Titimane Electrification Project: A Community-Scale Renewable Energy Solution in Mozambique

Since 2015, JFS-RESET has been at the forefront of exploring community-scale energy solutions in Mozambique. Partnering with UNEP, FUNAI, and EDP, the initiative aimed to develop a mini-grid project powered by solar energy and biomass derived from cotton crop residues. This project, known as The Titimane Project, was designed to provide a sustainable energy supply to 900 rural families in northern Mozambique. Although administrative challenges prevented its full implementation, the project played a crucial role in shaping the legal framework for decentralized renewable energy solutions in the country.

Key Findings

1. A Decentralized and Sustainable Energy Model

Titimane, located 1,900 kilometers north of Maputo, lacks connection to the national electricity grid, leaving its 900 families without access to reliable energy. The project proposed an autonomous energy network powered by a solar farm and a biomass plant, utilizing cotton agricultural waste as a renewable energy source. This approach would have provided affordable, clean energy to the community, improving living conditions, economic opportunities, and access to essential services.

2. Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration and Impact

The initiative emerged from a partnership between EDP, UNEP, FUNAI, EDM, and Grupo João Ferreira dos Santos, demonstrating how public-private collaborations can drive sustainable energy access in underserved regions. The project was also designed to empower local communities, with a newly established company managing the electricity service, ensuring long-term economic viability by allowing residents to pay for their electricity usage. Such a model promotes self-sufficiency and local governance of energy resources.

3. Policy Influence and Future Prospects

Although the Titimane mini-grid was not fully realized, its conceptual framework influenced Mozambique’s renewable energy policies. The project helped develop regulations for decentralized energy systems, paving the way for future mini-grid projects across rural areas. Mozambique continues to expand its off-grid renewable energy solutions, leveraging lessons from the Titimane initiative to enhance energy access in isolated communities.

The Titimane Electrification Project showcased how renewable energy can transform rural communities, promoting socioeconomic development and sustainability. Although the project was not implemented due to administrative challenges, it played a pivotal role in shaping the legal framework that was eventually put into practice. Administrative barriers halted its completion, the project influenced policy changes and demonstrated the viability of decentralized renewable energy solutions. Future efforts must focus on overcoming regulatory challenges, securing long-term funding, and expanding community-based energy models to ensure universal electricity access in Mozambique.

RESET Foundation is committed with the The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By investing in community-led renewable energy projects, Mozambique can accelerate rural development and create a more sustainable and equitable energy future. The Titimane Project are linked to several SDGs:

The SDG'sG's, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.