Supported World Bank Off-Grid Projects

• Solar Energy in Local Communities (SOLEIL)

Off-grid potential

Off-grid solar products could play a key role in closing the vast electricity access gap in Burundi – offering a rapidly deployable solution, which would benefit from the dense population concentration (470 inhabitants per square kilometer) and reliable sunshine.

So far, however, the penetration of quality-verified off-grid solar products in Burundi is very low, with only an estimated 50,000-100,000 products sold to date across the country (even the upper end of the estimate would represent only 5% of the potential market). Nearly all of the systems have been entry-level products like pico lanterns, sometimes with the ability to charge a mobile phone, with almost no uptake of larger solar home systems (SHS). This points to one of the key issues facing the off-grid market in Burundi: low affordability.

Affordability & Supply Gaps

The majority of Burundians live in poverty. Food insecurity across the country is almost double the sub-Saharan average, with about 1.77 million people in 2019 needing humanitarian assistance, according to the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).  As can be expected against this backdrop, household expenditures on consumer goods is low, greatly limiting the ability to pay for energy access products.

Despite these significant constraints, however, approximately half of Burundian households could – with consumer finance – manage the upfront cost of around US$10 to purchase a small solar lantern. Adopting a PAYG approach that spreads the cost over a year or more would make a basic single solar lantern affordable to all households, whereas 60% of households could afford a single light with phone charging, and 40% a single light with a radio.

Of course, end-user affordability is just one part of the energy access puzzle, and suppliers have yet to enter the Burundian market in a significant way. Early efforts in the off-grid space by organizations such as the One Acre Fund, the World Bank, and EnDev, while benefiting some, did not drive a private sector presence.

Foreign exchange constraints has been cited as the primary deterrent to entering the market by the private sector, followed by  low consumer demand, limited access to finance, and a lack of available market information

Mobilizing the Market

In order to close the information gap, the Lighting Africa program recently released our new report, Burundi Market Assessment for Off Grid Solar and Improved Cooking Technologies for Households to give companies a better understanding of the Burundian off-grid market potential. Taking both need and affordability into consideration, our report found that Burundi had a potential market of approximately 2.1 million households – or 100,000 products, but that only about 5% of that market has been tapped.

Lighting Africa’s interventions can help to address some of bottlenecks that are locking this potential; such as facilitating access to finance for suppliers and end-users, and carrying out consumer education efforts to catalyze demand. As a growing share of the population owns radios (40%) and mobile phones (47%), users would likely welcome affordable and reliable options to power these devices – if they know what they are, and can access and afford them. Under the World Bank-funded Solar Energy in Local Communities (SOLEIL) program, the government is planning to facilitate access to finance for suppliers and organizations through grants in both USD and local currency. The project will also be providing technical assistance, B2B linkages, supporting the development of quality standards, and carrying out consumer education efforts to catalyze demand.

Positive Signals

While the policy and regulatory frameworks for off-grid energy in Burundi are still nascent, the government has a clear commitment to expanding access to modern energy services.  Burundi’s Vision 2025, the five- year National Development Plan, and the 2011 Energy Policy Letter all underline energy access as a key national priority. The National Development Plan implementation plans are currently being created and are expected to include a defined role for off-grid energy technologies.

Government support for the off-grid sector, together with support from developmental agencies and programs like ours, can help channel the high-entrepreneurial spirit found in Burundi into expanding access to these life-changing devices.

This page was created December 2020