at the Ghanaian Ministry of Energy, travelled to the island anyway. There, Green People´s Energy (GBE) has electrified one of 31 health c…
    ProfileSDG 17

    Public-private partnerships and CO2 financing strengthen electrification of municipalities 

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    Sustainable financing mechanisms provide Beninese communities with additional access to clean energy.
    FeatureSDG 17

    Knowledge hub for renewable energy online in Mozambique

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    Together with energypedia, Green People’s Energy (GBE) launched the Mozambique Off-grid Knowledge Hub. The site provides information on solar energy, clean cookstoves, nano- and mini-grids and on productive use of renewable energy.
    StorySDG 7

    Using the sun’s rays to refrigerate food

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    Electricity from solar plants and cooling technology are an ideal mix to help industries develop. In this interview, Thomas Bundi from Strathmore University explains the technology and talks about the workshop he was instrumental in developing.
    NewsSDG 7

    Green People’s Energy live at European Development Days – How to maximize the impact of energy access

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    Bärbel Höhn (BMZ) joining Dr. Willington Ortiz (Wuppertal Institute) and Silvia Sartori (Energia) at the European Development Days 21st June in Brussels.
    FeatureSDG 7

    Communities producing their own electricity

    Electricity produced decentrally using renewable energy sources is the key to a sustainable power supply. In rural Africa, photovoltaics and minigrids are opening up new opportunities for local economic development and value creation – based on affordable electricity from renewable energies. Twelve African and Germa…
    NewsSDG 17

    Green People’s Energy walks one step closer towards cooperative-based mini-grids

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    To help bridging the financing gap, a concept was presented and discussed with key representatives from the energy sector.
    FeatureSDG 17

    Getting ready for the solar mini-grid roll-out: GBE Ethiopia conducts trainings for planners and implementers

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    The trainings are designed in such a way that the participants experience the theory in the workshops in a very practical way.
    StorySDG 7

    GBE supports expansion of solar park in West-Nile region of Uganda

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    With the support of Green People’s Energy, Radio Pacis significantly increased the capacity of its solar park to over half a megawatt.
    FeatureSDG 7

    Professional solar equipment for businesses: properly cooling, drying, irrigating, and fertilising

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    Green People’s Energy held a training session for entrepreneurs to launch the distribution network for high-performance productive solar installations.
    NewsSDG 17

    Green People’s Energy supports three more partnerships

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    Three new partners for sustainable energy supply and knowledge transfer
    ProfileSDG 7

    Solar system ensures light, water and productivity

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    Just a few kilowatt hours of electricity improves the lives of around 1,800 villagers in Benin.
    NewsSDG 7

    Interview with the BMZ Special Representatives for Energy in Africa

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    In the interview, Josef Göppel and Bärbel Höhn talk about their voluntary engagement and the GBE initiative.
    FeatureSDG 4

    Ethiopian teachers participate in the Green TVET School training

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    Nine Ethiopian teachers are participating in an extensive online training on renewable energy.
    DebateSDG 7

    Energy is the key to regional value creation

    Interview 31 August 2021 Energy is the key to regional value creation Since its announcement by Federal Minister Dr. Gerd Müller in 2017, the initiative, Green People’s Energy for Africa, has launched numerous projects in nine focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The two BMZ Special Representatives for Energy …
    NewsSDG 7

    Call for Project Proposals in the Decentralized Renewable Energy Sector for Facilitating Access to Finance

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    All projects related to decentralised renewable energy and with an impact on rural economic development are eligible to apply.
    StorySDG 3

    Renewable electricity improves health services

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    Solar energy systems and vaccine refrigerators were installed in three rural health centres.
    FeatureSDG 3

    Improving health care for 27,000 people

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    GBE Senegal recently trained 37 employees from these health centres, thereof 18 women, in the operation and maintenance of solar systems.
    FeatureSDG 7

    Ten solar-powered water pump systems supply farmers in Benin

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    The high-quality solar-powered pumps enable farmers to save up to 200 euros a month.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Solar water pumps for Laikipia

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    The project “Access to Solar Water Pumps in Laikipia,” implemented by SNV Netherlands Developmnt Organisation, aims to help remove obstacles in irrigation and raise awareness for the benefits of solar systems.
    NewsSDG 7

    Registration open for second GBE-ARE webinar

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    The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and Green People’s Energy have the pleasure to invite you to participate in the webinar on “Stimulating Demand for Productive Use of Renewable Energy Solutions in Local Communities” at 14.00-15.30 CEST on 7 July 2021.
    NewsSDG 17

    Call for promoting Renewable Energies in Africa

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    We are looking for European actors in the energy transition such as municipalities, educational institutions, cooperatives, non-governmental organisations, associations, or companies.
    ProfileSDG 8

    Solar Water Pumps Secure Harvests and Livelihoods

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    Project strengthens irrigation systems and climate resilience of smallholder farmers in northern Tanzania.
    NewsSDG 7

    Energy connects – launch of GBE-ARE web seminar series

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    On 20 April 2021, the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and Green People’s Energy (GBE) launched their web seminar series “Paving the way for Clean Energy Transition with Decentralised Renewable Energy (PWCET) ” at the digital EU-Africa Business Forum. The first of in total 10 events had more than 200 partici…
    FeatureSDG 5

    Twelve Senegalese women’s and youth groups take off with solar energy

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    Groups of women and young people in the Kédougou region will improve their own farms with the productive use of solar energy. The project started at the end of April.
    FeatureSDG 7

    Solar pumps secure harvests, income and livelihoods in northern Tanzania

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    Where rain becomes rarer, solar-powered water pumps ensure the survival of smallholder farmers. The technology is low-maintenance and opens up numerous opportunities for people, as an example from Tanzania shows.
    FeatureSDG 5

    Women farmers switch to solar-powered water pumps

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    After learning about the advantages of solar-powered water pumps in a workshop organised by Green People’s Energy (GBE) Uganda, the women of two cooperatives are now starting vegetable production in shared greenhouses.
    NewsSDG 7

    Universal Energy Facility opens pre-qualification for mini-grid projects in Benin

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    The Universal Energy Facility, a results-based financing facility, is inviting pre-qualification submissions from companies for the development of mini-grid projects in Benin.
    ProfileSDG 7

    Energy Through Domestic Biogas Plants

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    Biogas plants can ensure the energy supply for 75 percent of Ethiopia’s population and also protect their health.