9 March 2021: As part of its strategic focus on energy access and clean energy for Nigerians, Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF), the first listed infrastructure debt fund in Nigeria and Africa, has announced the successful financial close for the construction of 22 mini-grids being developed by Havenhill Synergy Limited (Havenhill) under the Nigeria Electrification Project.

With this development, NIDF will provide Havenhill long-term financing of N1.8 billion (c. $4.6 million) to part-finance the roll out of these mini-grids, that would connect 70,000 people along with other establishments in the host communities to clean, reliable energy supply.

Recent data obtained from National Bureau of Statistics revealed that access to reliable electricity in Nigeria is relatively low with a rural electrification rate still hovering around 39%.

In 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also estimated that a lack of access to reliable electricity costs Nigeria an estimated US$29 billion a year.

The inability of the owners/operators of main electricity grid to connect rural communities and provide them with reliable power supply has further amplified the need for decentralised energy systems and other clean alternatives.

Havenhill is addressing these challenges by deploying smart solar mini-grids to commercially viable rural communities across the country.

Speaking on the completion of the groundbreaking deal, the CEO of NIDF, Anshul Rai, noted that it was quite fulfilling to note that NIDF is playing a significant role in improving energy access in Nigeria.

“NIDF prides itself in being the leader in financing of clean energy and energy access projects in Nigeria and thus contribute to the achievement of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In multiple projects such as Havenhill, our unitholders can see their capital in action and generating not only financial returns but also making a strong, positive impact on the daily lives of their fellow citizens”, Rai said.

He disclosed that financing of the project will be funded from the fund’s recently concluded Series-7 capital raise, which also involved the participation of African Development Bank (AfDB).

“With the support of AfDB, NIDF is also implementing a comprehensive Environmental & Social Management System for the fund and also supporting its borrowers adopt the international best practices in the area of environmental and social sustainability” he added.

On his part, Director – Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank, Wale Shonibare, described the investment in the project as a welcome development that would assist in complementing its role to the sovereign loan offered to the Federal Government of Nigeria which is targeted at supporting the implementation of the Nigeria Electrification Project.

While expressing his satisfaction with the outcome, the CEO of Havenhill, Olusegun Odunaiya stated that it was quite exciting to have NIDF as a long-term partner for the mini-grids roll-out project.

According to Odunaiya, the NIDF team’s commercial savviness has enabled it to implement a highly innovative financing structure that fully addresses the peculiarities of the project and, therefore, ensure its long-term success.

“This milestone serves as a renewal of Havenhill’s commitment to powering Nigeria’s most remote communities and delivering last-mile electricity connections. These mini-grids will catalyse economic activities in host communities, serve healthcare facilities, and overall deliver a transformative multiplier effect. I appreciate the efforts and grit of our team in solving one of the most important problems in the world today”, he added.

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About NIDF: The Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (“NIDF” or “the Fund”) is the first listed infrastructure debt fund in Nigeria and Africa. NIDF is a close-ended fund, domiciled in Nigeria and denominated in Naira. The Fund is structured to enable investors access infrastructure asset class, while providing benefits of predictable returns available from long-dated infrastructure debt investments.

About Havenhill: Havenhill Synergy Limited (Havenhill) is a clean-tech utility company committed to improving energy access in rural and urban Nigeria using clean energy sources. In rural areas, Havenhill deploys smart solar mini-grids to commercially viable off-grid rural communities. In urban areas, Havenhill helps businesses (like factories, large farms etc) reduce their energy cost and provide them with more reliable energy access through its Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar offering. Havenhill is currently pioneering a new structure for powering healthcare facilities through the electrification of 23 healthcare facilities under its Energizing Healthcare Initiative in partnership with USAIDs’ Power Africa Off-Grid Project (PAOP) and United States African Development Foundation (USADF).

10 March 2021: Ifarm360, a Kenyan crowdfunding platform for farmers, Ennos, a Swiss solar firm and Epicenter Africa, a local solar distributor, have partnered to support smallholder farmers with solar technology in a bid to accelerate food security, climate action and end poverty.

ifarm 360, through its crowdfunding platform and farmer network, will mobilize resources to support the installation of over 1000 solar kits in the first phase of the project. Ennos, a Swiss-based solar technology provider, is working on design and technology that will ensure that the 1000 solar kits are working perfectly for the Kenyan farmers. Epicenter Africa, a renowned solar and energy solutions provider and distributor will support local farmers with access, installation and technology support for the solar kits.

With the partnership, the firms aim to help smallholder farmers in Kenya that struggle with the high cost of acquisition, lack of availability, and lack of a sustainable financing model. Ifarm360 aims to empower farming as a business by linking smallholder farmers to affordable finance from crowd investors to help improve farm production. Ifarm360 also helps users supervise production and create a sustainable revenue-sharing model for its users.

According to Derrick Gakuu, CTO of Ifarm360, “Solar technology is a life-changing technology that will transform the lives of smallholder farmers. With these technologies, farmers can now farm up to 3 crop cycles a year. This partnership will empower farmers to produce more, climb out of poverty and adopt environmentally friendly farm practices.”

This is a welcome partnership as over 90% of Kenyan farmers heavily rely on rain-fed agriculture or use outdated farm irrigation methods like manual flooding and furrows. Only 4% of Africa’s arable land is under irrigation compared to 60% in Asia. Solar irrigation technology offers the greatest hope for these farmers. With a solar kit, a small-scale farmer can farm up to 3 cycles a year, increase yields by 300%+ and earn up to $14,000 (Ksh. 1,400,000) in annualized household income.

12 March 2021: "We are announcing a new partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), to scale access to LPG clean cooking services in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

As a next generation utility, we manufacture, distribute and finance decentralised solar powered systems in developing countries – and we have been leveraging our innovative IoT technology to expand access to vital utilities. Bboxx Pulse®, our IoT technology-enabled comprehensive management platform, means we can remotely monitor, manage and deliver clean cooking solutions in a distributed and scalable model.

We have already positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the DRC with access to solar energy and now clean cooking facilities too, all available on a Pay-As-You-Go basis using mobile money. Following this latest financing of half a million dollars made up of a loan and a grant from UNCDF, we will scale-up our operations and bring our tried and tested LPG clean cooking services to thousands of people in the DRC, specifically targeting Goma, Bukavu, and Lubumbashi.

Only 4% of the DRC population has access to clean cooking facilities, which is a major stumbling block in meeting UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (UN SDG 7). While UN SDG 7 includes access to clean and affordable cooking for everyone, we have found that this aspect is often overlooked.

This comes as the World Bank has found that lack of clean cooking services costs the world over $2.4 trillion a year due to the negative impacts of using wood and charcoal on people’s health, gender equality, the environment and lost economic opportunities.

Our financing with UNCDF shows significant momentum in our clean cooking activity. It’s a relevant part of our financing structure development as it complements the grant that we secured at the end of last year from the U.S. Agency for International Development to scale our clean cooking technology.

In addition, we are working with Trafigura to bring together our complementary expertise to fast-track progress on clean cooking access in Africa. On a global scale, we are also a founding member of the recently launched LPG4SDG7 Coalition, committed to accelerating the adoption of LPG as a cleaner alternative to help the four billion people who lack access to clean cooking globally.

It is encouraging to see the global community increasingly recognise the urgent need to take action on clean cooking. We hope that by forging partnerships with major organisations like the UNCDF, we can raise more awareness of this important issue, accelerate our impact and change even more lives for the better.

Keep an eye out for our latest updates, as we continue to transform lives and unlock potential through access to clean energy."

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About Bboxx: Bboxx is a next generation utility, transforming lives and unlocking potential through access to energy. Bboxx manufactures, distributes and finances decentralised solar powered systems in developing countries. It is scaling through forging strategic partnerships and its innovative technology Bboxx Pulse®, a comprehensive management platform using IoT technology. Through affordable, reliable, and clean utility provision, Bboxx is bringing people into the digital economy, creating new markets, and enabling economic development in off-grid communities and those living without a reliable grid connection. The company is positively impacting the lives of more than one million people with its products and services in over 35 markets, directly contributing to 11 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

So far, Bboxx has deployed more than 500,000 solar home systems. Bboxx has over 800 staff across nine offices including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Togo, with its head office in the UK and its manufacturing operations in China. In 2019, Bboxx was the winner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Energy category – testament to the way the company is making a meaningful difference to people’s lives around the world.

About UNCDF: The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies; (2) local development finance; and (3) investment finance.

12 March 2021: Liberia’s efforts to transform the lives of poor people have received a huge boost with financing approved today by the World Bank. Two new operations will increase access to sustainable, reliable and affordable energy, and boost economic recovery by providing employment opportunities and business skills training to vulnerable Liberians.

Funded by the International Development Association (IDA), these projects aims at improving Liberia’s economy and helping to build resilience for vulnerable households that are greatly at risk of falling into poverty due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poverty remains widespread in Liberia and is now on the rise. An estimated 44% of Liberians were living with less than $2 a day in 2016 and is now projected to reach 52% in 2021. Access to healthcare, education, and basic utilities like energy, are also particularly low compared to the rest of the region.

“Given the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the economy and people’s livelihoods, improved energy access will  stimulate inclusive economic growth while support to the informal sector will help the most vulnerable Liberians to recover from the loss in incomes,” said Khwima Nthara, World Bank Country Manager in Liberia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Liberia’s economy and people’s livelihoods and poses a major threat going forward. When the global pandemic emerged in early 2020, Liberia was already facing a challenging domestic and external environment. Weak consumption and declining output had caused the Liberian economy to contract by an estimated 2.3 percent in 2019 and a further 2.9 percent in 2020. According to the High-Frequency Phone Survey of Households conducted by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, more than 70 percent of households reported experiencing food shortage and increased food prices. This call for a comprehensive response focusing both on the need to protect the poor and vulnerable in the short term, as well as support economic recovery in the medium term.

“This is a demonstration of the Bank’s strong commitment to Liberia. The approved package of support will be a big boost to our Covid-19 recovery efforts and our vision to transform the economy through infrastructure development,” said Samuel D. Tweah Jr, Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning.

The support program includes the following:

The Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP) is the first project of a multi-phase programmatic approach (MPA) with a goal to provide sustainable, reliable, and affordable electricity to 632,500 Liberians.  The project will rehabilitate and expand electricity infrastructure and provide sustainable solutions for electricity access.  The LESSAP will target mainly two key areas - grid electrification in the greater Monrovia area and provide for a sustainable business model for scaling up renewable energy based mini-grids and stand-alone solar systems in remote areas.  It will also deliver off-grid solar electrification to about 200 health facilities in particular to help build resilience against COVID-19. The total financing envelope for the MPA is $180 million in IDA support with the first phase commitment of $44 million in IDA credit and IDA grant of $15 million.  The project also includes grant support of $2.5 million from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and $2.7 million from Japan Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD), both of which will be administered by the World Bank.

The Recovery of Economic Activity for Liberian Informal Sector Employment Project (REALISE) will increase access to employment opportunities for some of the most vulnerable households in the informal sector who are at risk of falling deeper into poverty. The project will provide grants and business skills training to 4,000 vulnerable households to revive or start small businesses, as well as temporary employment and wages to 15,000 poor individuals, half of whom will be women. It will target low-income communities and poor families in Greater Monrovia. REALISE project will be implemented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment, utilizing implementation capacities developed under the ongoing Liberia Youth Opportunities Project. The project will be financed through IDA concessional terms of $5 million credit and $5 million grant.

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About International Development Association:The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. IDA resources help effect positive change in the lives of the 1.6 billion people living in the countries that are eligible for its assistance. Since its inception, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments are constantly on the rise and have averaged $21 billion over the past three years, with about 61% going to Africa.

• The project, once operational in 2023, will avert the consumption of 46.8 billion litres of diesel per year in the south, cutting 80 megatons of CO2 emissions

16 March 2021: The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has committed $530 million to finance the construction of a 343 km, 400 kV central-south transmission line that will connect the north and south transmission grids in Angola and allow for the distribution of clean energy between the two regions.

The north of Angola has a surplus of more than 1,000 MW of mostly renewable power, whereas the south relies on expensive diesel generators, supported by government subsidies.

Transmission capacity will increase by 2,250 MW and eliminate the need for polluting, diesel-powered generators in southern provinces. The project, once operational in 2023, will avert the consumption of 46.8 billion litres of diesel per year in the south, cutting 80 megatons of CO2 emissions. The government of Angola will save more than $130 million per year in diesel subsidies.

The finance package, approved in December 2019 by the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank, consists of $480 million in financing from the Bank, along with $50 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund, a $2 billion facility sponsored by the People’s Bank of China and administered by the African Development Bank.

The funding covers the first phase of the Energy Sector Efficiency and Expansion Program (ESEEP) in Angola, which will assist the government to connect the country’s transmission grids and tackle limited operational capacity within the Angolan power distribution utility ENDE. Around 80% of residential customers in Angola are not metered, resulting in financial losses and reliance on government subsidies. As part of the ESEEP, 860,000 pre-paid meters will be installed and 400,000 new customers will be connected to the grid and effectively metered.

At the regional level, the ESEEP will be the first step to enabling a connection to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP). The new transmission line will become the backbone for the distribution of power to the southern provinces of Angola and Namibia and will enable further power trading between countries in the region.

The funding follows two other recent Bank contributions to Angola’s energy sector strategy. In 2015, the Bank approved a $1 billion power sector reform loan for Angola, which resulted in the creation of an independent regulator and the unbundling of the sector into distribution, transmission and distribution companies.

Angola (https://bit.ly/30Qnf5o) has significantly improved capacity, operational efficiency, and sustainability of the electricity sector. In the period 2015-2019, Angola’s total installed capacity in renewable energy (http://bit.ly/30R7Lhq) rose from 1,017 MW to 2,763 MW, mainly through the improved exploitation of the country’s abundant hydropower.

• Fund seeks to support entrepreneurs using renewable energy to start or diversify existing businesses

18 March 2021: The African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) (www.AECFafrica.org) has today launched a US$1.2 million Innovation Fund to unlock the potential of renewable energy to create new business opportunities.

Businesses and entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe can apply for funding. The fund is aimed at strengthening market readiness of emerging innovations, as well as secure financial, technical, and networking support for taking existing proven prototypes to scale.

Solutions that reduce the negative impacts associated with the use of traditional cooking options at the household and institutional levels, build climate change resilience among communities and support productive uses such as water pumping, agro-processing, cooling, and refrigeration services are examples that the Fund seeks to support. In applying, businesses and entrepreneurs will need to demonstrate how their proposed innovations will transform livelihoods of low-income households through creation of jobs and diversification of livelihoods.

Under the Sustainable Development Goals, the world has set an ambitious target of ensuring universal access to reliable and sustainable energy by the end of the decade. But with half of the African continent without access to electricity, and two-thirds lacking access to clean cooking solutions, additional investment is needed to drive innovation and accelerate the uptake of modern energy.

The Innovation Fund builds on AECF’s Renewable Energy and Adaptation to Climate Technologies (REACT) initiative, which was launched to support the private sector develop and expand its clean energy technologies to Africa’s rural communities. The Fund will invest in technologies that meet market needs as well as accelerating the development of existing solutions to better serve African communities and not technologies in the prototype stage.

Chief Executive Officer of AECF, Victoria Sabula, said:

“The Innovation Fund is key to enhancing large scale transformation within local communities. Investing in affordable and accessible renewable energy solutions can create jobs, grow economies, and build more sustainable livelihoods. Through the fund, we hope to unearth new ways that renewable technology – be it domestic, communal, or commercial – can be used to generate income and create jobs,” she said.

The deadline for the applications is 29th April 2021.  

For more information visit: www.AECFafrica.org.

22 March 2021: Empower New Energy´s first solar energy project investment in Egypt has now been commissioned and is generating electricity for one of the country´s leading aluminium manufacturers, Intercairo Ltd. The project, a 495 kWp solar power plant, is installed at the factory´s roof top in Cairo´s industrial area. The power plant will enable the factory to cut CO2 emissions and energy costs substantially, secure jobs and contribute to Egypt´s renewable  energy goals.

The project is financed by Empower´s local project company and has been developed in partnership with Gree Solar, one of Egypt´s leading solar PV developers. Mr. Terje Osmundsen, Empower´s Founder and CEO, stated that “following our successful investments in Ghana and Nigeria, this first investment in Egypt further illustrates that Empower can deliver high-quality renewable energy projects for business users across the African continent”.

The project, constructed by Gree Solar in less than 6 weeks, will generate 859 658 kwh per year, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 540 people in Egypt. “Through projects like these, Gree and Empower deliver both cost savings and excellent environmental performance for industry clients in Egypt”, says Mr. Nick Blashill, Gree Solar´s CEO.

The Egyptian government plans to increase the supply of electricity generated from renewable energy sources from 11 % to 20% by 2022 and 42% by 2035. Deploying distributed solar PV directly connected to the end-users like Empowers investment for InterCairo, can contribute greatly to the targeted plan and curb CO2-emissions while at the same time reducing the need for large investments in the transmission network.

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About Empower New Energy (Empower): Empower New Energy is an award-winning impact investment company investing in small and medium-scale renewable energy projects across Africa through its investment vehicle Empower Invest. The investors in the fund include Norfund, ElectriFI and a group of private impact investors. Empower operates from its offices in Oslo, London, Nairobi and Accra, and through local partners in Nigeria amongst others. For more information visit: https://www.empowernewenergy.com/.

About Gree Solar: Gree Solar is a leading solar PV developer that specialises in developing rooftop and ground mounted solar PV for businesses in Egypt. The company is an Egyptian registered business with British engineers, management and installation team. It is highly endorsed by Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity for its wealth of experiences and skills in the solar energy field. For more information visit: https://www.greesolar.com.eg/.

About InterCairo Aluminium SAE: InterCairo Aluminium SAE is an Egyptian Shareholding company (S.A.E) under the investment Law with a capital of 200 million Egyptian pounds. It was established in 2001 and started production 2004. InterCairo works in the field of manufacturing Aluminum profiles and producing Aluminum alloys needed in many industries. For more information visit: https://www.intercairo.com/.

• Partnership with DStv brings leading international content, including Premier League, to off-grid homes

24 March 2021: Azuri Technologies, the first company to launch a complete pay-as-you-go solar TV package in Kenya, and MultiChoice Kenya have announced a partnership to bring DStv content to off-grid households in Kenya. The partnership bundles Azuri’s recently announced TV400 product, the 32” solar powered TV and household energy solution, with the DStv HD decoder to offer customers access to leading world class entertainment, local and international news, documentaries and educational content.

Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Azuri said: “We are delighted to partner with Multichoice to bring the world-leading DStv content to our customers. By expanding the choice of content available to even off-grid customers, we are taking another step in shrinking the gap between households with and without the grid.”

Nancy Matimu, Managing Director MultiChoice Kenya said: “MultiChoice is always seeking new partnerships to find ways to offer great and affordable video entertainment to families across the country. We want to deliver our local content, telenovelas, world class sport and blockbusters straight into the hands and homes of our customers. This partnership with Azuri is one way that we are able to ensure our content is available to the widest possible audience throughout the country.”

Now with an 80W solar panel and a 160Wh LFP battery with an expected life of over 10 years before servicing, Azuri’s TV400 system provides peace of mind that householders are able to watch their favourite programs whenever they want. The TV400 system also comes with two high power tube lights, two spotlights, a rechargeable radio, rechargeable torch and USB phone charging with extra capacity to support smartphones, and the DStv HD decoder.

DStv offers the best video entertainment experience with the best local and international stories, nail-biting sporting events including the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, golf, tennis, motorsport, WWE and rugby, up-to-the-minute local and international news, as well as leading international series, movies, documentaries and children’s shows. Azuri’s off-grid customers will have access to this content available on a variety of package, suitable designed for wholesome family viewing.

The Azuri TV400 system is available for a down-payment of KES 8,999 and a daily usage fee of KES 115 over 30 months. The DStv HD decoder which comes bundled with the Azuri system offers customers a range of viewing packages that they can choose from including DStv Access which costs 1000 per month, DStv Family at 1380, DStv Compact which cost Sh. 2650 per month, DStv Compact Plus at Sh. 4,800 and DStv Premium which costs Sh.7,900 per month.

24 March 2021: Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced a grant to Nigeria’s Sosai Renewable Energies Company for a feasibility study to connect more than 200,000 women, farmers, and rural citizens to new solar-powered minigrids in Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau states.

“USTDA is committed to promoting inclusive economic development, and bringing clean energy solutions to rural communities is an important component of our approach,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Acting Director. “Women entrepreneurs like [Sosai CEO] Habiba Ali are setting a vision for Nigeria’s energy future that USTDA enthusiastically supports.”

The USTDA-funded feasibility study will include site surveys, preliminary engineering, economic and financial analyses and an assessment of the project’s likely developmental impacts on rural women. USTDA’s study also will create business opportunities for U.S. equipment and services suppliers in Nigeria’s minigrid sector, while supporting up to 20 megawatts of new solar power in rural communities.

“This announcement is emblematic of the U.S.-Nigeria relationship as the USTDA grant supports the development of energy for productive use and promotes inclusion for women and rural dwellers. Working together, we can solve today’s greatest challenges through projects like this,” said Mary Beth Leonard, U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Sosai CEO Habiba Ali added: “This USTDA grant will support a huge step forward for Nigeria in meeting its rural electrification goals as well as kick-start life changing projects for communities, women, economic development and the agricultural sector. For Sosai, the benefit of the USTDA grant to our company is immense, positioning us for greater growth and greater possibilities in the future.”

This project supports the U.S. government’s Power Africa and Prosper Africa Initiatives, President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and the global “2X Challenge” – an initiative by development finance institutions to invest in and create inclusive opportunities for women.

In Nigeria, USTDA has supported the successful roll-out of minigrids and microgrids in rural and peri-urban communities using U.S. technology. The Agency has an active portfolio of three other ongoing solar minigrid activities in Nigeria. Collectively, we expect these projects to support energy access for more than 66,000 households in Nigeria and help Nigeria meet its goal of universal electrification.

U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit https://ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project/. Proposals are due April 16, 2021 at 11:00 EDT / 17:00 WAT.

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About U.S. Trade and Development Agency: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.

24 March 2021: Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced it has funded a feasibility study to connect more than 100,000 households in rural Cameroon to solar-powered minigrids that will utilize innovative battery storage technology. The grantee, Renewable Energy Innovators Cameroon (REIc), is working on the project in partnership with SimpliPhi Power, a California-based provider of energy storage systems. This is USTDA’s first minigrid activity in Cameroon.

“This project illustrates how USTDA is tackling the climate crisis by engaging both overseas partners and U.S. industry to deliver clean energy solutions to underserved communities,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Acting Director. “USTDA’s engagement in REIc’s ambitious project will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians. For U.S. companies, our engagement will help them enter a new market and supply the innovative technologies that will be needed to build minigrids across Cameroon.”

Under USTDA’s grant, SimpliPhi Power will conduct the technical, regulatory, financial and legal analyses necessary to develop up to 134 solar-powered minigrids. SimpliPhi will execute the feasibility study in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Virginia-based Morua Power. The study will also include the design and monitoring of a minigrid pilot project.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Cameroon, Vernelle Trim FitzPatrick, said: “We are proud that American companies will be part of developing new solutions to meet Cameroon’s energy needs. Such partnership creates synergy for flexible, sustainable, and locally tailored results. This is just one of the many ways the United States is partnering to support Cameroon’s prosperity, security and development.”

Jude Numfor, Managing Director of REIc, noted: “With several years of extensive research and piloting of minigrids in Cameroon, USTDA’s assistance comes at a critical time, as it will mature our plans to provide access to electricity to more than 760 off-grid villages in Cameroon in the next few years. Thanks to our partnership with USTDA, REIc is better positioned to achieve its mission of making available clean and affordable electricity as a tool to faster sustainable development.”

Jesse Gerstin, Director of Sustainable Business Development for SimpliPhi Power, remarked: “SimpliPhi is excited to work with organizations that share our commitment to delivering energy access for communities that will benefit most. As a mission-driven U.S. manufacturer and leader in sustainable energy storage technology, we believe that access to clean and affordable energy is fundamental to economic growth, social equity and environmental responsibility, and look forward to supporting REIc in leading this rural electrification initiative in Cameroon.”

Power Africa Coordinator Mark Carrato added: “Over the past two years, Power Africa has worked closely with Cameroon’s Ministry of Water Resources and Energy and Cameroon’s energy regulatory agency, ARSEL, to streamline minigrid licensing procedures and increase private sector participation in the country’s blossoming minigrid sector. Our collaborative efforts are contributing to an improved enabling environment for private investment, opening up new opportunities for qualified minigrid developers and equipment suppliers including U.S. manufacturers.  This feasibility study represents another important milestone for rural energy access in Cameroon.”

USTDA now has a global portfolio of more than 20 minigrid activities that are deploying innovative Made-in-America solutions to address energy access and security in remote and underserved areas in emerging markets.

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About U.S. Trade and Development Agency: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.

29 March 2021: Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy management technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems, today announced the Company has entered into an agreement with Rubicon Energy to distribute Enphase IQ™ microinverters for grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) applications to residential and commercial installers in the fast-growing South African market.

Rubicon Energy, the renewable energy division of Rubicon Group, is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa with distribution branches located across the country. In order to cater to the higher power modules utilized in the region, Rubicon Energy will predominantly distribute Enphase IQ 7A™ microinverters to residential and commercial installers.

Enphase IQ 7A microinverters are grid-tied and compatible with 60-, 66-, or 72-cell solar modules up to 465 W. In addition, all Enphase solar systems distributed by Rubicon Energy will be outfitted with Enphase Envoy™ communications gateways, which connect an Enphase-based solar system to the Enphase Enlighten™ software monitoring platform designed to help make per-panel energy monitoring and insights for operations and maintenance easy.

“After careful analysis and testing of its products, Rubicon is excited to include the Enphase product range in our offering,” said Nick Roche, chief product officer at Rubicon Energy. “We have been impressed by all aspects of Enphase and believe it is a great organization with an excellent product offering which is well-suited to the South African solar market requirements. We have found the Enphase microinverter product ecosystem to be refined, easy to install and reliable, all things we know our customers really want. We are very pleased to be partnering with Enphase in South Africa.”

“Rubicon strives to introduce new technologies and innovative solutions for the South African PV solar market,” said Greg Blandford, director at Rubicon Energy and E-Mobility. “Enphase has been an innovator with its microinverter technology and has a proven track record for quality and cutting-edge technology. The Enphase microinverter 25-year product limited warranty in South Africa is a testament to this. We are very proud to have partnered with Enphase to introduce its products to South Africa and look forward to building on the company’s global success.”

As with all Enphase microinverters, the IQ 7A microinverter is powered by Enphase’s unique software-defined architecture and semiconductor integration for excellent reliability and economies of scale. Enphase microinverters are subjected to a rigorous reliability and quality testing regimen with more than one million cumulative hours of power-on testing to ensure exceptional performance under heat, high humidity, salty air, cold, and harsh climate conditions.

"We are thrilled to be entering one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets in Africa with a partner like Rubicon Energy," said Dave Ranhoff, chief commercial officer at Enphase Energy. “Our companies share a commitment to delivering high-quality products, innovative solutions, and a superior customer experience for grid-tied solar. The African continent represents approximately 40% of the world's solar potential, but it currently produces just 1% of the solar electricity generated globally. Our presence in this region is strategically important as we continue to expand our international business and accelerate the transition to a sustainable and equitable clean energy future by using the world’s smartest and safest technology to electrify homes, businesses, and communities.”

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About Enphase Energy, Inc.: Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company, delivers smart, easy-to-use solutions that manage solar generation, storage and communication on one intelligent platform. The Company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter technology and produces a fully integrated solar-plus-storage solution. Enphase has shipped more than 32 million microinverters, and approximately 1.4 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.enphase.com and follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Enphase Energy, Enphase, the E logo, IQ, IQ 7A, Envoy, Enlighten, and other trademarks or service names are the trademarks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

About Rubicon Energy: Rubicon Energy is a product and services hub focused on the decentralization, digitalization and decarbonization of energy in emerging markets. Dynamic and passionate, we understand the importance of innovation, cutting-edge technology, customer satisfaction and technical support. We are the preferred local channel partner and brand champion for the world’s leading renewable technologies. Rubicon Energy forms part of Rubicon Group. Headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, the Group operates across South Africa and in select African markets. For more information, visit www.rubiconsa.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

29 March 2021: The World Bank today approved a $500 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit to support Ethiopia’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2025.

Over the past decade, the Government of Ethiopia has  made encouraging progress on its electrification program  and  expanded the grid network coverage to nearly 60 percent of towns and villages. Despite this progress, Ethiopia has the third largest energy access deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa with more than half the population still without access to reliable electricity especially in deep-rural areas which are dependent on biomass and kerosene. The electricity deficit in Ethiopia continues to exacerbate the poverty situation, preventing far too many people from fulfilling their basic socio-economic needs and limiting access to opportunity.

The Access to Distributed Electricity and Lighting in Ethiopia (ADELE) Project is an important component of Ethiopia’s National Electrification Program (NEP), which aims to strategically change direction from infrastructure development to the delivery of adequate, reliable and affordable electricity services with a vision to reach universal electrification by 2025. ADELE will focus on access to new and improved electricity services for households, smallholder farmers, commercial and industrial users, and social institutions in urban, peri-urban, rural, and deep-rural areas. The first phase of the NEP was supported by the World Bank-financed Ethiopia Electrification Program (ELEAP) approved in 2018.

“With a goal of providing electricity services for nearly 5 million people, 11,500 enterprises and 1,400 health and education facilities, the project represents the World Bank’s continued support to the Government of Ethiopia’s NEP and is aligned with our commitment to support Ethiopia’s resilient recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic. It is also an important step towards improving service delivery and addressing drivers of fragility and conflict” said Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia.

An important feature of ADELE will be the deployment of innovative solutions such as decentralized renewable energy technologies, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids and individual solar system for both household and productive use, deployed through a combined approach of public and private delivery modalities that further enhance affordability and inclusion. The project also has a strong focus on closing the gender gap in the energy sector and increasing the percentage of women participating in the mini-grid sector and off-grid technology value chain.

“ADELE can contribute to achieving near universal electrification of secondary schools and health centers. Closing the energy gap and enabling the productive use of renewable energy in rural and deep-rural areas will be crucial in the post-COVID-19 recovery phase,” said Riccardo Puliti, World Bank Africa Regional Director for Infrastructure.  

The ADELE project will be implemented by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Electricity, the Ethiopian Electric Utility, and the Development Bank of Ethiopia.

*The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. IDA resources help effect positive change in the lives of the 1.6 billion people living in the countries that are eligible for its assistance. Since its inception, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments are constantly on the rise and have averaged $21 billion over the past three years, with about 61% going to Africa.

31 March 2021: USD 1 million grant will enable data-driven investment.

Through a two-year, USD 1 million grant funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Power Africa and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) will support African governments and the donor community to coordinate and assist national health facility electrification efforts. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has focused attention on the inequalities and vulnerabilities of health systems across the world. The lack of reliable power in health facilities undermines the quality of healthcare for millions of people, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 60 percent of all health centres do not have access to electricity, and of those that do, only 34 percent of hospitals and 28 percent of health clinics have reliable access. This means that nearly 60 percent of refrigerators used in health clinics in Africa do not have reliable electricity necessary for the safe storage of vaccines and medicines. In fact, half of all vaccines distributed globally are ruined due to lack of refrigeration. 

Medicine and vaccine storage is only a part of an ongoing problem. Worldwide, more than 289,000 women die every year from pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications, a tragedy that could be mitigated with better lighting and other electricity-dependent medical services.

The opportunity

Heightened awareness of these issues and global recognition of the need for universal energy access and strengthened health systems—in part because of the current COVID-19 pandemic—coupled with recent advances in off-grid energy solutions, present a timely opportunity to improve access to quality healthcare and make health facilities more resilient. Off-grid renewable energy solutions can provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity to hospitals and health centres in countries with significant electricity access gaps. Deploying these solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, requires overcoming significant barriers, including lack of long-term financing and sustainable business models, incomplete and/or outdated data resources, poor stakeholder and donor coordination, and limited enabling policies that support sustainable service delivery.

The solution

Power Africa and SEforALL will equip target governments and their development partners with the necessary building blocks to identify, power, and sustainably maintain health facilities by 2030. 

SEforALL is a valued Power Africa development partner with a track record in working at the nexus of the energy and health sectors and operationalizing partnerships at the international level through its Powering Healthcare initiative. Several SEforALL resources are also featured in USAID’s Powering Health Toolkit.

Working in close coordination with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNDP, the Global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), the Rockefeller Foundation, and USAID, the programme will provide African decision-makers with the knowledge and tools required to drive faster and more efficient progress toward universal electrification of health facilities in Africa. 

In addition to strengthening political and technical cooperation and knowledge exchange among relevant development partners and government health and energy institutions, SEforALL will source the necessary data and critical research to build a powerful evidence base to support effective strategies and policies to power health facilities, drawing particularly on the latest sector intelligence, mapping and impact research to more accurately quantify the current number of health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa and their energy needs. 

SEforALL will also provide thought leadership to identify and develop sustainable business models, policies and quality assurances needed to leverage public and private sector investment in health facilities, unlock blended financing mechanisms to de-risk investments, and spur the uptake of appropriate technology innovations. Power Africa and SEforALL will also work together to provide strategic and technical advisory services to support several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to develop roadmaps to sustainably electrify their health facilities.

“This grant supports stronger and more resilient health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa by accelerating the development and deployment of clean energy and sustainable investment in health facilities,” said Power Africa’s Coordinator, Mark Carrato. “Our collaboration with SEforALL complements Power Africa’s many other initiatives at the intersection of healthcare and electricity provision, including the recent grants to nine distributed renewable energy companies to power health facilities. These companies and others like them will benefit from the coordination SEforALL will facilitate while providing valuable information on health facilities’ needs and the viability of different health facility electrification business models,” Carrato added.

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, said “In many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare centres are operating without sufficient, reliable electricity, putting patients’ lives in danger. Ensuring everyone has access to quality health services powered by sustainable energy is a matter of equality. SEforALL and Power Africa are taking bold steps that will enable investment in health facility electrification in areas where local populations are most at risk.”

Learn more about Power Africa and follow their progress at usaid.gov/powerafrica. 

2 April 2021: Baobab+, a solar home systems distributor in West Africa, has raised €4 million in financing for the expansion of its activities in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

The amount was raised in two rounds of €2 million each from Shell’s Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF), managed by Triple Jump, the Facility for Energy Inclusion Off-Grid Energy Access Fund (FEI-OGEF) and LHGP Asset Management. 

According to a message to TechCabal, the raise will help Baobab+ to expand its range with new products and promote socio-economic development in rural areas.

Baobab+ is a social enterprise operating in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Madagascar and currently being deployed in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Alexandre Coster, founder and CEO of Baobab+, wrote in an email to TechCabal:

“In rural areas, only half of the Senegalese population has access to energy and this proportion is under 40% in Côte d’Ivoire.” 

Coster says these two rounds of financing will greatly contribute to addressing this situation by allowing the company to expand its distribution network of solar kits in these two countries while targeting micro-entrepreneurs through the distribution of kits.

In Senegal, Baobab+ has distributed about 10,000 solar products since it started operations in 2015, particularly in rural areas where the company uses a Pay As You Go (PAYG) system. It operates in six African countries and has equipped about 220,000 households (1.2 million beneficiaries), giving them access to solar power. 

In Côte d’Ivoire, where it has been operating since 2016, over 50,000 products have already been distributed to households and micro-entrepreneurs. 

On how open the African market is when it comes to embracing green energy, the International Energy Agency, a Paris-based government think-tank, predicts that 500 million people in Africa will have solar electricity by 2030. Currently, the African markets are in some respects skipping over the fossil fuel age altogether. 

Baobab+ is not the only solar company expanding its services to other countries in Africa. Earlier this year, Nigeria’s AllBase Energy announced that it was expanding its solar power distribution system to Angola in the third quarter as part of its expansion plan.

6 April 2021: Unlocking solar energy to power farms and businesses in Africa.

A new Access to Energy Institute (A2EI) – IKEA Foundation partnership will help people in Africa power their livelihoods and earn a decent income through solar energy.

About 80% of households in rural Africa still live without access to electricity. In recent years, more people have been able to buy small solar home systems. But solar systems large enough to power computers, fridges and agricultural equipment—such as water pumps and mills—are still not readily available. These appliances could help farmers and business owners become more productive, increase their incomes and make sure people in their communities have enough to eat.

Sharing research and knowledge

While there are solar-powered solutions on the market in Africa, it’s not always clear which are most appropriate and how they can be scaled up. Current solar systems and appliances in the market are still too expensive for end-users and there’s a lack of established distribution channels. They are often built for consumptive use rather than productive use that can improve livelihoods, education and healthcare for the communities using it. Enterprises in the solar off-grid sector tend to develop smaller systems that need less finance and costly research and development. Any research private enterprises conduct is carefully shielded from competitors.

The partnership aims to bridge that gap and make data available to everyone in the sector. As a not-for-profit institute with a focus on collaboration, A2EI works without the constraints of profit-orientation and competition. This allows them to gather large-scale data on solar appliances and build up an open-source knowledge platform.

Solar Killed the Generator Star

A2EI works on various different projects to support the sustainable energy sector - through the Solar Killed the Generator Star project in Nigeria, A2EI aims to replace small-scale fuel generators with solar generators. There currently more than 20 million generators in the country, emitting more than 50 million tons of CO2 per year.

A2EI teams in Nigeria, Tanzania and Germany have gathered extensive data and engineered a robust and affordable solar generator large enough to power businesses and replace diesel generators. Certified technicians and local distributors partnering with A2EI are distributing, installing and maintaining these generators.

Smart meters help decision-making

In a second project, A2EI focuses agricultural machines. It conducts open-source research on and develops new solar-powered agricultural appliances. A third project concentrates on designing and installing remotely monitored meters and smart sensors to gather large-scale data. This enables the renewable energy sector to make informed decisions and develop affordable, sustainable and reliable solar solutions.

“A2EI is becoming the ‘go-to’ institute for the solar sector to bring open-source innovative, affordable and scalable solar solutions to the market,” says Jolanda van Ginkel, Programme Manager, Renewable Energy at the IKEA Foundation. “We are supporting their efforts because we want to enable small business owners and smallholder farmers in Africa to improve their income and afford a better life, while reducing and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.”

14 April 2021: The investment service Trine recently closed €750 000 in debt finance to Redavia, an industry leader in offering solar farms to businesses in East and West Africa.

The first loan is a part of a total facility of EUR 5 million and was fully funded in less than 5 hours, making it the fastest loan funded through Trine’s impact investment platform to date.

“The fast pace of closing this loan is yet another proof point that there is a huge appetite for investing in clean energy and Trine is committed to our promise of providing long-term funding partnerships to help the most innovative companies scale their business. We look forward to being a part of REDAVIA’s journey as they continue to expand their operations in Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania”, said Sam Manaberi, co-founder and CEO of Trine.

More than 1,400 investors took part in the first loan to REDAVIA and the investment will enable REDAVIA to scale up its operations, contribute to green jobs and sustainable growth by installing 11 solar sites with a peak production capacity of 1.5 Megawatts across Ghana.

“REDAVIA is one of the companies in the Commercial and Industrial sector that has been operating the longest in sub-Saharan Africa and has already demonstrated a capacity to deploy, operate and grow a portfolio of assets. The company has a unique approach in the market with their standardised units, offered towards a well-defined customer segment. This first loan is the beginning of what we see as a long-term partnership and we look forward to scale with them as they expand their portfolio rapidly over the coming years”, said Andrew Githaiga, Investment Manager at Trine.

"On behalf of the entire REDAVIA team and customer portfolio, I am very grateful for the record-breaking success of this first investment opportunity and the start of a long-term, win-win partnership with Trine. This success further validates REDAVIA's unique approach in the solar-for-business segment and we look forward to helping more African businesses optimize their power cost, reduce their carbon emissions, and grow sustainably in the coming years", said Erwin Spolders, Founder & CEO of REDAVIA.

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About Trine: Trine is an investment service providing debt capital to innovative solar-focused businesses in emerging markets. Our financing is designed to cover the CapEx of the solar systems with terms that are tailored to each borrower. We commit to long-term funding partnerships to help scale your business. Trine has over 11,000 investors across Europe and 28 borrowers operating in 16 different countries. For more information, visit www.trine.com.

About REDAVIA: REDAVIA offers solar power for businesses and communities in West and East Africa. The REDAVIA system is based on a pre-configured model, including high-performance solar modules and electrical components. It is easy to ship, set up, scale and redeploy. Businesses and communities benefit from a cost-effective, reliable, clean energy solution with minimal upfront investment or technical skills. For more information, visit www.redaviasolar.com.

14 April 2021: The agency seeks opportunities to catalyze private sector investment ahead of President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate.

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced a Call for Applications from private companies seeking financing for distributed renewable energy (DRE)-related investments. Climate change and lack of reliable energy access both impact economic growth and livelihoods in developing countries around the world, and investments in DRE offer an opportunity to address both of these pressing problems. In support of President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and the administration’s Leaders Summit on Climate starting on April 22, the Call for Applications is one of the new climate and climate-focused investment initiatives the agency is pursuing to help developing countries reduce emissions, increase renewable energy usage, protect ecosystems, and enhance resilience.

“DFC is committed to combatting the climate crisis, and distributed renewable energy offers an important path forward to mitigate climate change and help bring electricity to hard to reach communities, supporting development and economic growth,” said DFC Chief Operating Officer David Marchick, who announced this new opportunity in his keynote address at the Investor Voices Day of Power Africa’s Partners Week. “The Call for Applications will allow us to identify private sector-led projects in need of financing tools to increase access to reliable and affordable electricity in developing countries around the world. We are excited to leverage our partnerships with The Rockefeller Foundation and Shell Foundation to advance this important work.”

DRE investments bring energy to remote and rural locations that currently lack adequate energy access. DRE projects include but are not limited to micro and mini-grids, solar home systems, and distributed power generation. DFC aims to expand electricity access to at least 10 million people by 2025, as included in its inaugural development strategy, the Roadmap for Impact.

“DFC financing is a critical tool in the U.S. Government’s Power Africa toolbox,” said Power Africa Coordinator Mark Carrato, “and we’re excited that our Beyond the Grid team and other partners like the Shell Foundation can help generate potential deal flow from companies that traditionally have relied mostly on grants from donors, but that now are ready for financing. Our hope is to help shape the DRE market and demonstrate its commercial viability.”

The impacts from climate change, along with the health and economic impacts from COVID-19, could reverse the significant economic gains made in developing countries over the past several decades. DFC is utilizing its financing tools to facilitate increased private sector investment that addresses climate change and drives climate-focused investment in developing countries while reaching communities that lack sufficient access to sustainable and reliable electricity. DFC will work collaboratively with The Rockefeller Foundation, the Shell Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Power Africa team on DRE projects supported through the Call for Applications.

"The Rockefeller Foundation is pleased to partner with DFC to take strong steps to support private sector-led climate solutions in developing countries, while we all work together to achieve the Paris Agreement's emission reduction goals," said Raj Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "DRE investments offer electricity solutions that provide a higher level of service, expanding access to electricity and increasing economic growth."

DFC seeks to commit $100 million in support for DRE-related investments in DFC-eligible countries within one year of launching this Call for Applications. Investments can be used for business expansion, working capital, and growth capital. Special consideration will be given to projects that provide energy solutions related to the COVID-19 response, such as those projects that will provide needed electricity to healthcare facilities, and those that advance DFC’s 2X Women’s Initiative by promoting women’s economic empowerment.

Opportunities will be evaluated as part of a rigorous evaluation process upon the discretion of the DFC, and applications are due on June 18, 2021.

For questions about the Call for Applications, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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About U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC): U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is America’s development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in order to create jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.

• Off-grid solar energy will reduce GHG emissions, create jobs, and increase economic opportunities in underserved communities in Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

20 April 2021: MIGA, a member of the World Bank Group, has issued guarantees of up to US$37.1 million to a fund (AIIF3) managed by African Infrastructures Investment Managers (AIIM), one of Africa’s largest infrastructure-focused private equity fund managers and a member of Old Mutual Alternative Investments (OMAI). The guarantees cover the fund's equity and quasi-equity/shareholder loan investments in Bboxx Capital Limited’s (Bboxx) subsidiaries in Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for up to 10 years. An additional guarantee of up to US$5.9 million has also been issued to the Facility for Energy Inclusion’s Off-Grid Energy Access Fund (FEI-OGEF LP) of Mauritius, a US$100 million energy access fund sponsored by the African Development Bank, KfW, the European Commission and Nordic Development Fund and managed by LHGP Asset Management (Lion’s Head), to cover its loan to Bboxx DRC for a period of up to 5 years. The MIGA guarantees provide protection to AIIF3 and FEI-OGEF against the risks of Currency Inconvertibility and Transfer Restriction, Expropriation, and War and Civil Disturbance.

Off-grid solar is among the most promising transformative technologies contributing to an increase in access to electricity in rural areas in the developing world. Bboxx is a next-generation utility, transforming lives and unlocking potential through access to energy. Bboxx designs, manufactures, distributes and finances, decentralized solar-powered systems. Bboxx’s operations in Rwanda, Kenya and DRC provide customers with affordable access to clean and reliable energy on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis using mobile money. The off-grid energy solutions include individual solar home systems alongside equipment like lights, televisions, and refrigerators. Bboxx is also using energy as the entry point to other services, such as PAYG liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and small gas burners for domestic clean cooking.

“Millions of people lack access to electricity in Africa, and off-grid technologies, including standalone solar home systems, are key to bridging the electrification gap,” MIGA Executive Vice President Hiroshi Matano said. “By providing increased access to affordable, reliable clean energy, MIGA’s guarantees will strengthen economic activity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help create high-quality jobs in Rwanda, Kenya, and DRC.”

MIGA’s guarantees will strengthen Bboxx’s operations as the company expands its provision of clean energy. This will significantly improve economic opportunities in rural areas with low rates of electrification. Increased electrification reduces the burden of collecting traditional fuels and indoor air pollution, both of which disproportionately affect the health and productivity of women and children. The company’s work has climate mitigation benefits by replacing household use of kerosene and biomass for energy generation, and by using LPG as a clean cooking fuel. Over the next 8 years, approximately 1.9 million metric tons of CO2e are expected to be offset across Rwanda, Kenya, and DRC.

“The potential of off-grid solar systems for energy generation in the developing world is substantial and is key to fostering the growth of Africa’s economies,” Vuyo Ntoi, Co-Managing Director of AIIM said.  “By catalyzing more investments into Bboxx, MIGA is helping to reduce one of the key business risks off-grid solar companies face—access to capital.”

“While the market and impact opportunity is substantial, the history of volatility in Bboxx DRC’s core markets in Goma and Eastern DRC and the long-term commitment of the company to regional expansion meant that instability was a critical consideration for our investment,” said Harry Guinness of FEI-OGEF. “MIGA’s support provided the confidence FEI-OGEF needed to finalize its negotiations with Bboxx DRC and deploy our funds to make that impact objective a reality.” 

Bboxx operates an “energy as a service” business model. Bboxx’s proprietary comprehensive management platform Bboxx Pulse® backed by IoT technology, ensures remote monitoring and management, using data and predictive analytics to anticipate and proactively resolve any potential issues before becoming a problem for the customer. The company has positively impacted the lives of over 480,000 people in Rwanda, 470,000 in Kenya, and 90,000 in DRC, and provides high-quality jobs to over 800 employees across its markets.

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About MIGA: MIGA was created in 1988 as a member of the World Bank Group to promote foreign direct investment in emerging economies by helping mitigate the risks of restrictions on currency conversion and transfer, breach of contract by governments, expropriation, and war & civil disturbance; and offering credit enhancement to private investors and lenders. Since its creation, MIGA has issued over $59 billion in guarantees across 118 developing countries.

27 April 2021: Solaris Offgrid and Nithio are excited to announce their partnership to deliver advanced risk analytics through a seamless integration to PaygOps, Solaris Offgrid’s last-mile management platform, for distributors of Essential Services in Sub-Saharan Africa. This innovative partnership also creates a unique opportunity for last-mile operators to attract increased investment, including through Nithio Financial Intermediary, Nithio FI.

The challenge: In order to achieve universal energy access by 2030, more operators must have access to financing to scale significantly. However, capital flow is stagnant as it is difficult for operators to quantify end users’ ability to pay and repayment rates. Investors therefore struggle to forecast cash flows due to the variance in Paygo repayment trajectories. This creates a bottleneck in funding and growth. Solaris Offgrid and Nithio’s partnership will provide granular data on portfolios to help investors understand and mitigate risk. Distributors using the platform will also have access to funding through Nithio’s lending arm, Nithio FI.

Driving scalable financing for last mile-distributors: PaygOps customers have continued to successfully grow their businesses but require further financing to meet market demands and to scale. Through Solaris Offgrid’s platform, distributors can combine their data with Nithio’s data and analytics to conduct portfolio health analysis and project repayment rates. Nithio FI will also provide financing to PaygOps customers in order to help them scale sustainably.

About Nithio: Nithio is an AI-powered energy financing platform that has developed a standardized approach to assessing credit risk in the off-grid sector across Africa. Nithio’s analytics provide localized data on end-user segments, repayment rates forecasts, and cash flow trajectories to enable both off-grid operators and investors to have a clear sense of risk for products, locations, or portfolios. Nithio FI leverages its risk analytics to provide receivables and inventory financing to off-grid energy companies across key markets in Africa.

Nithio recently raised $30 million to expand energy financing. To drive its data analytics, Nithio raised more than $7 million led by TPG’s The Rise Fund in partnership with Kupanda Capital, Emerson Collective and Powerhouse Ventures. Nithio FI also raised $23 million towards providing catalytic capital to the sector from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the European Development Finance Institutions’ Electrification Financing Initiative (EDFI - ElectriFI) and other investors.

“We are thrilled to partner with Solaris Offgrid [PaygOps] to bring an innovative data-driven risk assessment to off-grid energy operators and investors in order to expand financing. The Solaris team is an industry leader in providing impactful technology solutions to drive energy access in Africa,” says Héla Cheikhrouhou, Nithio’s CEO.

About Solaris Offgrid: Relying on their first-hand experience as former SHS distributors in Tanzania and other countries of East Africa, Solaris Offgrid supports distributors and manufacturers across all industries in over 35 countries through Product Development Services and flexible IT solutions. Solaris Offgrid’s flagship PaygOps platform is an interoperable B2B SaaS which connects energy and utility appliances (solar devices, water-pumps, cookstoves, smart meters, e-bikes) and payment methods (Pay-as-you-go and Mobile Money) within a suite of enterprise applications or API services, to allow distributors to smoothly manage their operations and tackle their challenges at the last mile, thus enabling them to provide affordable essential products and services to millions of people at the Bottom-of-the-Pyramid.

“As part of Solaris Offgrid's continued efforts towards scaling Paygo, by joining forces with Nithio, we're empowering last-mile distributors to have access to smarter financing mechanisms that, otherwise, they would have to reach on their own in a very rigid way. Setting up communication channels that can fast track the credit scoring process is beneficial for distributors, investors and the whole industry alike”, adds Siten Mandalia, Solaris Offgrid’s CEO.

6 May 2021: Opportunities to scale up deployment of off-grid solar essential to unlock energy access across Africa were outlined today by development finance partners ahead of the launch of a new study by the International Solar Alliance and European Investment Bank.

The new analysis details solutions to key challenges currently holding back private sector led deployment of small-scale solar energy systems on the continent.

“The International Solar Alliance is pleased to continue our close partnership with the European Investment Bank and propose clear ways to unlock access to off-grid solar in Africa. Our joint study builds on expert insight and commercial success to detail what is needed to provide clean energy to off-grid rural areas including refugee camps, urban areas and remote villages across Africa by identifying and overcoming investment gaps and financial barriers.”  said Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance.

“Off-grid solar technology exists that is already harnessing clean and affordable energy that transforms the lives of millions of people.  The European Investment Bank, as the EU climate bank, and International Solar Alliance are committed to accelerating access to solar power and together contribute a new milestone study that shares experience and expertise from successful off-grid deployment essential to unlock investment and technical barriers that hold back sustainable development and the green transition” said Ambroise Fayolle, European Investment Bank Vice President.

New study provide technical and business solutions to scale up off-grid solar across Africa

Commissioned by the European Investment Bank, in partnership with the International Solar Alliance, the new study gathers best-practice and insight from successful deployment of off-grid solar investment in Asia that can benefit similar investment also across Africa.

The key recommendations of the study outline different models of intervention to overcome financing, technical and customer challenges to scale up off-grid solar deployment were unveiled today ahead of the European Union – India Leaders meeting at a specialist workshop attended by representatives of AfD, KfW, FMO and the European Commission.

Unlocking sustainable development for millions across Africa

More than 120 million households across Africa currently cannot access electricity, with only 60 million African households expected to benefit from electrification programmes by the 2030. Sharing best-practice that allows investment and technical barriers holding back off-grid solar is key crucial to scale up off-grid solar, allow vulnerable and remote communities to access clean energy and deliver the sustainable development goal of universal access to reliable and affordable energy.

Breaking down barriers to scaling up off-grid solar

The new report, to be published in the coming weeks, examines off-grid solar investment across Africa and assesses how investment barriers including affordability, equipment supply, access to working capital, regulatory challenges, insurance and technical expertise influence and hinder deployment.

The analysis uses solutions developed in local case studies to suggest how examples such as aggregated purchase of solar home systems can reduce costs and rapidly enable low-income, urban and rural communities and refugees to access reliable energy through sustainable private sector led off-grid solar projects.

The study, based on the analysis by specialised development consulting firm Dalberg, was compiled following in-depth research on government policy, on discussions with energy, business and development finance stakeholders across Africa and stakeholder workshops in Nigeria, Uganda and Rwanda.

The European Investment Bank is supporting 8 off-grid solar projects across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Last year the EIB provided EUR 5 million for private and public investment across Africa and is supporting off-grid solar across Africa including projects in, Chad, Comores, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda.