Identifying who will own and operate a mini-grid is crucial. Possible owners include governments, public utilities, communities, private businesses or some combination of these actors. Project developers can choose from among many ownership models, each with different benefits and drawbacks. The project’s operating environment often determines which model is best.

This module explores the most common mini-grid ownership models, the settings where each model tends to work best, the pros and cons of each model and the technical training and capacity building that the owners in each model might need.