Connecting 50 million rural households in 10 African countries by 2030.

The fast-track to long-term, affordable rural energy access

Why we need a new energy access model

565 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa cannot afford basic energy access. The IEA estimates that by 2030, over half a billion people will still be waiting to be connected to electricity. Universal energy access will not be achieved by current sales models with high upfront costs that exclude the poorest rural households and lack long-term service guarantees.

Deux enfants assis devant une maison en briques, éclairée par une lumière au-dessus, à l'extérieur la nuit.

What is REAL?

The Rural Energy Access Lab (REAL) is an independent not-for-profit catalyst working with governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to scale pre-grid electrification programs.

REAL combines solar systems as infrastructure with Energy-as-a-Service to deliver pre-grid electrification at scale, faster, and in areas that current models can’t reach.

Through public-private partnerships and open-source knowledge sharing, REAL is building an ecosystem for a new kind of energy access program designed for inclusivity and long-term affordability.

REAL’s plan delivers three core benefits:

01. Affordability

Removing upfront costs through smart subsidies, eliminating lump sum payments and credit checks, with significantly lower monthly fees.

02. Speed

Rapid, cost-efficient deployment of solar systems as an infrastructure rather than individual sales of SHS as consumer goods. Bulk procurement and installation of standardized systems is faster and more inclusive.

03. Sustainability

REAL’s Energy-as-a-Service model ensures long-term system performance and maintenance, whilst being cash-flow positive for operators without ongoing subsidies. Operators are incentivized to use durable, built-for-service products, reducing failures and minimizing e-waste.

Where REAL delivers more

What does REAL do?

REAL aims to scale sustainable, and pre-grid rural electrification models, turning isolated successes into a continent-wide movement.

In the coming months, REAL will catalyze the mobilization of $20m that will finance the launch of sustainable pre-grid electrification programs in 4-10 countries. In parallel, REAL aims to develop the enabling environment necessary for these projects to achieve success at scale, through a number of levers:

TA & catalytic financing

Supporting governments and donors with technical assistance and catalytic financing, aiming to mobilize $1 billion in subsidies to power 50 million currently unserved households.

Model replication

Developing templates, frameworks and technical standards that help consistently replicate the REAL model.

New product standards

Coordinating the development of a new “built-for-service” standard for products used in sustainable pre-grid electrification programs.

Ecosystem coordination

Creating an ecosystem through the aggregation of knowledge, setting reference points, and avoiding fragmented or duplicative approaches.

REAL world impact

To date, already tens of thousands in high-poverty areas across Malawi, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Madagascar are paying for Energy-as-a-Service, paving the way for sustainable operations and local job creation.