mongi_ben_youssef

Tunisian solar energy pioneer who transformed rural electrification in North Africa

Mongi Ben Youssef (b. 1972) revolutionized renewable energy access in Tunisia through his work at Solar Tunisia. Starting in 1998, he developed the first community-owned solar microgrid systems for remote villages. His innovations included:

• Low-cost solar panels using local materials
• Pay-as-you-go financing models
• Community maintenance training programs

By 2005, his projects had electrified 200+ villages, providing power to 80,000+ residents. His 2008 "Solar for All" paper became a blueprint for African energy policy. Ben Youssef's 2012 creation of the "Desert Grid Initiative" connected Tunisia's solar farms with Moroccan and Algerian networks, increasing regional energy independence by 35%. His 2017 TED Talk "Why Solar Power Needs Community" has influenced projects in 12 countries. Now director of the Africa Energy Council, he recently launched the Sahel Solar Corridor project aiming to power 10 million households by 2030.