The electrification of the world's poor is one of the major aims of the United Nations' Sustainable Energy for All Initiatives
(UN, 2013). For least developed countries , the development and diffusion of rural off-grid electrification technologies is understood to be an effective means to achieve this aim. Specifically electric mini-grids carry a high poverty reduction potential as they can provide for productive use of electricity . In case these grids are powered by renewable energy sources (such as, e.g., hydro or solar energy), they are also in line with the global warming