Ignite Energy Access reaches a milestone in Zambia’s rural electrification efforts with the successful commissioning of the second batch of solar minigrids under the Increase Access to Electricity and Renewable Energy Production (IAEREP) Project, co-financed by the European Union (EU) through the National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund (NAO). The event, recently held at the 100kWp Kumadzi Solar Minigrid site in Chadiza District, marks another significant step forward in expanding clean, affordable and reliable power access to under-served communities across Zambia’s Eastern Province.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), grids have been gaining momentum globally as a leading solution for mass electrification, providing clean, sustainable and reliable electricity to millions of people worldwide. IRENA’s Minigrid Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 report highlights that solar mini grids have grown worldwide by 633% over the last decade, and by 187% since 2020, underscoring their accelerating role in closing the global energy access gap.
The newly commissioned sites include 15 solar minigrids, forming part of a broader pipeline of 60 minigrids being developed by Ignite Energy Access. These systems are expected to bring electricity to thousands of homes, schools, health facilities, and small businesses, helping to drive socio-economic growth across rural Zambia.
During the event, the delegation toured the generation unit and visited a Productive Use of Energy (PUE) customer, a local hammer mill operator, demonstrating how reliable power is already stimulating income-generating activities and transforming lives.
“The commissioning of these 15 sites in Chadiza today is a shining example of what partnerships can achieve”, said Helen Zulu, MD, Ignite Energy Access Zambia. “These minigrids will bring sustainable energy to households and businesses, enabling families to light their homes, students to study after dark; and entrepreneurs to extend their business hours, fostering growth and reducing reliance on harmful fuels. Together, we are making clean energy access a universal right, not a privilege.”
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