Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced grant funding for technical assistance to help Beninese company Sherlock Grids SAS expand and improve clean energy access to rural communities across the country.
"This project embodies USTDA''s commitment to deploy innovative solutions that connect more of Africa''s citizens to clean, reliable power," said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA''s Acting Director. "By leveraging U.S. technologies, USTDA''s engagement will help mitigate the climate crisis while supporting Benin''s goal of universal electrification through solar power."
Sherlock Grids will work with Washington, DC-based technology provider SparkMeter to analyze the feasibility of bringing solar-powered minigrids online for tens of thousands of Beninese. The project will also demonstrate the benefits of implementing a digitalized system to fully integrate and remotely manage multiple minigrids. The system will consist of smart meters, digital models of the minigrids and their distribution networks, and software for real-time outage management, asset management, and planning.
"Grid edge technologies are a powerful but underutilized tool in emerging markets. By developing a grid analytics platform for Sherlock Grids, the utility can provide its end users with reliable power and ensure financial sustainability for the project," said Dan Schnitzer, CEO of SparkMeter. "We''re confident that USTDA''s forward-thinking investment in utility digitalization in Benin and throughout the region is a prelude to larger-scale investment within the minigrid sector."
Tristan Kochoyan, CEO of Sherlock Grids, said: "As a social enterprise, what motivates us is the impact electricity can have on rural communities. This is also very much aligned with our minigrid operator business: the more useful and transformative our services are, the more electricity people will consume. Both technological and business model innovations are key to trigger this kind of virtuous circle of economic and social development. We strongly believe that what USTDA is helping us achieve in Benin can contribute to solving the electricity access crisis for millions more."
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
Enabling remote management of green mini-grids. This is the aim of the project that SparkMeter will be implementing in West Africa in the coming weeks. The smart metering and analytics technology provider has received a $1 million grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to deploy a comprehensive digital analytics platform to improve the operation of solar mini-grids in rural areas.
The SparkMeter remote management system will be operated by Sherlock Grids SAS. This special purpose company is being set up by mini-grid operator Power:On and Akuo Energy Africa, the subsidiary of French independent power producer (IPP) Akuo Energy. The joint venture between the players is involved in the deployment of off-grid solar systems that contribute to the electrification of rural areas in Benin.
More than a year ago, the two electricity providers were selected in a call for projects by the Off-Grid Clean Energy Facility (Ocef) to build, operate and maintain 10 grid-connected solar hybrid mini-grids in 19 localities in the Atacora and Donga departments in the north of the country. As part of its project, SparkMeter plans to provide advice on developing geospatial models of utility assets and an electrical model of the grid.
Cloud-based software will combine these models with SparkMeter’s smart meter data to produce advanced analyses of grid performance. According to the Washington, D.C.-based company, these services go a step further than traditional feasibility studies. That’s because SparkMeter will use system modelling to provide analytics that provide utilities and other stakeholders with operational information that explains the root causes of network anomalies, tracks trends, shows impacts and suggests improvements.
“By digitising a mini-grid at inception, utilities are able to more easily integrate grid analysis into regular operations. Utilities can then remotely measure, visualise and operate their system, which will replace charcoal stoves, paraffin lamps and diesel generators with clean, renewable energy,” explains Dan Schnitzer, SparkMeter’s CEO. The implementation of these intelligent mini-grid management systems is set to expand in Benin and beyond. For these decentralised systems facilitate and accelerate the electrification of rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Benin, the results of the Off-Grid Clean Energy Facility (OCEF) call for projects are known. At least eight projects for the construction, maintenance and operation of mini-solar and energy efficiency grids have been selected for an overall investment of more than $69.5 million. These projects were proposed by 11 companies.
Among these companies is Akuo Energy Africa, the subsidiary of the French company Akuo Energy, which has partnered with Power: On to propose a project for the construction, operation and maintenance of 10 hybrid solar mini-grids with a distribution network in 19 localities in the departments of Atacora and Donga in northern Benin. In the south of this West African country, a consortium formed by Energicity Corp and Comtel Sarl proposes the construction of 20 mini-solar grids to support the economic development of 20 localities in the departments of Zou, Couffo and Collines.
The other projects were proposed by the giant Engie, which is investing more and more in the segment of solar mini grids, called Power Corner with its containerized solution. In Benin, the French company wants to install 22 solar photovoltaic systems in the Borgou, Donga and Zou regions. Among the successful bidders in the Off-Grid Clean Energy Facility (OCEF) call for projects is also a consortium formed by Electricians Without Borders, Songhai and Pamiga.
The Paras Energy & Natural Resources Development and Smart Roof Solar Solutions consortium project was selected by the OCEF. The same applies to the consortium GDS International, Aress and Blue Solutions; as well as WindGen Power USA and Sunkofa.
“In addition to the mini-grid projects, two solar home systems distribution projects and one energy efficiency project were selected. Together, these various initiatives will increase the electricity generation capacity by 13.4 MW and provide reliable and quality energy to 128 localities through solar mini-grids and 39 localities through solar home systems,” says the Off-Grid Clean Energy Facility (OCEF).
The solar kit projects are led by Bahaau Distribution, which aims to distribute the solar home systems to at least 2,500 households in the Collines, Zou, Donga, Borgou, Ouémé and Couffo administrative divisions. The company Qotto Benin proposes to distribute 8,800 solar kits throughout Benin.
In the energy efficiency sector, the OCEF has selected a project led by the consortium formed by Tolaro Global S.A.S, Innovation énergie développement (IED) and Invest/Nitidae. These companies want to implement an energy efficiency project in a cashew nut processing industry by replacing the electricity consumption of the Benin electricity company (SBEE) with self-generation from agricultural waste and the production of 500 kW of electricity through gasification. This process converts organic matter into a synthetic gas, which is burned to produce electricity.
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