The Powerpath project carries a number of regulatory risks, including the inability to comply with standards and unknown local regulations in Madagascar, making the technology difficult to implement. Mitigation is to be performed by Nanoé; a Madagascar-based company developing nano-grids - collective solar systems that deliver power to 4-6 households. It counts 90 field-staff across height offices in the North of Madagascar. Since 2017, Nanoé has deployed above 3,000 of these solar nano-grids, connecting 13,000 users in 600 villages of the Diana, Sava and Sofia regions of Madagascar.
Nanoé will draw on its significant operational and field-needs experience for PowerPath, having already trained 150+ nano-entrepreneurs. It also brings a wealth of research and development (R&D) expertise to the project, having successfully participated in several collaborative research initiatives over the last few years, dedicated to access to renewable energy in Africa and including other projects such as:
- IMPHORAA: speedy market penetration for a combined set of proven technologies (solar PV nano-grids, cooling, water pumping) primarily in the Philippines and Madagascar, where they are eagerly needed by rural off-grid communities
- H2020 LEAP-RE: Europe-Africa partnership for renewable energy
- ENERGICA: energy access in urban and rural Africa
Due to its local presence and technical expertise, Nanoé is already aware of local regulations. Further consultations have been conducted with impacted communities as well as invitations to community leaders for fair regulation on any local issues.