Key findings:
- A new study finds mesh-grids are a complementary technology that can fill gaps in electrification efforts
- CrossBoundary’s Innovation Lab found full mesh-grid installations have 41% lower cost per connection compared to traditional mini-grids
- Mesh-grids can cut initial investment costs and speed up connections in underserved area
- Mesh-grids are less compelling when used to extend existing grids – where they can be 45% more expensive than mini-grid extensions
A new study from CrossBoundary’s Innovation Lab shows that mesh-grids are a scalable and cost-effective approach to rural electrification, particularly in areas where traditional infrastructure is hard to build or expand. The findings highlight that mesh-grids can enhance rural electrification strategies by reducing initial infrastructure costs and speeding up connections in dense, underserved areas.
What are mesh-grids?
Mesh-grids are interconnected systems of decentralized generation and storage units that form a cluster to supply electricity to homes and businesses. The technology offers reliable power access in remote areas where extending traditional grids is difficult.
Tombo Banda, CrossBoundary Managing Director and Innovation Lab Lead, explained the significance of the findings: “These results point to mesh-grids as a complementary technology that fills an important gap in electrification efforts alongside mini-grids, solar home systems and national grid extension. They’re fast to deploy and cost-effective – meaning they are well-suited for many challenging contexts. It’s not about choosing one approach; it’s about having the full range of solutions to meet different community needs.”
The Innovation Lab tested two configurations in Nigeria:
- A full mesh-grid installation
- Mesh-grid extensions to existing mini-grids
The full mesh-grid installation cut infrastructure costs per connection by 41%, at $803 versus $1,358 for the mini-grid control site. This figure is also 23% lower than the regional average for mini-grids in West and Central Africa, where nearly half the population still lacks electricity.
However, Banda and her team caution that not all mesh-grid deployments yield savings. Extensions to existing mini-grids were about 45% more expensive than standard mini-grid extensions, mainly because the original mini-grid already had adequate generation and storage, requiring only distribution upgrades.
The study also surfaced important considerations around operational costs and revenue models. While extension mesh-grids demonstrated 25% higher average revenue per user despite lower power consumption, full installations recorded 48% lower revenue compared to mini-grid control sites.
Mesh-grids show particular promise for household-level needs and low-to-medium power
applications, typically providing around 1.2 kW per system. However, their ability to power
higher energy loads for business use and maintain long-term effectiveness is yet to be
determined.
The CrossBoundary Innovation Lab will continue testing to fully understand mesh-grids’ capacity for high-load productive uses and long-term durability across different deployment scenarios.
For more details on the study and its recommendations, visit:
https://crossboundary.com/mesh-grids-cost-effective-scalable-for-rural-electrification/