Rural electrification in Africa : An economic development opportunity ?

Electricity is expensive and difficult to access in sub-Saharan Africa. Improving infrastructures would accelerate the electrification of rural areas but requires a high level of funding. Decentralised power generation projects – based on renewable energies – could be the key to unlocking this high-potential market. As yet, however, these projects have not developed business models that are genuinely sustainable over the long term.