Igbérè’s minigrid
Power:On built Benin’s first private minigrid in in Igbérè, home of 3,000 inhabitants
We have been operating it since 2015
Over 100 families, businesses and public services get electricity from our grid
They can light their homes and power appliances just as if they were in the city
Watch our story, narrated by Eva Green
Life in the village has transformed dramatically
Living conditions are improving, economic opportunities are rising
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Entrepreneurs like Julienne can operate their shops in the evening and use fridges to preserve food.
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Villagers can access information about what is going on in the world and experience an open air cinema for the first time.
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Rural clinics can run more efficiently, even at nighttime.
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Mosques and churches now have lighting and can even play music during ceremonies
Igbérè’s team
Louise ABALOUNOROU
Tristan and Louise have known each other since 2009, when they both worked in a Beninese NGO focused on education and microfinance.
Louise is a field expert who speaks no less than 8 languages and has worked all her life for programs focused on improving the living conditions of people living in rural areas: education, nutrition, fight against female circoncision…
She is now dedicated to improving electricity access in her home country, where over 90% of rural inhabitants do not have access to electricity.
Jean BARKA
Jean used to live in Natitingou, Louise's hometown, and is now Power:On's local employee in Igbérè. His dedication to our mission is the reason why Power:On is a success.
Jacques BOURBON
Jacques is a distribution grid expert and a professional trainer, but most of all an amazing man with a lot of heart. He designed Igbérè's grid, trained local workers to build it and taught us how to make it work!
We are working on version 2.0 of Igbérè’s minigrid, which will be a state of the art solar hybrid system coupled to smart grid technology provided by ou partner SparkMeter
This will allow Igbérè’s inhabitant to access a vastly improved service for a lower cost!
We are proud to have this project supported by Elecocité, a French electricity supplier who gives impact to your electricity bill!
Igbérè is the first step
Since this first project, Power:On has worked with renowned partners to unlocked dozens more minigrids to provide thousands more people with electricity
Some of the love we’ve received ❤️
Parce que c'est aussi important.https://t.co/10rbYjynEf
— Nicolas Berno (@nicolasberno) April 19, 2017
Other projects
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Benin
How La Distillerie Béninoise is producing and distributing an award-winning liquor that is exported to Europe and the U.S.
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Togo
Field study in villages in all of Togo for a consortium interested in a minigrid tender
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Guinea
Field study in villages in all of Guinea for two consortiums preparing offers for a minigrid tender