Veolia Foundation expands decentralised solar electrification model in Madagascar

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
These nano-grids use solar energy to supply electricity to five or six households. Credit: Veolia

After successful trials, the Veolia Foundation, an arm of French waste management giant Veolia that financially backs non-profit, community-oriented projects, has decided to expand its decentralised solar electrification plans in northern Madagascar to create 1,000 nano-grids and 100 nano-entrepreneurs by the end of the year.

These nano-grids use solar energy to supply electricity to five or six households, with the households pre-purchasing the power via mobile phone payments. A key part of the programme led by the Nanoé Développement association is the training of so-called nano-entrepreneurs to install and manage the nano-grids.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The plan is focused on the Diana region so far with participating homes being able to power several LED lamps and charge an electrical or electronic device such as a phone via the nano-grids.

Nolwenn Le Saux and Nicolas Saincy, engineers and founders of Nanoé Développement, said: “By creating a new progressive and modular ‘lateral electricity’ model, electricity becomes accessible to everyone. The system prioritizes the gradual interconnection of small decentralized and locally-managed grids rather than developing a national infrastructure which is likely to stop before it reaches rural areas.”

After the trial phase earlier this year, 300 homes were connected to nano-grids and fifteen nano-entrepreneurs were trained earning profits equivalent to 1.6 times the median national income, said Veolia in a release.

In March, Madagascar’s Ministry of Water, Energy and Hydrocarbons (MEEH) released a list of six pre-qualified bidders for the country’s 25MW(AC) Scaling Solar tender, which is the first to include energy storage in its remit.

Read Next

August 28, 2025
Bahraini, Chinese, Egyptian and Emirati groups have agreed to develop a new solar and storage manufacturing facility in Egypt
Premium
August 26, 2025
Africa imported over 15GW of panels from China in the 12 months to June 2025, a 60% increase over the imports recorded in the prior year.
August 21, 2025
Qair has secured a US$5.7 million senior debt facility to finance the development of a 5.8MW floating solar (FPV) project in Seychelles.
August 14, 2025
South Africa’s state-owned energy utility, Eskom, has issued a request for proposals for 291MW of solar capacity.
Premium
August 12, 2025
AFSIA CEO John van Zuylen told PV Tech Premium that solar power is the “ideal” technology type to improve electricity access in Africa.
August 7, 2025
Infinity Power has signed two concession agreements with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire for PV projects with a total capacity of 80MWac.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines