In many rural regions across the globe, access to electricity remains an unresolved challenge. More than 700 million people live without connection to a reliable source of energy—primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and in remote areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. This lack of access is not only a technical issue but also a structural barrier to development, education, healthcare, and social equity.

In response to this global challenge, decentralized mini-grids have emerged as a viable, flexible, and transformative solution. These are localized electrification systems capable of meeting the energy demands of rural communities without relying directly on the central power grid. When designed and managed according to democratic, cooperative, and sustainable principles, microgrids become genuine tools for local empowerment and development.

At Aiguasol, we believe another model of energy is possible—one that is more community-driven, equitable, and sustainable. This vision has led us, in collaboration with Azimut360 and the Reiner Lemoine Institute, to co-develop an online course for the Renewables Academy (RENAC), focusing on the transformative potential of decentralized mini-grids. The course targets technical professionals with decision-making capacity in rural electrification projects across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Our contribution: strategies, governance models, and economic viability

As part of the course, we have provided a comprehensive perspective, grounded in our field experience, structured around four key pillars:

• Implementation strategies for off-grid mini-grids, specifically designed for rural communities without access to electricity in the LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) region.
• Participatory governance models: We advocate for the creation of energy communities governed under cooperative structures, where ownership and decision-making remain within the community. At Aiguasol, we firmly support cooperative governance models that place communities at the center of the energy system—as owners, managers, and direct beneficiaries of the value generated.
• Business models and economic viability: We analyze costs, financing mechanisms, and management strategies using financial indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and payback period to assess the economic sustainability of mini-grids projects.
  Real-world case studies, including experiences from Sabana Real and Sabana Yegua (Dominican Republic) and rural communities in Mozambique, where microgrids are already transforming lives.

To ensure practical applicability, we collaborated in the creation of:

• A video-based practical guide on the mini-grid modeling tool developed within the Digital Energy Challenge project, enabling the design and simulation of systems tailored to local conditions.
• Summary videos for each course module, including interviews with participants, community members, and sector experts, along with virtual tours of operational installations.

A value-based energy model

At Aiguasol, we promote an energy paradigm rooted in values. Our approach integrates cooperative principles and democratic governance, gender equity as a cross-cutting axis for participation and leadership, and environmental sustainability with climate adaptation. Our strategic planning framework considers social, organizational, technical, and economic factors to ensure that mini-grids are sustainable over time and tailored to the specific needs of each community.

Through this approach, we aim to build mini-grids that deliver not only electricity, but also opportunity, sovereignty, and community cohesion.

📌 Did you know…? Promoting women’s participation in rural electrification projects through mini-grids leads to more context-sensitive decision-making, optimized resource use, and long-term sustainability. Gender perspectives should be mainstreamed across all project phases—design, implementation, and operation—and across all dimensions: organizational, social, technical, and economic.

Capacity building for an equitable, participatory, and replicable energy transition

This educational initiative is more than just a training tool—it is an investment in a future powered by collaborative, regenerative, and community-rooted energy systems.

At Aiguasol, we are committed to placing energy at the service of people and the environment, because we believe the energy transition will only be real if it is just.

👉 Learn more about RENAC and its renewable energy training programs at: www.renac.de