Malawi’s first microgrid solar grows fivefold in students

To the naked eye, it may look like a modest shipping container, but for residents of the remote village of Mthembanji in Malawi, what’s inside has been life-changing.

Inside the 20-foot container shipped to the village in June 2020, are the components of a 12-kilowatt solar power system. microgrid—enough to power 60 homes and small businesses for the first time.

Since the South African nation’s first smart metered, solar-powered microgrid was installed in country in the town of Dedza south of the Malawi capital Lilongwe, the effects were remarkable.

The village is one of many areas that are not connected to the national grid of Malawi. Now, the microgrid project, coordinated by the University of Strathclyde and United Purpose, enables electricity to be supplied to the local Ntandamula Primary School at a discounted rate. This means evening classes can be held, helping children catch up on the education they missed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fivefold increase

Once installed, in just one year, the number of local elementary students going to high school increased more than fivefold—up from just 7 out of 44 to 38 out of 47 students in 2020.

Before the microgrid, the only option was to work by torchlight, but now children can study at home after nightfall. Since then, the school has also been able to introduce the iPad in partnership with the Turing Trust.

Parent Matilda Chagontha is just one of those members of the community who say turning on the lights has “changed lives”.

The mother of five said: “Before the microgrid, we only had one torch and we had to share it between the kitchen and for the kids to use to study.

“It’s really hard for my kids to do well in school. Sometimes I have to decide to buy batteries for flashlights or food for the kids. But my life changed when there was electricity because it was used to light up the house.

“My kids can now learn and the light bulb outside protects us from thieves. And the kids are doing so well in school because they can learn.”

New businesses have also sprung up because of the electricity supply, including video shows, grocery stores with refrigerators, computer cafes, cold drinks, beauty salons, and barbershops—in total. 20 so far. All businesses reported increased earnings, suggestive of local economic development.

Dalitso Bizweck is one of the clients at Mthembanji. Before the microgrid, he closed his small grocery store early due to insufficient light. After getting the connection, he extended the power to his store and was able to keep his business running for longer. He also intends to lease out a chain of seven stores that he has built in front of his property and which he has expanded his power.

Dalitso says: “Since getting electricity, I have enjoyed a lot of benefits both financially and socially.

“Some of the money I’ve saved has been used to build some new stores and I’ve got electricity from my house to the shops. The shops are rented out to people. I’ll also buy a refrigerator soon and I will use it to sell cold drinks in my shop.

“Security has been increased in our home thanks to the security lights. Socially, my family’s life has improved because we now watch TV whenever we want, which is what This is different from before the microgrid where we were limited to watching TV when we used solar in our home system.”

rural community

This project is part of the Access to Rural Energy Through Decentralization and Social Enterprise (EASE) project, which focuses on marginalized rural communities in Dedza and Balaka counties, and addresses complex energy challenges through a community-centred approach.

The project builds on a longstanding partnership between Strathclyde and United Purpose NGOs, WAHTED and Community Energy Malawi. It aims to increase accessibility sustainable energy for rural communities, facilitating economic development and improving livelihoods.

Currently, Malawi’s National Grid reaches only 12% of the population. The problem is even worse in rural areas, with only 3% of the 85% of the population living in these areas having access to electricity. The project is supporting the Government of Malawi in achieving its goal of sustainable energy for all by 2030.

Building initiative

The advent of the microgrid entailed training and capacity building initiatives, local income generation opportunities, and improved livelihoods at the household level. The fact that it can be monitored remotely from anywhere in the world has allowed Strathclyde researchers to collect economic data on use of energy—very important to inform energy policy and business models for future microgrids.

Valuable data is also being collected on social impactwith initial findings showing more positive change to community livelihoods and enhance security in the village.

According to surveys conducted, microgrids also have positive gender effects, with women reporting positive effects on leisure time, independence and decision-making ability, respect in the community and in the household as well as security in the home. Access to health news and information has also improved.

Aran Eales, Researcher in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Strathclyde, said: “Around 16 million people are without access to electricity in Malawi, and microgrids such as the one installed through EASE provide life-changing impact through reliable electricity for communities living in energy-poor regions.

“The technology is low-carbon, climate-resilient, and scalable, and the research we’ve done ensures it’s deployed in a way that’s pocket-friendly through the model. a sustainable business model that ensures the lights stay on.”

social enterprise

The microgrid is managed through a social enterprise and community engagement to ensure service is affordable and designed for customer needs, and in compliance with regulatory requirements. regulations on the electricity supply of Malawi.

A second solar microgrid has now also been installed in the village of Kudembe as part of EASE. It runs on PV solar energy and reliably supplies electricity to 50 customers—about 250—who were previously unconnected.

This system is manufactured and installed by Malawi contractors in the country instead of being imported from South Africa or Europe as is common.

EASE project manager Elizabeth Banda from United Purpose, one of the few Malawi women working in off-grid renewable energy, said: “In rural communities if you don’t have reliable lighting In the evening, people are forced to cook early, go to bed early, which reduces their working time.

“For businesses, they have to close early because they don’t have access to reliable sources of lighting. Electricity is important because it acts as a driving factor. It improves quality of life. at the domestic level and also bring many opportunities for local income generation in the community”.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Chancellor & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “This project highlights the pioneering and innovative engineering work being carried out at Strathclyde to address energy poverty across the world. globally and support access to clean, affordable and sustainable energy for those who need it.

“This solar microgrid deployment demonstrates the impact of technology in supporting the equitable transition to a decarbonized future.”

Scotland’s Government Secretary for International Development Neil Gray said: “Through our Malawi Development Programme, the Scottish Government has a longstanding relationship with the University of Strathclyde and I am delighted with the energy microgrid project. The sun in the Malawian village of Mthembanji was so successful.

“Having access to converted electricity for small businesses in the village and especially the children who are progressing much faster thanks to the education system, now they have the light to study in the evening.”

Ibrahim Matola, Malawi Minister of Energy, said: “The EASE project lays a great foundation for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, which calls for ‘reasonable, reliable, sustainable energy’ and modern for all’ by 2030.

“These microgrids connect people quickly and at low cost while we as a government work on larger initiatives that could take a long time to complete. They are used not only for lighting but also for other commercial activities such as welding, haircuts and entertainment.”

Through EASE, staff at Community Energy Malawi also piloted the District Energy Officer (DEO), raising awareness about renewable energy with rural community and capacity building to integrate energy in local development planning. The ultimate aim is to be able to deploy DEO in all counties.

A solar PV and solar irrigation center has also been installed in Nakatale, in Bakala District, providing farmers with cooling systems for product storage and other energy efficient uses. , helping to increase income and economic development for farmers and businesses in rural areas.