5 June 2024: Today, Empower New Energy, in collaboration with its technical partners, Powercell Limited and Huawei, announces the commissioning of a pioneering rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and battery energy storage system (BESS) for Justrite Superstores, the leading neighbourhood retail supermarket chain in Nigeria. This installation, the first of its kind in the West African supermarket chain space, represents a total investment of US$6.5 million, fully financed by Empower. Commemorating this significant achievement, a formal inauguration ceremony was held, which was attended by His Excellency Mr. Svein Bæra, the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, as well as Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, ably represented by Mr. Ayodele Alamu and other distinguished guests from the Lagos state government and the private sector.

The systems commissioned include solar PV and battery energy storage systems at two of Justrite’s retail locations in Lagos State: Abule Egba and Ikorodu. The Abule Egba site features a 270 kWp solar installation paired with a 600 kWh battery system, while the Ikorodu site boasts a 400 kWp solar array and an 800 kWh battery storage system. All installations are equipped with ComAp’s smart energy management technologies, which facilitate the seamless integration and operation of the solar panels with other power sources. The openings at the two sites are part of an ongoing larger project, already in progress, to install similar systems across a total of ten Justrite Superstore branches. The complete project spans Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states, totalling a capacity of 3,050 kWp of solar PV and 6,000 kWh of battery storage. The solarisation of all ten Superstores, estimated to secure about 400 jobs directly and indirectly, will be completed by the end of July this year.

Each year, the installed systems will generate approximately 5.3 GWh of clean electricity, meeting up to 85% of the total energy needs for the ten Justrite Superstore branches. This energy production will allow Justrite to reduce its carbon emissions by about 2,453 tonnes annually, amounting to roughly 61,347 tonnes over the system's lifetime. Given that energy production is responsible for 60% of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), these reductions align with Nigeria's commitment under the Paris Agreement to achieve a 47% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030. Through this first-of-its-kind solar + battery initiative, largely replacing energy from diesel gensets, Justrite Superstores showcases the significant role that Nigeria’s Commercial and Industrial sectors can play in Nigeria’s energy transition.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Ayodele Aderinwale, Chairman of Justrite, noted, “The decision to switch to solar power and battery storage came from seeing our electricity costs rise year after year, eating into the heart of our business. It’s been very challenging to grapple with unreliable grid power and soaring diesel prices. ”. He went further: “This transition marks a new chapter for Justrite, an example I hope other chain stores will consider —not just for their own benefit but also as a step towards Nigeria’s sustainable growth”.

Terje Osmundsen, CEO of Empower New Energy, also commented, “We have been thrilled to work with the pioneering and visionary grocery chain, Justrite, to see West Africa’s first-of-its-kind solar + battery plant of this scale for a retail business come to life. Despite its complexities, it took less than eight months for Empower and its technical partners, Powercell and Huawei, to bring the project through the stages of contracting, detailed design, procurement, import certification, construction, and commissioning. This project shows the powerful role that decentralised solar investments in the C & I sector can play for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa to meet its sustainability targets”

“In a time when Nigeria urgently needs foreign investments to implement its economic and energy transition, we are extremely happy and proud to see Empower New Energy leading the way through this innovative investment here in Nigeria. Renewable energy is a winner for business, the environment and climate. This project further strengthens the partnership between our two nations,” said Svein Bæra, Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria.

“Energy is the foundation of industry and commerce development in Nigeria. Renewable energy such as photovoltaic has ushered in the best development era. Huawei Digital Power helps Justrite build the first green supermarket in Nigeria and even in West Africa. We will also provide the high-quality, high-reliability, and high- security smart PV and energy storage system solutions for Nigeria. This solution will help many companies greatly reduce the cost of fuel and improve the stability and safety of electricity production,” said Jie Lu, Huawei Nigeria CEO & Chairman.

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About Empower New Energy: Empower New Energy is a renewable energy financier and co-developer that finances, builds and owns solar power plants for commercial and industrial energy users across Africa. The company is supported by Norfund and CFM’s Climate Investor One blended finance facility, co-funded by the European Union, which significantly enhances the company's capacity to advance sustainable energy solutions across the African continent. For more information, visit: www.empowernewenergy.com.

About Justrite Superstores: Justrite Superstores, founded in 2001 by Dr. and Mrs. Aderinwale and Mrs. Omoboye, is Nigeria’s leading family-owned retail department store chain. Serving the Southwestern Region of Nigeria with 18 stores, Justrite offers a wide range of everyday essentials to consumers in underserved neighbourhoods, supporting local products and domestic agricultural value chains. For more information, visit: https://justriteonline.com.

About Powercell Limited: Powercell is a leading privately owned power systems company established in 2005 in Lagos, Nigeria, and the foremost renewable energy solutions provider in Nigeria. For more information, visit: https://powercelllimited.com.

About Huawei Digital Power: Huawei Digital Power is a leading global provider of digital power products and solutions. We are committed to integrating digital and power electronics technologies, developing clean power, and enabling energy digitalization to drive energy revolution for a better, greener future. In the clean power generation sector, we help create new power systems that primarily rely on renewable energy. In the mobility electrification sector, we enhance the consumer driving and charging experience in electric vehicles (EVs), accelerating green traveling. In the green ICT power infrastructure sector, we help build green, low-carbon, and intelligent data centres and communications networks. Huawei Digital Power continues innovating through open collaboration with global partners to promote carbon neutrality. Huawei Digital Power serves more than three billion people across more than 170 countries and regions.

5 June 2024: Ignite Power, a leading pan-African provider of sustainable energy solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of a groundbreaking tender for the procurement of 500,000 Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions, including Solar Home Systems (SHS) and Solar Inverters, to cater its growing operations across the SSA region. This initiative marks a significant step towards advancing clean energy access across East and West Africa, empowering communities with reliable and affordable solar solutions.

Having witnessed exponential growth and expansion across multiple geographical territories across the SSA region, Ignite aims to connect 100 million people across Africa by 2030. In the past year, Ignite has completed 3 strategic acquisitions, entering high-potential markets including Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, substantially increasing its Total Available Market and bringing the ambitious goal of connecting 100 million people within reach.

In light of this recent expansion and the anticipated growth trajectory, Ignite is embarking on a structured procurement process, with the objective of procuring 500,000 SHS and solar inverters for its diverse market expansion in both East and West sub-Saharan Africa.

“This tender represents our dedication to expanding access to clean and sustainable energy solutions in underserved communities, everywhere” said Yariv Cohen, Ignite Power’s CEO. “We tirelessly strive to broaden our impact, extend our offerings, and serve more communities in various countries. Achieving our ambitious goals requires strategic partnerships and collaborations, which is precisely our aim with this tender.”

Distributed Renewable Energy solutions have emerged as the most sustainable, affordable, and scalable solution for large-scale electrification projects. In SSA, harnessing the abundant and accessible resource of sunlight has already brought clean, safe, and reliable electricity to millions for the first time. With over 600 million people still lacking access to electricity, solar home systems and inverters are poised to play a pivotal role in Africa’s electrification endeavors.

“Africa’s solar revolution is on the cusp of profound growth and impact in the coming years,” says Cohen. “Being the leading last-mile operation and execution platform in the solar sector, we invite ambitious suppliers who share our vision to participate in this tender and join us in charting the course toward a greener, more sustainable, and inclusive future.”

The deadline for submission of an Expression of Interest is Jun 15, 2024 (7:00 pm GST). For more information on the tender and how to participate, please visit https://ignite-power.com/open-international-tender-2024/.

29 May 2024: d.light, the global provider of transformational household products and affordable finance for low-income households, has partnered with global telecom operator Orange to open up access to d.light’s range of low-cost solar products for customers in 11 African countries.

d.light solar-powered products, including solar home systems, solar inverters, TVs, fans, and portable solar torches, are available to Orange customers via its Orange Smart Energies platform.

The partnership is already up and running in Ivory Coast, where Orange has thirty million customers, and also Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It will expand into a further five African countries in which Orange operates – Senegal, Mali, Burkino Faso, Guinea, and the Central African Republic (CAR).

d.light products are available at Orange’s own stores and also its partner retail outlets and sales agents. Customers can pay using the Orange Money service, allowing them to make purchases via “Pay As You Go” (PAYG).

Commenting on the partnership, d.light CEO Nick Imudia, said, “Mobile operators are natural partners for off-grid solar providers like d.light as they have the scale and the resources to reach rural communities in remote locations which are not connected to the energy grid. In addition, operator billing-based mobile money services like Orange Money give low-income households the flexibility to make payments for solar products as and when they can afford to do so. People can access affordable renewable solar energy solutions via simple mobile prepayment.”

Imudia continued, “According to the International Energy Agency, in 2022 600 million people in Africa were without access to electricity. The impacts of the global pandemic and the international energy crisis combined to slow down and obstruct the progress that had been made in recent years to improve electricity access across the continent. There is still much work to do to extend availability of reliable, affordable electricity to low-income households and off-grid communities in Africa so that many more people can benefit from the improved living standards, opportunities and economic development that it enables.”

Imudia concluded, “d.light’s partnership with Orange in Sub-Saharan Africa allows us to put our two areas of expertise – high-quality solar products plus affordable personal finance – to work for a wider impact in the region. It also bolsters d.light’s aim to transform the lives of more than one billion people worldwide by 2030 with access to clean, safe solar energy.”

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About d.light: Founded in 2007 in Stanford, California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold nearly 30 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 150 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people, in developing countries, with sustainable products by 2030. For more information, visit: dlight.com.

15 May 2024: On 9 May 2024, Ener-G-Africa (EGA) officially launched its cookware manufacturing facility in Paarl, producing a range of clean-burning, fuel-efficient stoves and cookware, and employing 100 people from the local community. The event was attended by the Drakenstein municipality Executive Mayor, Stephen Korabie, media, retailers, NGOs and community organisations. A panel discussion on clean and green cooking was led by the World Bioenergy Association president, Christian Rakos.

“This launch is the culmination of a vision to revolutionise cooking in Africa, making it cleaner, healthier, more affordable and better for the environment,” says André Moolman, CEO at Ener-G-Africa. “Cooking remains largely the unrecognised responsibility of women in Africa. Every day, millions of women across the continent have no option but to cook in unsafe conditions, using inefficient equipment. They spend hours collecting firewood for fuel, and cooking on primitive, unhealthy and often dangerous wood-burning stoves. We are looking to change that by providing accessible, cost-effective and innovative cookware that saves women time, money and fuel. We hope to help women reclaim their time, negate safety issues related to firewood collection and improve health outcomes by minimising exposure to harmful smoke. This can help to restore women’s dignity and boost their productivity.”

“The opening of this factory is a landmark event for clean cooking in Africa”, adds Christian Rakos, President of World Bioenergy Association. “Ener-G-Africa’s engagement will include building supply chains for a fuel that can revolutionize cooking in Africa – pelletized biomass coming from various types of agricultural residues and fast growing grasses. This modern fuel offers a clean burning and affordable alternative to firewood and charcoal. The dedicated pellet cookstove built here has the potential to become a unique success story”.

Ener-G-Africa’s clean cooking solutions extend to innovations in the form of sustainable fuels, all aimed at combatting climate change to make universal access to clean cooking by 2030 achievable (SDG 7).

“Our products are designed for clean cooking, which is healthier, and green cooking, which is better for the environment and more sustainable,” Chief Business Development Executive at Ener-G-Africa Dave Lello adds. “Not only are our stoves safer to use but they are also more fuel-efficient, meaning they are more cost-effective.”

Local manufacturing commitment

The manufacturing plant is located in Berg River in the Drakenstein municipality, contributing to job creation and stimulating the local economy. Built at a cost of $1 million (USD), this 3 200m2 factory represents the company’s commitment to local manufacturing. Products are distributed across South Africa and into the rest of the continent.

The plant uses 100% locally made stainless steel and is located near Ener-G-Africa’s other facility – a women-run solar manufacturing plant that is the second largest on the continent.

Ener-G-Africa is a Proudly South African member, committed to an uplifting ethos that promotes social and economic change and progress and to making a meaningful contribution to building South Africa’s economy and alleviating unemployment.

The company has invested in cutting-edge manufacturing technology, including a 6kW laser cutter and a 25m long dishwasher for cleaning the finished cookware. The laser cutter provides high precision and accuracy, with an “auto coil” feature that enables the machine to auto-feed and cut material, increasing efficiency in batch production and minimising material waste. Laser cutting also allows for flexibility in terms of cutting the different shapes and patterns required to produce the full range of cookware.

“As well as serving the needs of African women, our range is well suited to anyone who enjoys cooking outdoors, from camping enthusiasts to South Africans who love to sit around a fire together,” says Moolman. “Our stoves and cookware are fuel-efficient, easy-to-use, clean-burning and designed to bring the joy back into cooking.”

All these products are currently available on Ener-G-Africa’s website, www.ener-g-africa.com.

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About Ener-G-Africa: Ener-G-Africa helps to tackle the challenges of climate change and improve the lives of people in Africa by manufacturing sustainable energy solutions that increase access to clean and renewable energy.

Since its inception in 2017, Ener-G-Africa has established three manufacturing plants; one in Lilongwe, Malawi, and two in the Western Cape, South Africa. The female-led solar panel assembly plant, their newly launched advanced biomass stove plant and the cookware manufacturing plant promote clean cooking and are all situated in Paarl.

Ener-G-Africa’s energy-efficient products are distributed throughout South Africa and across 12 African countries. These products which include solar panels, biomass stoves, pellets and cookware are all aimed at improving the lives and health of households across the continent. For more information, visit: www.ener-g-africa.com.

15 May 2024: d.light, the global provider of transformational household products and affordable finance for low-income households, is providing 10,000 subsidized solar home systems to refugees who have fled conflict in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and who are now living in refugee camps in Northern and Western Uganda. The 10,000 units are part of a wider initiative to supply 23,000 solar home systems to Ugandan refugee communities.

The project is being funded by a USD$3.4M grant from Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), a body made up of business associations, companies and public sector agencies in Uganda: and Energising Development (EnDev), an international programme by the German, Dutch, Norwegian and Swiss governments to provide access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for delivering social, economic, and environmental change.

The project began in April and is scheduled to run for 12 months. Funds from the grant are subject to results based financing (RBF) and d.light will only receive funding for solar home systems that have been installed. Each solar home system from d.light features three high-efficiency LED lights, an FM radio with MP3 playback, mobile phone charging capability, and a portable solar flashlight.

Commenting on the news, d.light’s Managing Director for Uganda Douglas Gavala said, “With this grant, we can expand the important work we’re doing to improve living conditions for underserved refugee communities from South Sudan, the DRC and elsewhere who are living in refugee camps in Uganda.

“A solar home system significantly improves the quality of life and wellbeing of a household – whether it’s providing entertainment or letting a family stay up to date on local and global news on the radio or enabling children to continue reading and studying after dark.

“As well as benefits at home, d.light products also bolster household income in Uganda’s refugee settlements by extending working hours for tradespeople and small businesses, and providing an income for residents who work as d.light salespeople in the settlements.

“By providing high-quality solar products at an affordable price, we are improving the quality of life for displaced people while simultaneously encouraging economic activity at a grassroots level.”

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About d.light: Founded in 2007 in Stanford, California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold nearly 30 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 150 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people, in developing countries, with sustainable products by 2030. For more information, visit: dlight.com.

14 May 2024: Boasting 60% of the world’s best solar resources, Africa’s solar power potential presents multiple opportunities for investors seeking long-term, scalable financial prospects. A panel session during this year’s Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum explored strategies to unlock financing for renewable energy projects across the continent.

Taking place in Paris on May 14, the session, which included independent power producer ENGIE Energy Access, featured a robust discussion around solar energy deployment. Committed to raising electrification rates across the continent, the company is developing a $60 million mini-grid project in Nigeria, which is set for completion by 2026 and is poised to connect over 150,000 people to the grid.

“More than 600 million people lack access to electricity, and ENGIE Access’ goal is to bridge this gap,” stated ENGIE Energy Access Head of Funding Marie Testard, adding, “ENGIE Energy Access is the energy access company that aims to deploy this solution in sub-Saharan Africa, and so far, we have a presence in nine countries, building almost 10 GW of mini-grids.”

Meanwhile, having secured $222.5 million in commitments from African institutional investors in January, pan-African infrastructure investment platform Africa50 Group is well positioned to deploy a pipeline of renewable energy infrastructure projects. The fund is poised to play a vital role in addressing the continent’s energy needs while promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

“The African continent has a lot of renewable resources and the highest solar potential in the world, with only 5 GW of installed solar capacity so far,” stated Africa50 Infrastructure Investment Platform Strategy Director Molly Gbodimowo, adding, “Overall, Africa requires $277 billion annually to implement its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

Underscoring the pivotal role of public-private partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms in driving renewable energy initiatives, the speakers stressed the importance of local institutions and a favorable investment environment in Africa.

Additionally, it was noted that Africa’s path towards a more sustainable future will require a concerted effort from international stakeholders in the continent’s energy sector to divest from carbon-intensive resources and move towards renewables.

7 May 2024: The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) and The Congolese Association for Renewable and Decentralized Energies (ACERD asbl) have announced a collaboration that seeks to bridge the energy access gap via minigrids and decentralized utilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

AMDA and ACERD asbl are expected to work jointly towards ensuring development, financing, and rapid deployment of minigrids to electrify the rural unserved and underserved areas in the DRC. Specifically, the organizations are seeking to advocate and promote the development of policies, regulations, standards, and guidelines that benefit and support the scale of the minigrid sector.

The collaboration seeks to facilitate in-depth research that highlights opportunities and key barriers in project implementation, with the goal of sharing knowledge, data, and information related to minigrid electrification, including data on energy demand and infrastructure requirements, and disseminating information to stakeholders, policymakers, and the public.

“AMDA is delighted to work with ACERD asbl to advocate for optimal policy and regulatory framework that will benefit the minigrid sector and the people it serves.” said Olamide Niyi-Afuye, the CEO of AMDA. “We will work with all stakeholders to unlock the right mix of financing to scale the minigrid sector in the DRC and standardize metrics to measure sector progress and make informed decisions through evidence and research.”

“ACERD asbl is thrilled to have AMDA as a rightful partner for the benefit of the DRC minigrid regulatory and policy framework. To be acknowledged in a partnership with AMDA shows how important it is to secure diligently the pathway for the emergence of minigrid and the development of the energy sector in the DRC,” said Catherine Mukobo, CEO of ACERD asbl.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to 99 million people. The electricity sector is characterized by low electrification rates, with only about 20.8 percent of the DRC’s population having access to electricity in 2020 according to World Bank data, underscoring the urgent need for increased electricity generation and distribution to expand access toward universal electrification. Most of the country is not covered by the national grid and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future, due to the size of the country, the grid’s limited reach and limited investments in transmission.

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About AMDA: The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is an industry association created by private sector minigrid developers and development partners interested in improving political and financial environments for minigrid companies in Africa. AMDA serves as the consolidated voice for minigrid developers to accelerate their pathway to scale and sustainability towards achieving universal access to sustainable, reliable, affordable, and modern energy in Africa. To date, AMDA has 43 member companies operating in 22 countries in Africa. For more information, visit: africamda.org.

6 May 2024: Bricsa Consulting proudly presents the 6th Edition of the PowerTech Africa Conference scheduled on June 10th and 11th, 2024, at Four Points by Sheraton, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Esteemed speakers include representatives from Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum - Kenya, Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), Ministry of Water and Energy - Ethiopia, and more.

Join industry leaders, policymakers, and experts for insightful discussions on renewable energy, grid modernization, and policy frameworks. Key discussions of the conference are:

• Identifying the potential of renewable sources in the Sub-Saharan Africa Regions - Wind, Solar, Geothermal & Hydropower;
• Implementation of Smart Grid/Off-Grid technology projects using renewable energy for a better and reliable power transmission;
• Sources of capitalizing renewable power projects & exploring Foreign Direct Investment policies for better project implementation;
• Hybrid Energy System: Spurting opportunities for the energy market in Africa.

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For more details, visit: https://pta.bricsaconsulting.com/.

For media and endorsement inquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• The A2E Fund is once again making one million euros available to support projects that contribute to energy inclusion in disadvantaged communities in Africa. The application phase for this 6th edition runs until 29 May.<

29 April 2024: EDP is launching another edition of the A2E (Access to Energy) CSR Fund this week, through which it selects and finances the best projects for access to renewable energy in communities in African countries. Organisations interested in presenting projects that contribute to the promotion of clean energy and energy inclusion can apply from this Monday, April 29, until the end of May.

With a total budget of one million euros, the A2E Fund aims to finance projects in five countries – Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya and Rwanda – where there are still high levels of energy exclusion. EDP thus aims to support sustainable energy solutions that contribute to a just and inclusive transition in communities in the most isolated and vulnerable regions.

After five editions and 3.5 million euros in funding, the 38 projects supported by the A2E CSR Fund have already directly and indirectly benefited the lives of almost 3 million people in seven African countries. This support is particularly important in Africa, which is estimated to represent more than 80% of the world’s population still without access to electricity.

“In building a fairer and more sustainable future, every investment counts. By renewing our support for clean energy access projects in the most vulnerable and isolated communities, through this new edition of the A2E Fund, we are not just financing energy projects – we are promoting change with a positive impact,” explains Vera Pinto Pereira, executive board member of EDP and president of the EDP Foundation. “This is our commitment and a vote of confidence in those who, like us, work with the ambition of providing a fair, inclusive energy transition in which everyone can have the opportunity to change their lives.”

As in previous editions, the A2E Fund is once again focusing on five priority areas – education, health, water, community and business – and values assessment criteria such as social impact, partnerships, sustainability, potential for expansion or technical and financial viability. The projects to be funded may involve solutions that, for example, bring electricity and drinking water to schools and medical centres, power irrigation systems for agricultural fields and refrigeration equipment for small businesses, or support the work of artisans.

Despite the differences, all these projects share the same ambition and positive impact: to improve the quality of life of these small communities and boost their social, economic and environmental progress. Thus, EDP is continuing the programme started in 2018 to support clean and sustainable energy projects in emerging countries. This is one of the focuses of the group’s social impact programme, EDP Y.E.S. – You Empower Society, which helps bring energy to those who don’t have it.

The projects selected in the last five editions of the fund can be consulted in the Access to Energy area on EDP’s website.

In this new edition, entities will be able to apply for financial support of between 50,000 and 150,000 euros for each project – the fund guarantees up to 75% of the actual total costs of the project (in the case of non-profit organisations) and up to 50% of the costs for other for-profit entities. Applications can be submitted until 29 May, followed by an evaluation and pre-selection phase in the following months. The selection of the winning projects will be announced in the last quarter of this year.

The regulations and application form for the 6th edition of the A2E Fund can be found here.

25 April 2024: A leading provider of distributed infrastructure solutions, proudly announces its latest milestone: expanding renewable energy access in Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon through the strategic acquisition of Oolu, a prominent provider of Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions in West Africa. The strategic move marks Ignite Power’s foray into the vibrant West African market, where it aims to replicate the success it achieved across multiple countries in East and Southern Africa, positively impacting millions of lives and paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable, and inclusive future.

“We are excited to welcome the Oolu team to the Ignite Power family”, stated Yariv Cohen, Ignite Power CEO. “Oolu has built a solid business infrastructure for expansion and growth across the region. With Ignite’s proven technologies for last-mile operations, advanced SOPs, strong financial positioning, and after leading the industry across multiple markets, we are confident that we can substantially expand the impact and footprint across the wider West African region.”

In Kenya, where Ignite Power completed two strategic acquisitions last year, the company’s impact has been nothing short of revolutionary. By seamlessly integrating operations and deploying its cutting-edge technologies, Ignite’s newly acquired companies have quadrupled sales, and cut the market price by 35% in the span of 4 months, setting a new standard for excellence and affordability in the country’s distributed renewable energy sector.

Now, with the acquisition of Oolu, Ignite embarks on another chapter in its journey toward sustainable development. Oolu, a graduate of the renowned Y Combinator accelerator and a trusted provider of solar-based solutions across Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon, provided clean and affordable energy access to over 800,000 people through a diverse range of DRE systems, including solar home systems, productive use of energy (PUE) solutions, and commercial and industrial (C&I) projects.

“Joining the Ignite family presents a remarkable opportunity to blend oolu’s strong operational presence across West Africa with Ignite’s proven expertise and advanced technologies”, said Dan Rosa, Co-founder and CEO of Oolu. “Together, we can tap into vast opportunities, enhance our reach, and substantially increase our impact on communities across the region.”

Through this acquisition, Ignite Power also strategically enters the C&I sector, capitalizing on Oolu’s successful deployment of 3 MW across various projects and a growing portfolio of new solar projects across Nigeria. According to Vincenzo Capogna, Oolu’s CTO, “West Africa offers a wealth of potential for solar-based solutions, from last mile and residential customers to large commercial and industrial sectors. We are enthusiastic about leveraging these opportunities with Ignite to drive growth and resilience across the solar landscape.”

As the shift towards sustainable energy solutions continues, the potential for distributed solar energy in West Africa, and particularly in Nigeria, shines brighter than ever. With a rapidly expanding population and an increasing demand for reliable electricity, the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for distributed solar energy solutions in the region is vast and promising, reaching 100 million people, effectively doubling Ignite’s current addressable market.

Nigeria, being one of the largest economies in Africa, stands at the forefront of this energy revolution. With over 80 million people lacking access to reliable electricity, distributed solar energy solutions present a compelling alternative. The TAM for these solutions encompasses a wide range of sectors, including residential, commercial, and industrial; In rural areas where grid access is limited or non-existent, distributed solar energy systems offer a lifeline, powering homes, schools, and healthcare facilities. Approximately 60% of Nigeria’s rural population lacks access to electricity, representing a substantial market for off-grid solar solutions. Furthermore, in urban centers plagued by frequent power outages and unreliable grid connections, businesses are turning to solar to ensure uninterrupted operations and reduce operational costs.

The latest government decision to remove subsidies for fuel and diesel in Nigeria has further amplified the appeal of solar energy. With fuel and diesel prices increasing, businesses and households are seeking alternative energy sources to mitigate escalating energy costs. This policy shift creates vast opportunities for the solar sector to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions across the country. Leveraging Oolu’s established operations, bolstered by Ignite’s support and expertise, the company is strategically positioned to capitalize on this burgeoning opportunity.

With extensive experience in operating under Results-Based-Financing (RBF) programs supported by the World Bank and other leading financiers, Ignite is well-positioned to deepen partnerships across West Africa. The World Bank’s commitment to bolstering rural electrification efforts, particularly in Nigeria, is evident through initiatives like the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project announced in December 2023, which has a substantial budget of $750 million and aims to provide electricity access to 17.5 million people through distributed renewable energy solutions. Last week, the World Bank’s President Ajay Banga announced that the Bank will bring electricity to 250 million Africans, a major increase from its December pledge of $5 billion to connect 100 million people in Africa to power by 2030. This increased commitment aligns closely with Ignite Power’s mission to bring sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities, mirroring its successful participation in RBF programs in Mozambique, Kenya and Rwanda.

Ignite Power stands at the forefront of the distributed and renewable energy revolution, armed with a proven track record of impact, efficiency, and innovation. After positively impacting 2.5 million lives, saving more than 600,000 tonnes of GHG emissions, creating 3,500 jobs, and winning multiple industry awards, including the prestigious 2023 Zayed Prize, Ignite catalyzed economic growth and social and environmental impact at scale.

“With the acquisition of Oolu, we are one step closer to realizing our vision of a world powered by clean, sustainable, and distributed energy,” says Cohen. “Together, we will continue to defy the odds and illuminate the path to a brighter, more prosperous, and cleaner future for all.”

• ENGIE Energy Access has inaugurated today its first mini-grid in Dohouè, a village in the South of Benin. The Dohouè MySol Grid, powered by 135 kWp of solar panels and supported by 130 kWh of Lithium-ion batteries, connects over 1,500 residents and businesses to sustainable energy solutions.

11 April 2024: ENGIE Energy Access has inaugurated today its first mini-grid in Dohouè, a village in the South of Benin.

The Dohouè MySol Grid, powered by 135 kWp of solar panels and supported by 130 kWh of Lithium-ion batteries, connects over 1,500 residents and businesses to sustainable energy solutions. In partnership with the Beninese Agency for Rural Electrification and Energy Management (ABERME), ENGIE Energy Access has secured a 20-year license agreement, underlining its commitment to long-term, impactful development. This electrification milestone promises enhanced economic prospects for the local community, providing access to income-generating activities and fostering financial inclusion.

Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO of ENGIE Energy Access commented: “Our comprehensive offering across solar home systems and mini-grids in Benin enables a cost-effective and adaptable multi-technological approach. Therefore, we can meet the various urgent needs of residential, communal, and productive users living outside the national grid.” He added. “We are committed to making clean energy technologies accessible to low-income households, promoting inclusivity and empowerment within each member of the communities we serve.”

Christelle Agossou, Country Director of ENGIE Energy Access Benin, affirmed the company’s forward-looking vision, stating, “Looking towards the future, ENGIE Energy Access is constructing and will operate 20 additional mini-grids across the country.” These mini-grids, co-financed by the Millennium Challenge Account – Benin II programme as part of the Off-grid Clean Energy Facility (OCEF), will collectively deliver 1.2 MW of installed capacity, illuminating the lives of more than 30,000 people across 20 rural localities.”

This project will accelerate energy access solutions in Benin where ENGIE Energy Access is bringing light and sustainable electricity to already more than 1,500,000 people.

ENGIE Energy Access BENIN currently has over 200 employees, 1000 independent sales agents, and more than 100 points of presence across the country, dedicated to providing exceptional customer experience with high-quality products and services.

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About ENGIE Energy Access: ENGIE Energy Access is the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) and mini-grids solutions provider in Africa. The company develops innovative, off-grid solar solutions for homes, public services and businesses, enabling customers and distribution partners access to clean, affordable energy. The PAYGO solar home systems are financed through affordable instalments and the mini-grids foster economic development by enabling electrical productive use and triggering business opportunities for entrepreneurs in rural communities. With over 1,800 employees, operations in nine countries across Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), 2.5 million customers and more than 12.5 million lives impacted so far, ENGIE Energy Access aims to impact 20 million lives across Africa by 2025.

9 April 2024: SunCulture, a leading provider of solar-powered irrigation solutions and agricultural technology to smallholder farmers, is thrilled to announce the successful close of its $27.5 million Series B funding round. The oversubscribed round marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to revolutionize sustainable farming practices across the globe.

The Series B funding round attracted a diverse group of international investors—Reed Hastings, InfraCo Africa Limited, Acumen Fund, The Schmidt Family Foundation, and others, and follow-on investment from EDF Group, Equator, and the Acumen Resilience Agriculture Fund (ARAF)—signaling strong confidence in SunCulture's innovative approach to addressing the critical challenges faced by smallholder farmers, especially in emerging markets. The investment will fuel SunCulture's continued growth, enabling the expansion of its product line, entry into new markets, and further development of its technology platform designed to increase smallholder farmer productivity and resilience to climate change.

"Today marks a pivotal moment for SunCulture, our dedicated team, and the farmers we serve," said Samir Ibrahim, CEO and Co-Founder of SunCulture. "This investment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and it reinforces our mission to make farming more profitable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. With this new funding, we are set to accelerate our impact, bringing our life-changing technology to even more farmers around the world.

SunCulture's solar-powered water pumps and irrigation systems have been transformative for smallholder farmers, enabling access to water, reducing labor costs, and increasing crop yields.

The Series B funds will be instrumental in scaling SunCulture's operations, enhancing its technology offerings, and supporting its strategic expansion plans. The company is poised to enter new markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, bringing its sustainable agricultural solutions to more farmers in need.

"This oversubscribed funding round is a clear indication of the market's confidence in SunCulture, our vision, and our impact on the ground," said Andrew Reicher, Chairman of SunCulture. "We are grateful for the support of our new and existing investors, and we look forward to leveraging these resources to drive further innovation and growth."

As SunCulture continues on its path of rapid growth and expansion, it remains committed to its core mission of improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through life-changing technology.

Ekta Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor for this transaction, building on the team’s track record in raising capital for tech companies driving positive change.

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About SunCulture: SunCulture helps smallholder farmers grow more food with climate technology, financing, and a digital marketplace. The company has >50% market share for smallholder farmer solar irrigation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in 2023 and by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021. For more information, visit: www.sunculture.com.

25 March 2024: The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) and Energy Peace Partners (EPP) are pleased to announce today a new collaboration to expand access to investment for renewable energy minigrids that benefit under-electrified and unelectrified communities across Africa.

The AMDA-EPP collaboration seeks to increase the visibility of AMDA members and the renewable energy projects they aspire to develop among multinational corporations and the wider global climate community. The collaboration focuses on expanding the African market for International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs), including Peace Renewable Energy Credits (P-RECs). P-RECs serve as a quality label for qualifying high-impact I-REC projects in fragile, energy poor countries that deliver significant social and economic benefits to local communities.

More specifically, AMDA and EPP are collaborating to produce new initiatives that help expand incentives for corporations with environmental and social impact goals to support AMDA members’ projects, expand the number of countries with voluntary clean energy markets to attract corporate buyers, and create new educational resources and market insights for AMDA members.

“AMDA is committed to working with all stakeholders to meet critical climate goals through expanding access to clean energy and advocating for an enabling environment to attract investments into renewable energy minigrids,” said Olamide Niyi-Afuye, the CEO of AMDA. “This collaboration wouldn’t have come at a better time to help us deliver on member value for our member companies across Africa.”

“This collaboration with AMDA is critical for EPP efforts to support new renewable energy minigrid projects in Africa and expand the pipeline of P-REC projects to meet growing demand among corporate buyers for clean energy projects that also deliver meaningful social impact,” said David Mozersky, President of EPP. “We are excited to work with AMDA and the wider AMDA member community to advance renewable energy as a building block for peace and development across the continent.”

By cultivating the market and incentives for corporate buyers for I-RECs and especially P-RECs in Africa, AMDA and EPP will help increase the revenue that AMDA members can secure from new renewable energy projects, accelerating and enhancing financing terms and expanding access to carbon-free electricity to more under-electrified and unelectrified communities.

Renewable energy investment continues to increase around the world as policymakers, companies, investors, and nonprofit stakeholders work together to address the climate finance gap and more than triple annual investment in renewable energy to make the 1.5°C target possible. However, these investments continue to overlook the world’s most under-electrified and unelectrified communities, perpetuating climate equity issues in the world’s most fragile countries. To date, communities across Africa have secured only 2% of the $3 trillion invested globally in renewables.

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About AMDA: The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is an industry association created by private sector minigrid developers and development partners interested in improving political and financial environments for minigrid companies in Africa. AMDA serves as the consolidated voice for minigrid developers to accelerate their pathway to scale and sustainability towards achieving universal access to sustainable, reliable, affordable, and modern energy in Africa. To date, AMDA has 43 member companies operating in 22 countries in Africa. For more information, visit: africamda.org.

About EPP: Energy Peace Partners (EPP) is a nonprofit organization that develops innovative climate and finance solutions to promote greater resilience and peace in fragile, climate vulnerable, and energy poor countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Our team offers world class expertise in peace building, renewable energy, and climate security. EPP developed the novel “Peace Renewable Energy Credit” (P-REC) to provide catalytic funding for new renewable mini-grids plus linked community projects through corporate renewable energy procurement. For more information, visit: www.energypeacepartners.com.

21 March 2024: At the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) Forum in Kigali, Rwanda this week, CLASP was announced as the new host and manager of the Energy Access Institutions Facility, an initiative that seeks to provide core funding and technical assistance to organizations who accelerate access to life-changing, off-grid energy to millions of people around the world.

Over the next five years, the Facility’s vision is to deploy $25 million USD to a portfolio of five to ten impactful organizations, known as “market institutions”, that are working to grow the distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector. DRE systems are stand-alone, off-grid energy solutions that generate and distribute renewable energy without needing to be connected to the main grid. Expanding this sector has the potential to transform lives and livelihoods by increasing incomes, empowering women, enhancing educational opportunities, improving healthcare, reducing food waste, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, and much more.

The Facility’s growing portfolio of organizations is expected to have reach across several countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, potentially increasing the delivery of renewable off-grid energy to millions of people from low-income communities.

Market institutions that support the following will be eligible to apply to the Energy Access Institutions Facility:

• Clean cooking solutions;
• Energy efficient appliances and equipment;
• Productive Use of Energy;
• Standalone solar systems;
• Micro grids and mini grids.

This Facility is a result of multiple years of funding and commitment by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK charity Shell Foundation (SF), and two years of incubation and development managed by Open Capital. FCDO and SF provided $5.5 million USD in seed funding to the first tranche of market institutions to prove this concept.

In the Facility’s first year, five market institutions, including the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA), Ethiopia Energy Market Accelerator (EMA), GOGLA, Nigeria Off-Grid Market Accelerator Programme (NOMAP), and the Uganda Off-Grid Market Accelerator, were the first grantees.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has recently announced its commitment to providing approximately $4.5 million USD in funding for this next phase led by CLASP. This support will enable the Facility to disperse further funding to another round of market institutions and accelerate the Facility’s growth. In the coming months, CLASP is committed to securing additional funding from donors who have already indicated an interest in this impactful initiative.

Anders Arvidson, Senior Advisor and Team Lead in Sida’s Power Africa Team, noted:

“The Facility’s vision of accelerating access to clean energy for the world’s lowest-income people strategically aligns with Sida’s mission to reduce poverty around the world by partnering with the private sector in support of market development and mobilization of capital. We are proud to offer our support to take this initiative to its next phase, and to accelerate necessary growth in the clean energy sector. We look forward to working closely with CLASP to realize this vision.”

CLASP was selected because of the organization’s 25-year tenure as the leading, global organization advancing affordable, efficient appliances to mitigate climate change and help communities adapt and thrive. CLASP has proven expertise managing similar programs, including serving as the co-secretariat of the Efficiency for Access Coalition, an initiative supporting off-grid appliance market research and innovation; and as Operating Agent for the Super-efficient Appliance and Equipment Deployment (SEAD), a $20 million initiative under the Clean Energy Ministerial. CLASP also manages the Productive Use Financing Facility, a $6.5 million financing facility to catalyze the uptake of productive use appliances across East, West and Central Africa.

Christine Egan, CEO at CLASP, reflected on how the Energy Access Institutions Facility would push for real impact in the sector:

“The Energy Access Institutions Facility is positioned to impact and enhance millions of lives at a critical moment for sustainable development and global climate ambition. Exponentially increasing the number of people using off-grid, renewable energy and appliances will be a livelihood game changer in regions where access to traditional grid electricity is insufficient or non-existent. CLASP is committed to serving the sector and partnering with essential energy access institutions to deliver and scale collective impacts.”

In the coming months, CLASP will communicate opportunities for involvement and next steps for market-enabling organizations who are interested in participating, as well as donors who are interested in further supporting the Facility.

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About the Facility: The Energy Access Institutions Facility is a joint donor initiative that provides funding and technical support to organizations known as market institutions to overcome barriers and scale the distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector, to accelerate universal access to affordable, clean, and modern energy (Sustainable Development Goal 7). The Facility is managed by CLASP, with initial contributions from Shell Foundation and FCDO, and a current contribution from Sida. For more information, visit: www.clasp.ngo/institutions-facility.

About CLASP: CLASP is the leading global authority with 25 years’ expertise on how appliance efficiency drives climate mitigation, adaptation and improves the lives and livelihoods of people. An international nonprofit with offices on four continents, CLASP collaborates with policymakers, appliance manufacturers, and leading experts to deliver sound policy recommendations, innovative tools, groundbreaking research, and clear pathways to a more sustainable world for people and the planet. For more information, visit: www.clasp.ngo.

20 March 2024: Climate and impact fund manager Camco has unveiled a new technical assistance facility (TAF) to accelerate the growth of Sub-Saharan African markets for renewable energy and energy access.

Camco is developing the USD 250m REPP 2 fund to invest in the African grid of the future and the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) building it. The private debt fund is structured as a blended finance vehicle to leverage public, private and commercial funding to invest in small-scale and decentralised renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on supporting Least Developed Countries.

The new accelerator will play a critical role in achieving REPP 2’s goal of delivering significant climate, economic and gender impacts while ensuring sustainable returns for investors by addressing both the financial and non-financial barriers that are currently impairing project development and slowing down investments.

REPP 2’s dedicated TAF is part of a new market development focus by Camco that complements its investment activities to deliver broader transformational impacts.

The REPP 2 TAF is launched with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) – a cornerstone funder, who has committed USD 5m to the facility’s USD 10m target.

The REPP 2 TAF has three pillars:

Pillar 1: SME growth and project development support: Early-stage project preparation funding to de-risk project development and capacity building activities to make the sector more inclusive and accelerate growth. This is expected to lead to more skilled and experienced local SMEs and project developers.

Pillar 2: Gender equity: Targeted support to earlier-stage female entrepreneurs who are not yet ready for REPP 2 financing and SMEs that offer products or services specifically designed to address the needs of female customers. This supports REPP 2’s comprehensive strategy for achieving 2X alignment.

Pillar 3: Enabling environment and knowledge mobilisation: Targeted advocacy initiatives, strengthened public-private dialogue and knowledge sharing to improve the enabling environment for renewable energy development and investment.

Ieva Indriunaite, Policy and Partnerships Manager, leading the market development work at Camco, said: “The support the REPP 2 TAF will provide is critical to the scaling up of companies in this sector and thereby developing a vibrant renewable energy market in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Norad understands everything we want to achieve through REPP 2 and the critical role of the TAF in supporting SMEs and the just development of the decentralised renewable energy sector in Africa. We are extremely thankful for its catalytic funding.”

Halvor Heggenes, Senior Advisor at Norad, said: “REPP 2 is an important part of Norad’s efforts to attract more commercial investments to renewable energy development in Africa. One of the big gaps that we work to close is the number of companies and projects that are considered investable by private financiers, and this is precisely what the technical assistance facility will address. We are excited to work with Camco to ultimately increase energy generation and access on the ground in Africa.”

Over its lifetime, REPP 2 aims to develop 330MW of new capacity, resulting in over 12.7 million tCO2e emission reductions. This will provide clean energy access to more than 7.7 million people and enhance the resilience of about one million beneficiaries.

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About REPP 2: REPP 2 is a private debt fund designed and managed by Camco that focuses on the energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is structured as a blended finance facility to ensure an appropriate risk-adjusted return to investors and aims to deliver significant climate, environmental, economic and gender impacts through the financing of small and medium-scale renewable energy assets.

REPP 2 builds on the legacy of the USD 120m Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), which is managed by Camco and fully funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). In October 2023, the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved the allocation of USD 50m in junior equity to REPP 2. This followed the signing of an indicative term sheet by REPP for an additional junior equity investment of up to USD 50m from REPP into REPP 2. For more information, visit: www.camco.fm/repp-2.

About Camco: Camco is a specialist climate and impact fund manager, leading the transition in emerging markets. We offer clean, secure investments, pairing the conscience of a development bank with the agility of a private company. Camco is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The company has offices in Auckland, Helsinki, Johannesburg, London, Nairobi, Sydney and Toronto. For more information, visit: www.camco.fm.

About Norad: Norad – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation – is a professional development agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Together with our partners and on behalf of Norway, Norad strives for a greener future in a world without poverty. Human rights must be respected, and no one left behind. By way of knowledge and cooperation, we ensure that the funds of Norwegian development aid contribute to sustainable global development. For more information, visit: www.norad.no/en/front.

13 March 2024: A positive step for global efforts to replace fossil fuel-powered generators with renewable energy-based alternatives was made today at the Transforming Energy Access Forum 2024 in Kigali, with funding announced for projects to bring better access to renewable energy products in Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands, as part of the Zero Emission Generators (ZE-Gen) initiative.

ZE-Gen is pleased to announce its collaboration with the Green Genset Facility (GGF), a spin-off from the Access to Energy Institute. ZE-Gen’s investment of £250,000 into the GGF aligns with its commitment to supporting sustainable energy initiatives that will replace fossil-fuelled generators. This contribution underscores ZE-Gen’s ongoing efforts to promote innovation in renewable energy alongside existing funders BGFA, DOEN Foundation, Good Energies Foundation, IKEA Foundation, NEFCO and Sida.

The GGF aims to make it simple and transparent for distributors to buy solar-powered generators, accelerating a move away from fossil fuel alternatives. The facility, supported by Open Capital Advisors, will address the lack of accessible and affordable working capital — seen as the biggest obstacle that distributors face in procuring solar generators from suppliers.

Through digital tracking of repayment and usage patterns, the facility will make it easier to buy stock to serve customers and grow distributors’ businesses, with the aim of improving livelihoods and reducing emissions and pollution in Africa. In a market due to exceed $20 billion in Nigeria alone, the facility will focus on unlocking the market for solar powered generators with the aim of raising $100 million in funding.

In addition, two innovative projects were announced as the winners of the ZE-Gen Demonstrator — a £2 million funding competition to evidence the capability, applicability, and scalability of integrated renewable alternatives to fossil-fuelled generators.

An expandable, solar generator for Nigerian businesses from off-grid renewable developer BioLite was chosen as one of the projects to receive the ZE-Gen Demonstrator funding. Building on BioLite’s deep technical expertise in solar generators the company will develop EverPower, an expandable, zero-emissions solar generator, to replace fossil fuel generators to meet the energy needs of weak grid or off-grid Nigerian SMEs.

A project in Côte d’Ivoire and Fiji for wind-generator technologies to charge approximately 400 e-mobility batteries a day for electric motorbikes, scooters, small boat outboards and drones was the other winner announced today. Led by British e-mobility charge-point developer Aegis Energy, the Zephattan project will showcase the readiness for wind powered generators to meet remote and off-grid African and Pacific Island Country electricity needs. With the potential to save around 500-tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions in six-months of field testing, the project is a collaboration with Abidjan-based local gender and social inclusion programming specialist and community-wind entrepreneur KOC Bridges to Peace, and Suva-based renewables development finance specialist Leaf Capital.

Dr James Coombs Obrien, Innovation Lead – Energy at Innovate UK said:

“We are delighted to announce these interventions at the Transforming Energy Access Forum, as part of ZE-Gen’s holistic approach to displacing fossil-fuelled generators.

“The Green Genset Facility and the winners of the ZE-Gen Demonstrator will drive forward the renewable energy-based generator landscape in Africa, South-Asia and the Pacific Islands, tackling the barriers to meet the growing market — and need — for renewable-based solutions. This supports ZE-Gen’s mission to enable the replacement of millions of polluting and expensive fossil-fuelled generators by accelerating the transition to renewable energy-based alternatives.”

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About ZE-Gen: ZE-Gen is a collaborative initiative by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, with support from the IKEA Foundation and UK aid through the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

Launched at COP27 with an initial commitment of over £15 million and an ambition to scale to £100 million, ZE-Gen is designed to tackle barriers, accelerate innovation and fund activities to build a thriving, competitive market for renewable alternatives to fossil-fuelled generators.

Additional funding for the ZE-Gen Demonstrator Competition is being provided by the UK Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO).

The Green Genset Facility is made possible with funding from FCDO, DOEN, Good Energies, and IKEA Foundation, and is delivered by the Access to Energy Institute with support from Open Capital. For more information, visit: www.ze-gen.org.

About Carbon Trust: The Carbon Trust is a global climate consultancy driven by the mission to accelerate the move to a decarbonised future. We have been climate pioneers for over 20 years, partnering with businesses, governments and financial institutions to drive positive climate action. From strategic planning and target setting to activation and communication – we turn ambition into impact. To date, our 400 experts have helped set 200+ science-based targets and guided 3,000+ organisations and cities across five continents on their route to Net Zero.

About Innovate UK: Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. For more information, visit the UK Research and Innovation website. We drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base. For more information, visit: www.gov.uk.

About Ayrton Fund: The UK Government announced the Ayrton Fund commitment of up to £1bn for clean energy innovation at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019. It is part of the wider £11.6bn of UK International Climate Finance committed between 2021 and 2026. The vision of the Ayrton Fund is to help drive forward the clean energy transition in developing countries, by creating and demonstrating new technologies and business models to deploy them. It will demonstrate UK leadership and expertise in cutting global emissions through world-leading innovations. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) jointly manage the Ayrton Fund.

6 March 2024: Improving battery recycling in Nigeria, raising labour and environmental standards, and establishing sustainable trade flows for raw materials – these are the declared aims of the new project Partnership for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling. In this new project, partners from Nigerian civil society, the metal processing industry and the solar industry are working together with the Oeko-Institut to develop a cooperative approach to the responsible recycling of lead-acid batteries. To this end, the project is liaising closely with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment and the environmental enforcement agency, Nigeria Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

“As the largest economy and most populous country in Africa, Nigeria is also central to battery recycling. Nowhere else on the African continent is the volume of used batteries as high,” emphasizes Frederick Adjei, researcher on Circular Economy and Recycling at the Oeko-Institut. “At the same time, the expansion of decentralised solar power solutions is leading to an increase in demand for batteries, all of which will have to be recycled properly at some point”.

In view of the serious health and environmental risks posed by unsound recycling practices, the project supports industrial companies and regulatory authorities in Nigeria in introducing environmental, health and safety standards. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Modernising Nigeria’s recycling industry

Nigeria is home to one of the largest lead-acid battery recycling industries in Sub-Saharan Africa. At least ten facilities recycle batteries on an industrial scale, recovering raw materials such as lead, tin and antimony. These are mostly redeployed in battery production – either in Nigeria or abroad.

The aim of the joint project is to share experiences for the modernisation of the recycling sector in Nigeria. The partners are using a three-pronged approach: the Oeko-Institut and the industrial partners are providing knowledge on environmental protection and occupational safety for recycling plants and training plant managers to improve environmental performance and plant safety. In addition, the partners are developing concepts for how Nigerian regulatory authorities might introduce and monitor binding standards for environmental protection and occupational health and safety and implement them together with local companies. Last but not least, cooperation with other sectors is to be initiated, for example with the Nigerian solar industry, which requires environmentally sound solutions for used batteries. The German and international metals industry is as well highly interested in responsible supply chains for secondary raw materials.

“We have been monitoring the recycling of used batteries with great concern for many years and have already worked with the Nigerian government on a battery policy. We see this project as an important continuation and practical implementation of that work,” says Dr Leslie Adogame of the Nigerian organisation Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev).

David Lecoque, CEO of the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) adds a practical perspective: “Our member companies are actively involved in the expansion of decentralised renewable energy in Africa. They are aware of the challenges associated with battery disposal and are keen to scale up high quality local recycling solutions”.

Franziska Weber from Plattform Blei, an initiative of the WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle, emphasises the benefits for the industry: “Our member companies and partners are dependent on the import of raw materials and recycling streams are playing an increasingly important role in this context. But of course, we have to pay particular attention to environmental and labour standards with all our suppliers. Without the implementation of appropriate standards, the German economy cannot enter into supply relationships with players in Nigeria.”

Lead-acid battery recycling – risks and opportunities for the circular economy

Lead-acid batteries are used in cars, off-grid solar applications and backup power systems. Environmentally sound and safe recycling is possible and can effectively recover up to 97 percent of all contained raw materials. However, in many regions of the world, recycling takes place in substandard, highly dangerous and unsafe conditions, exposing workers and neighbouring communities to toxic lead dust.

This lead exposure can have serious health effects, including irreversible nerve and brain damage particularly in children. According to UNICEF, up to 800 million children, especially in low- and middle-income countries, have elevated blood lead levels. In addition to the dramatic impact on the lives of those affected, there is also long-term economic damage, which is estimated at four percent of the gross domestic product in Sub-Saharan Africa.

4 March 2024: The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), through the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), has extended a 3-year USD 2 million term loan to MPower Ventures Zambia Limited to improve access to modern and affordable energy solutions for household and productive use through the importation and retail of solar products to off grid communities in Zambia.

Through this transaction, MPower Zambia is set to increase its deployment range of plug and play household solar devices and market driven productive use assets such as freezers, sewing machines and water pumps to lower- and middle-income households, SMEs, and farmers in peri-urban and rural areas.

Gloria Mamba, Trade and Development Fund Executive Director and TDB Southern Africa Coverage Executive said, “We are pleased to extend this facility to MPower as it allows us to provide concessional financial solutions to SMEs which have traditionally struggled to attract adequate financing from the formal banking sector, yet spur change and transformation within our communities, bringing about green growth opportunities and sustainable development, which is what we desire to see across the region.”

Additionally, MPower Zambia will construct 50 new rural energy hubs. Using the energy hub model the company sets up hubs that allow communities to access energy for domestic and public purposes such as lighting health centres through last mile extension of power from the hubs to the nearest health facilities. The energy hubs are expected to create 30 direct and over 500 indirect jobs, thereby enhancing productivity and economic activity, and improving the livelihoods of communities that currently lack access to the electricity grid.

Prof. Oliver Saasa, Chairperson and Non-Executive Director of the Trade and Development Fund Board of Directors said that “The Rural Electrification Master Plan for Zambia aims to achieve a rural electrification rate of 51% by 2030. The Government is implementing a strategy to encourage private sector investment to bring in additional energy solutions such as solar to bridge the energy gap.”

Manuel Seiffe, CEO and Co-Founder of MPower, commented:

“We are immensely grateful for the support extended by the TDB Group through the Trade and Development Fund. This 3-year USD 2 million term loan marks significant progress for MPower as we strive to enhance access to clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions in Zambia. With this funding, we are better positioned to expand our reach and deploy household solar devices and market-driven productive assets to empower lower- and middle-income households, SMEs, and farmers in peri-urban and rural areas. Large parts of Zambia and Africa still suffer from non-existent or unreliable power supply. MPower allows for leapfrogging straight to solar energy and we are grateful for TDF’s support in achieving our mission.”

Michael Eschmann, COO and Co-Founder, and Greg Nau, CFO and Co-Founder, stressed “that the construction of 50 new rural energy hubs underscores our commitment to sustainable development, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods within communities that lack access to the electricity grid. Together with partners like the TDB Group, we are driving change and promoting green growth opportunities across the region.”

The facility was signed during a breakfast meeting at the Intercontinental, Lusaka in the presence of Noel Nkoma, Council of Ministers, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Winza Muzyamba Mwauluka, Director – Project Implementation and Monitoring, State House, Subeta Mutelo, Permanent Secretary of Energy and SMEs, Johannes Hertlein, Country Director MPower Zambia and various CEOs, who deliberated during a panel session on opportunities for financing renewable energy in Zambia.

TDB Group is committed to supporting its member states achieve their national priorities by providing innovative financing solutions in critical sectors that promote sustainable development.

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About TDB Group: Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is an investment-grade African regional development finance group, with the mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development. With an asset base of USD 10 bn, TDB Group has 25 African member states, which alongside non-regional member countries and institutional investors from Africa, Europe and Asia, form TDB’s community of shareholders.

The Trade and Development Fund is TDB Group’s concessional and grant window. Working with diverse partners, it provides innovative alternative financing solutions to clients in TDB Group member states including term loans, lines of credit, guarantees and grants. Its facilities are often blended with non-repayable technical assistance grants to address specific institutional and enterprise challenges.

TDF’s technical assistance initiatives comprise among others business linkages, project advisory and project development support across key sectors for public and private sector clients, including MSMEs. In addition to financing and technical assistance, TDF also offers program management services.

TDB Group counts several subsidiaries and strategic business units including the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), TDB Group Asset Management (TAM), the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), TDB Captive Insurance Company (TCI), the ESATAL fund management company and TDB Academy. For more information, visit: www.tdbgroup.org.

About MPower Ventures Zambia Limited: MPower Ventures, a venture backed climate fintech and impact venture, is revolutionizing access to affordable solar solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa. With a steadfast commitment to clean energy and financial inclusion, MPower leverages an innovative B2B2C model to partner with local distributors to deliver high quality on-grid and off grid solar solutions. MPower caters to households, SMEs, small Commercial & Industrial (C&I) clients and the agricultural sector and has distributed over 40’000 units across 7 African countries to date.

MPower’s fusion of finance and technology enables the distribution of top-tier clean energy products. By partnering with financial institutions and corporate entities, the company ensures access to financing for end customers, reducing market and credit risks. For more information, visit: www.mpower.africa.

27 February 2024: The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the World Bank are set to implement a $50 million regional platform to support COMESA Member States and other participating countries to promote sustainable energy access investments.

This is part of a new World Bank $5 billion program designed to accelerate sustainable and clean energy access and provide life-transforming opportunities for 100 million people across countries in Eastern and Southern Africa over the next seven years.

The Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) program will be a game-changer in a region where only 48% of the overall population, and just 26% in rural areas, has access to electricity.

The new regional platform, under the supervision and implementation of COMESA, will support participating countries through various initiatives designed to fill the technical gaps identified in the energy sector, particularly with regards to project preparation, investment readiness, technical knowhow and energy access.

The platform will engage specialized firms and individuals to provide demand-led technical support in an agile manner to public and private sector entities from participating countries. The regional platform will also have a Digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (DMRV) platform which will act as central repository for information on new energy connections resulting from the ASCENT Program in the participating countries. The consolidation of data on the DMRV platform is expected to pave the way for the countries and their energy service providers to gain access to carbon finance through the amalgamation of the carbon credits resulting from clean energy connections.

“This is an African-owned and led platform to enhance project implementation and accelerate access to clean energy through the facilitation of knowledge exchange, project preparation, provision of advisory services and support for policy development in a timely manner,” said Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary General of COMESA. “This is essential for the region as availability of clean, reliable and affordable energy is needed to drive the social and economic development of the region, which is crucial for the trade development agenda of COMESA”. She urged member states to engage the secretariat on how they can be part of the initiative.

The objectives of the new platform and the wider ASCENT program are to provide reliable energy to increase productivity and job opportunities, expand access to information and technologies, improve health and reduce time spent on cooking chores, and boost resilience and services provided by electrified schools and health clinics. Women, who are often disproportionately burdened by the lack of energy access, will benefit the most.

“The World Bank is very pleased to partner with COMESA on the energy access agenda as a regional approach is required to meaningfully scale up energy access in a way that can transform economies in Eastern and Southern Africa. We look forward to supporting countries across the region with cutting edge knowledge, research, data, and technology to unleash a rapid expansion of energy access,” said Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for Regional Integration in Africa and the Middle East.

Lack of energy access hinders the region’s economic recovery, resilience, and faster progress toward poverty reduction. It is also results in significant food spoilage owing to lack of refrigeration, particularly in countries already plagued with food insecurity, and plays a role in poor health outcomes given that less than half of all hospitals in the region have reliable electricity access.

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About COMESA: COMESA is a regional economic community established in 1994. It brings together 21 African Member States with a population of over 600 million people into a cooperative framework for sustainable economic growth and prosperity through regional integration. For more information, visit: www.comesa.int.

About the World Bank Group: The World Bank Group has a bold vision: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. In more than 100 countries, the World Bank Group provides financing, advice, and innovative solutions that improve lives by creating jobs, strengthening economic growth, and confronting the most urgent global development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It consists of the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org.

21 February 2024: d.light, the global provider of transformational household products and affordable finance for low-income households, and Chapel Hill Denham, the largest alternatives asset manager in Nigeria, today announced the closing of a landmark USD$7.4 million (N10 billion) securitized financing facility.

The new financing will be provided by Chapel Hill Denham’s Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund and will be used to scale up d.light’s low-cost Pay-Go offering of affordable, solar-powered products targeted at low-income households.

The structure of the financing was set up and is sponsored by African Frontier Capital, who also acts as the master servicer and backup servicer in the transaction.

Commenting on the news, d.light CEO Nick Imudia said, “This landmark financing opens up access to our range of solar-powered household goods to more low-income families and households in Nigeria, in a way that is affordable for them and sustainable for our business.

“d.light has a track record of success in using securitized finance in other Sub-Saharan African countries as a flexible, scalable financing model for raising equity for off-grid solar that is guaranteed against current and future customer sales. We are now applying this experience in Nigeria as we scale up our operations there. In Chapel Hill Denham, we have a partner that is not only commercially astute but also equally dedicated to sustainable development.”

Bolaji Balogun, Chief Executive Officer of Chapel Hill Denham, also commented on the transaction, “This transaction signifies a pivotal stride in sustainable infrastructure investment in Nigeria, setting a transformative precedent for the renewable energy sector. By pioneering local currency securitization for the financing of solar home systems and essential solar-powered household utilities in Nigeria, Chapel Hill Denham is catalysing innovation in the renewable energy sector, advancing sustainable development, empowering communities, and reshaping Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape for a brighter, more sustainable future for all.”

“This is another significant milestone for Chapel Hill Denham and NIDF, with the first-ever at scale, local currency securitisation financing for Solar Home Systems and other solar-powered household goods in Nigeria,” added Anshul Rai, Partner: Infrastructure & Climate at Chapel Hill Denham. ”We continue to broaden the range of financing solutions available to infrastructure providers in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on solving the greatest sustainable development challenges facing Nigeria.”

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and its largest economy. Last year’s Energy Progress Report, compiled by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Energy Agency, the UN and the World Bank, identified Nigeria as the country with the largest number of people (c. 86 million) without access to electricity. Even those connected to the grid rarely receive a reliable supply.

In addition, nearly 80 percent of Nigeria’s electricity is currently provided by GHG-emitting thermal generation sources, necessitating rapid transition to clean and reliable energy sources. d.light and Chapel Hill Denham are committed to supporting this energy transition through innovative products and financing solutions.

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About d.light: Founded in 2007 in Stanford, California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold nearly 30 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 150 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people, in developing countries, with sustainable products by 2030. For more information, visit: dlight.com.

About Chapel Hill Denham: Chapel Hill Denham (CHD) is one of the most trusted names in African financial services and is the leading independent investment bank in Nigeria, a leading investment manager and the leader in alternatives asset management. The firm’s funds and strategy are primarily focused on areas accretive to Nigeria and Africa’s economic development including Infrastructure and Climate, Real Estate including Student Accommodation and Affordable Housing, Gender led SMEs, Venture, Creative, Healthcare and Education. CHD is a leader in financing of infrastructure and clean energy in Africa, with a solid track record of creating innovative, path-breaking investment and financing solutions. CHD seeks to lead Nigeria and Africa towards a more sustainable and prosperous future and through its funds and investment banking work, it aims to accelerate the continent’s energy transition journey.

About AFC: African Frontier Capital (Mauritius) LLC and its subsidiary companies are a dedicated impact investment group focused on bringing financial inclusion to people living at the bottom of the pyramid in a socially and environmentally sustainable way. For more information, visit: www.africanfrontiercapital.com.