Households, smallholders and entrepreneurs in remote locations across Benin will be able to access reliable and cheap electricity for the first time under a new off-grid solar scheme agreed between leading solar energy company ENGIE Energy Access and the European Investment Bank . Households, smallholders and entrepreneurs in remote locations across Benin will be able to access reliable and cheap electricity for the first time under a new off-grid solar scheme agreed between leading solar energy company ENGIE Energy Access and the European Investment Bank . In Benin, the MCA-Benin II program, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, has established a structured regulatory framework to support off-grid electrification and attract private investment. Within this framework, NEoT Offgrid Africa, GDS International, and ARESS have joined forces to. With support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) Off-Grid Clean Energy Grant Facility, Jeanne purchased a solar lighting system from the Beninese company Bahaau, which keeps her home and business brightly lit throughout the night. “Thanks to the solar kit, I can sell all night long. Benin's government has reaffirmed its intention to make renewable energy the main source of the country's power supply by 2030. Access to electricity in Benin remains both low and highly uneven: Around 42% of urban households are connected, with less than 13% in rural areas.