Claim OwnershipThe Mini-Grid Business
Subscribed: 12Played: 116
Subscribe
© 2025 The Mini-Grid Business
Description
Welcome to "The Mini-Grid Business," hosted by Nico Peterschmidt, CEO of the consultancy company INENSUS. With nearly two decades of experience working with over 100 mini-grid companies across Africa and Asia, INENSUS created a podcast, which becomes your gateway to the world of rural electrification through mini-grids.
In each episode, Nico and his guests – seasoned experts who have navigated the complexities of the mini-grid sector – offer candid insights based on real-life experiences. Whether they're individuals who have overcome significant challenges, policy makers shaping the sector’s frameworks and funding structures, or visionaries crafting the future of mini-grids, they all have unique perspectives to share.
From exploring successful pathways to profitability, to dissecting the reasons behind a company's struggles, "The Mini-Grid Business" delves deep into both theory and practice. It questions the accepted status quo of the mini-grid sector, aiming to unearth new perspectives or expose misunderstandings that need addressing.
This is a space for thought-provoking discussions, innovative ideas, and invaluable knowledge exchange.
Whether you are an industry veteran, a newcomer, or simply curious about the transformative potential of mini-grids, this podcast invites you to challenge your thinking, learn from others, and engage with a community that’s shaping a brighter, more sustainable future.
So, tune in, and enjoy "The Mini-Grid Business"!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inensus-gmbh/mycompany/
Twitter: INENSUS (@INENSUSgmbh) / X (twitter.com)
Visit www.inensus.com for more info.
42 Episodes
Reverse
Send us a text Sigmar Gabriel — former Vice Chancellor of Germany, former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, and former Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, as well as former Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety — joins us to discuss how Europe sees Africa’s development, its energy transition, and the geopolitical forces shaping both. We explore how a shifting global order intersects with energy policy, why Europe often finds itself on t...
Send us a text Sigmar Gabriel — ehemaliger Vizekanzler der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, ehemaliger Bundesaußenminister sowie früherer Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Energie und Bundesminister für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit — spricht mit Nico Peterschmidt darüber, wie Europa auf Afrikas Entwicklung und Energiewende blickt und welche geopolitischen Kräfte beide prägen. Wir sprechen mit Sigmar Gabriel, darüber, wie eine fragmentierte Weltordnung mit dem dringenden Bedarf k...
Send us a text What if electricity didn’t stop at lighting a room but kick-started a local economy? We head to Nigeria to unpack CEESOLAR’s journey from a bold 2017 idea to a working blueprint for mini-grids that power livelihoods—milling grain, cooling goods, charging e-tricycles, and teaching digital skills in a rural computer lab. The result is a simple but radical mindset shift: energy is not the goal; income and opportunity are. We walk through the hard realities of building mini-grids—...
Send us a text Bas Hetterscheid from Wageningen University and Nico discuss Cold Chains in Africa and the role minigrids can play in their development. The growing urban middle class in many African countries is demanding more fresh products, which may not be available close to the cities. Cold chains are required to make sure the products arrive at the market in good condition. Traders and processers of food products will soon look out for opportunities to source these products from sl...
Send us a text Unlock the hidden complexities of mini-grid company valuation with the brilliant minds of Brian Lukera Wambani from Camco and Michael Feldner from the GET.invest Finance Catalyst. This episode promises to equip you with the nuanced understanding required to navigate the valuation challenges faced by mini-grid enterprises, which operate at the crossroads of traditional utilities and agile startups. We tackle the pivotal questions: How do investors perceive the value of these com...
Send us a text In this episode, Benjamin Curnier from AfDB’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) breaks down AMAP 2.0—what it is, who it’s designed for, and how it works. If you’re a minigrid company looking to tap into technical assistance funding, this conversation offers the perfect starting point. 👉 Access the AMAP 2.0 guidelines and application documents here: AMAP — Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inensus-gmbh/mycompany/ Visit www...
Send us a text Join us for a special episode featuring Nico’s State of the Sector address, delivered in Nairobi during INENSUS’ 20th anniversary celebration in September 2025. In this keynote, Nico reflects on two decades of impact, explores today’s challenges and opportunities, and shares a forward-looking vision for the future of the sector. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inensus-gmbh/mycompany/ Visit www.inensus.com for more info.
Send us a text Results-Based Financing (RBF) is now the go-to model for mini-grid subsidy disbursement—but there’s a catch: the money only comes after the connections are in place. That means developers have to front the $400–800 per connection cost for construction and equipment, creating a serious funding gap. In this episode, we chat with Fernando Valda from Energise Africa and Piyush Mathur from Odyssey Energy Solutions about how they’re solving this problem in creative ways. Odyssey link...
Send us a text What's the best way to house a mini-grid system in remote areas? Should developers opt for the plug-and-play convenience of containerized solutions, the flexible modularity of prefabricated structures, or the permanence of traditional powerhouses? This question lies at the heart of scaling sustainable energy access to millions without electricity. Recorded live at the Energy Access Investment Forum 2025 in Kampala, this episode brings together Julie Roberts from SustainSolar a...
Send us a text Minigrids need scale to become profitable — and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) can be a powerful way to get there fast. But what does it really take to acquire or merge with another mini-grid company? How do you structure a deal that works? In this episode, host Kellie Murungi (INENSUS) sits down with Matthew Orosz (OnePower) and Prosper Magali (Ensol), who share firsthand insights from their recent M&A experience. Together, they unpack the challenges, breakthroughs, ...
Send us a text Join Kellie, Diego, and Nico from INENSUS' management as they peer into the future of the mini-grid sector for 2025 and beyond. If you're still shaping your strategy for the year, this episode could offer valuable insights to guide your planning. Disclaimer: Projections discussed are speculative, and INENSUS assumes no liability for their accuracy. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inensus-gmbh/mycompany/ Visit www.inensus.com for more info.
Send us a text In recent years, DC mesh grids have gained recognition as a cost-effective and safe low-voltage solution for rural electrification, particularly for residential customers and small shops with power needs below 3-5 kW. In this episode, host Nico dives into the advantages and challenges of this emerging technology and the business models it enables. Joining the conversation are Afnan Hannan of OKRA Solar and Felix Boldt of Solarworx, two leading innovators in mesh grid solutions....
Send us a text Migration remains a pressing issue in Europe and the United States, often spurred by conflict but increasingly influenced by climate change as a root cause. In this episode, Nico Peterschmidt and Jakob Schmidt-Reindahl from INENSUS explore how rural electrification and industrialization in Africa can strengthen resilience against climate impacts, potentially reducing migration pressures on Europe in the future. They delve into actionable steps for implementing large-scale rural...
Send us a text Community-owned electric cooperatives transformed rural electrification in the USA, raising access from 10% to 90% in just 15 years starting in the late 1930s. This successful model has since been replicated in regions like South America and countries such as the Philippines and Bangladesh. In Africa, this movement is now beginning to take shape. In this episode, Doreen Chipika Bwalya and Frank Bergh from NRECA International discuss how electric cooperatives - rooted in member ...
Send us a text Minigrid scale-up efforts are currently falling short of meeting SDG 7 targets, particularly in Africa, where private minigrid companies must evolve and professionalize to achieve sustainable growth. With limited capital available for building the next generation of top-tier utilities, the sector faces a significant corporate financing gap. At the same time project finance tailored to minigrid needs remains scarce. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of minigrid fin...
Send us a text Project finance has been instrumental in scaling large, grid-connected renewable energy projects, with well-established approaches that have facilitated trillions of dollars in lending to the sector. The result has been access to low-interest, long-term financing. This is exactly what mini-grids need to achieve similar success and growth. Like large-scale renewable power systems, mini-grids are critical infrastructure, yet they face unique challenges, particularly the risk asso...
Send us a text Mini-Grid CEOs have long voiced concerns over the inconsistent and overly complicated funding methodologies that vary significantly across different funders and countries, leading to prolonged delays in electrification efforts. Similar frustrations are echoed in the processes of securing equity and debt. Host Nico is joined by Kyle Schutter from Sunlight Reviews and Ashish Shrestha from the World Bank’s ESMAP to discuss these challenges. Kyle shares insights on how Sunlight Rev...
Send us a text Interconnected Mini-Grids provide reliable electricity to underserved main-grid connected customers. They are a new phenomenon in the mini-grid space and beyond that provide profitable investment opportunities to mini-grid companies thanks to significantly larger electricity demand in semi-urban areas, where interconnected mini-grids are typically situated compared to rural sites, where isolated mini-grids can typically be found. Can interconnected mini-grids become the "leapfr...
Send us a text In this flagship episode, we uncover the transformative power of Rural Industrialization through mini-grids with insights from industry leaders Peter Nyeko of Mandulis Energy (Uganda), Camille André-Bataille of Anka (Madagascar), and Oluwatobi Soyombo of Havenhill Synergy Limited (Nigeria). The host Nico Peterschmidt of INENSUS (Tanzania, Uganda) contributes with his own experience in Rural Industrialization. We discuss - effort vs. profitability. - risk increase vs. decreas...
Send us a text Mini-grid consultants support the establishment of regulation or grant funding programs for the sector, advise on transactions or conduct due diligences. However, recent years have seen growing tensions between consultants and mini-grid companies. Host Nico confronts consultants Moses Kakooza (independent consultant, Uganda) and Maylis Bravard (INENSUS, francophone team) with some of the frustrations mini-grid companies express. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States