The good news is that the IEA report indicates that microgrids are becoming the most cost-effective way to expand energy access in remote areas. The IEA also predicts that by 2030, 25% of people who have access to electricity (in developing countries) will be powered by microgrids, fuelled by renewable energy sources such as solar. For critical sectors and services such as healthcare or petrol stations on remote highways, access to resilient power sources is often a life-or-death scenario. A microgrid can also incorporate various renewable energy sources. In rural areas, where over 80% of the electricity-deprived live, microgrids and stand-alone systems, mostly solar-based, are the most viable solutions.
