How can battery storage accelerate the energy transition in Africa?

This page presents the AFD study on battery storage for mini-grids, alongside insights shared during a dedicated webinar that brought together experts, institutions, and field practitioners to discuss key findings, challenges, and practical lessons learned.

🔎 About the Study

Battery storage plays a crucial role in the development of mini-grids across Sub-Saharan Africa. It ensures the stability of renewable energy production, improves service quality, and enables a continuous electricity supply — particularly in remote rural areas.

The study carried out by SETEC for AFD provides:

• a comprehensive analysis of the battery storage value chain,
• a comparison of existing technologies and their relevance in different contexts,
• insights into suitable business models,
• and an overview of the technical, financial, and operational challenges faced by local stakeholders.

Today, this study stands as a key resource to better understand the conditions needed to scale energy storage solutions for mini-grids in Africa.

🎤 The Presentation Webinar

To share the study’s main insights, an event was organized by the AFD Digital Energy program, in partnership with the AFD Energy Sector Platform.

Objectives of the Webinar

• Provide an overview of stationary storage needs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Present the most suitable financing mechanisms for supporting large-scale deployment.
• Offer a detailed look at battery storage technologies for mini-grids, including their strengths and limitations.

• Put into perspective the results of two complementary studies:

   

  • Engie Impact – priority storage needs & financing models;

  • SETEC – the battery storage value chain for mini-grids.

     

📚 Two Complementary Studies to Support Decision-Making

1) Engie Impact / AFD Study

A strategic assessment focused on:

• identifying priority storage needs in African electricity systems,
• evaluating the most relevant financing mechanisms to support large-scale deployment.

2) SETEC / AFD Study

A deep dive into battery storage for mini-grids:

• overview of available technologies,
• cost evaluations, business models, and long-term viability,
• operational challenges observed in real-world projects,
• recommendations to accelerate sustainable and scalable storage solutions.

💬 A Roundtable Featuring Field Practitioners

Moderated by Mehdi Benaïssa (AFD), the session gathered insights from:

• Léonide Sinsin, CEO of ARESS Group (Benin) – battery manufacturer & operator
• Thomas Deuve, Exide – battery manufacturer
• Liam Murphy, Vittoria Technology – innovative storage solutions
• and several other partners active in the energy sector across Africa.

This discussion brought together manufacturers, developers, institutions, and start-ups to explore practical lessons from the field, investment challenges, and opportunities to support long-term, sustainable energy storage deployments.