We are glad to share a new publication by Mohammed Bendaanane, TUM SEED Center–supported doctoral candidate, and Prof. Dr. Frank-Martin Belz, Director of the TUM SEED Center, published in Energy Research & Social Science.

Drawing on a qualitative case study in Kenya, the study shows how foreignness manifests at the policy, community, venture, and founder levels, shaping the profitability challenge for private mini-grid developers.

Key insights

• Don’t rely solely on foreign developers to reach SDG7. Long‑term energy access goals require building local capabilities and ecosystems.
• Back local entrepreneurs. Tailored support and funding mechanisms should reflect local social and economic realities.
• Use hybrid co‑ownership models. Combining international expertise with local embeddedness can bridge the gap between profitability and impact.
• Prioritize cultural fluency. For foreign founders, humility and cultural understanding matter as much as finance and technology.

“History may impede the sustainability of ideas over the long term by invoking intense emotions that can disrupt carefully prepared initiatives.” — Claus et al. [63], cited in the paper

Why it matters

Expanding access to reliable, clean energy is essential to inclusive growth and climate resilience across the region. This research adds nuance to the debate by explaining how the origins and positioning of developers interact with regulation, communities, business models, and leadership—and how these layers jointly influence commercial viability.

Read the full open‑access article:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104405