Mini-grid

By 2040, an estimated 140 million Africans could access electricity from mini-grids

Connecting communities

Built to National Grid Standards in partnership with communities. ARC Power’s mini-grids are designed and constructed in-line with the strict specifications set out by the National Grid to meet the quality standards of national utility providers.

Using local teams as much as possible, the Company installs the distribution poles and cabling from the ARCs (solar generation units) connecting to each home, whilst in parallel, our ARC team builds the containerised ARC generation units, ready for testing and switch-on.

How it works?

Simple. Scalable. Sustainable

ARCs are transported in standard 10,20 or 40-foot shipping containers. On arrival at the installation site, the container serves as a housing for the battery storage, inverters and all other hardware. A single ARC can be installed and connected within two weeks.

Providing low maintenance

We design-out obsolescence by using off-the shelf, tried-and-tested components from leading edge manufacturers. Once up and running, an ARC is managed remotely through cloud technology, providing a low maintenance solution.

ARC Power is Solar power with a difference

Integrating proprietary smart systems which use off-the-shelf components, ARCs are managed remotely through cloud technology, providing a low maintenance solution to energy provision and management.

Pay-as-you-go

Each ARC Power connected home has its own electricity meter, so customers only pay for the power they use on a pre-pay Pay-AS-You-Go basis. When it’s time to top-up the meter, everything is completed in real-time, using ARC’s proprietary management software via the customer’s mobile phone, even if it isn’t a Smartphone.

An ARC comprises:

Solar panels

Solar panels to generate DC power from the sun, a plentiful resource in sub-Saharan Africa.

Power inverters

Power inverters to convert DC power into AC power for use in the community.

Lithium batteries

Lithium batteries, to store surplus power until needed: early in the morning, before sunrise, and late in the evening, after sunset.

Communications hardware

Communications hardware controlled and managed through cloud technology to ensure efficient running.

SMART meters

SMART meters for every customer, so they pay only for what they use, and to facilitate real-time power top-ups through our cloud-based system.

Driving sustainable change

Our impact in Africa

It’s our aim to make getting connected as simple as possible for everyone.

In Mozambique, we commissioned the first private mini-grid, securing a national concession to roll out mini-grids in Gaza Province, with the aim of connecting more than 3,000 people to electricity for the first time

Mini-grids constructed in Rwanda
0 %
Villages connected
0 %
No. of women employed
0
Distribution networks served
0
Generation systems
0

Project spotlight

In 2019 we installed an ARC Power mini-grid in the remote Rwandan village of Rutobotobo, bringing reliable, sustainable first-time energy to this small village of 270 houses.

 

Fast forward, and today Rutobotobo’s size has more than trebled with people attracted by the reliable, cheap power and a place they can now successfully raise a family and start a business.

Local barbershop operating with electricity in Rutobotobo after ARC Power activation

"It’s our aim to make getting connected as simple as possible for everyone"

ARC Power innovation

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ARC Power innovation

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FUSE

ARC’s groundbreaking FUSE model, in partnership with The International Finance Corporation (IFC), guaranteed by MIGA, is an innovative solution to accelerate clean energy access throughout Africa.

Commercial + Industrial

Our innovative C&I solutions deliver cost efficient reliable energy access and storage at scale. Working in partnership with commercial entities we have developed key initiatives designed to revolutionise access through pre-funded schemes.

ARC Technologies

ARC Power’s proprietary software platform supports DRE system design, solar generation, storage, metering, billing, CRM, and automated grid operations for improved management.

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