Is decentralised solar power a cost-effective way to power Madagascar?

A costly expansion of the national electricity grid is a long way off and not the most cost-effective way either. Madagascar is one of the sunniest countries in the world with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, so decentralised solar power supply to rural areas is not only easier but also cheaper.

Does Madagascar have a power supply at night?

Lithium-ion batteries also provide power at night. Madagascar is the largest island state in Africa and the fourth largest island in the world. With the equivalent of 440 US dollars a year 1, the annual gross national income per capita is far below the average of the other African states south of the Sahara.

Why do Madagascans need more electricity?

Many Madagascans have to walk for miles to recharge their mobile phones. Moreover, electricity also means more production and better food and health care. An expansion of the energy supply is therefore urgently needed, but the national budget is burdened by high subsidies for the country’s largest electricity supplier.