Energy access
Off-Grid
Energy systems that operate independently of the main electricity grid, including stand-alone systems and mini-grids serving remote or unserved populations.
Definition
Off-grid refers to electricity supply that is not connected to a centralised national or regional grid. Off-grid solutions range from small stand-alone systems such as solar home systems and lanterns to mini-grids serving whole communities, and are a principal route to electricity access for people beyond grid reach.
References
access deficit and off-grid solution categories
mini-grid role in off-grid electrification
Overview
What it means
Hundreds of millions of people, concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, remain without grid electricity. Off-grid renewables — particularly solar — have become the least-cost way to reach many of them, creating new markets for decentralised energy companies and pay-as-you-go finance.
How it is used
The term is standard in energy access policy and tracking, including SDG 7 monitoring, the SEforALL tracking framework and IEA access analyses, which distinguish grid, mini-grid and stand-alone connections.
Why it matters
Off-grid solutions determine how fast universal energy access can be achieved and whether it is achieved cleanly; they also underpin decentralised resilience arguments as grids face climate stresses.
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