Global off-grid renewable energy capacity tripled between 2008 and 2017

Globally, off-grid renewable energy capacity tripled between 2008 and 2017, from 2 GW to more than
6.
5 GW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
African and Asian countries accounted for most of this increase, with more than 53 million people currently in Africa and 76 million people in Asia using this off-grid electricity
.

Global off-grid renewable energy capacity tripled between 2008 and 2017

Asia leads the deployment of off-grid renewable energy capacity

In Asia, total off-grid capacity more than tripled in 2017, from 1.
3 GW in 2008 to nearly 4.
3 GW
.
The share of solar energy has also almost tripled, from 11% in 2008 to more than
30% in 2017.

Off-grid solar is being deployed in the Asian region to provide a wide range of services, including household electrification and industrial and commercial/public use
.
Some countries, including China, have taken a bottom-up approach to rural electrification through the development of distributed power infrastructure
.

The modular and distributed nature of solar PV allows it to be adapted to a variety of off-grid applications, and several programs and programs have been launched to accelerate deployment
.
In India, for example, a strong policy priority is leading to the rapid deployment of off-grid solar for agricultural and public end applications, especially pumping water
.

Agriculture and public end-use applications in India

In India, the number of solar pumps used for irrigation and drinking water supply increased from 11,626 in 2014 to 177,000 in 2018
.

The government has adopted two financing options: first, farmers receive a capital subsidy of 30% of the baseline cost of the pump, as well as possible additional subsidies for the government; The second credit-linked program involves a 40 per cent capital subsidy, a 20 per cent beneficiary contribution and surplus funds
extended through loans implemented by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

In addition, the number of solar street lights in India doubled between 2014 and 2018 to more than
620,000.

Africa has become a center for rapid development of off-grid capacity

Africa's cumulative off-grid renewable energy capacity increased from 231 MW in 2008 to nearly 1.
2 GW
in 2017.
Solar technology has been a key driver of off-grid capacity growth, with more than 820 megawatts of solar lighting, home systems and mini-grids deployed
.

Abundant resources, distributed technology and reduced costs make solar the default choice
for meeting a variety of electricity services in areas not served by Africa's grids.

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