13 April 2022: Speaking last week at the Smart Energy Forum in Lagos and Abuja in the presence of Nigeria’s top energy decision-makers, senior energy experts from Wärtsilä presented the latest results of an in-depth study which models the most cost-effective and reliable energy mix that can be built each year in Nigeria.

Nigeria is the largest and one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, yet despite a wealth of natural resources, the country continues to struggle with acute electricity shortages, which constrain its economic development. To combat this, last year the Nigerian government formally launched “the Decade of Gas”, setting gas development and utilization as a national priority. Identifying the most cost-effective and sustainable power generation strategies was the theme of this week’s Smart Energy Forum in Lagos.

Modelling long-term energy system solutions 

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of Wärtsilä’s most recent 2022 to 2040 Analysis of Nigeria’s National Power System, using the advanced Plexos modelling tool to quantify system level benefits of different technologies in the Nigerian power system. The model is used to analyse and identify the optimal capacity expansion for the country.

The model shows that the country requires more aggressive capacity additions than the current situations, referred as business-as-usual scenario, in order to achieve the country’s stated 30-30-30[1] vision. But looking beyond 2030, and by mapping the country’s solar and wind potential for renewable energy, together with transmission data from five major regions, an advanced 30-30-30 scenario can be envisaged which would generate additional power and significant cost savings.

This advanced scenario recommends the installation of 45 GW of low-cost renewables in the north and west of the country by 2040, while concentrating 43 GW of gas-fired internal combustion engine (ICE) power plants in the southern regions with access to low-cost locally sourced gas. Strengthening the transmission capacity between north and south will greatly benefit the central regions as well.

As more capacity is added to the system, the cost of electricity is predicted to fall drastically within the first years, as locally sourced gas fuels more cost-efficient gas power generation to overtake expensive diesel. With the advanced scenario, cumulative saving to 2040 of up to $430 billion can be achieved when compared to the business-as-usual scenario.

A flexible solution to meet the needs of the Nigerian market 

For Wärtsilä, the choice of power generation technology is as important as the choice of fuel. In a system that maximizes the use of low-cost renewables, being able to rely on flexible power technologies becomes paramount.

In this context, ICE power plants become the technology of choice because they are flexible by design. They have a high operating efficiency, even at partial load, and are made to cope with regular start and stops. On the other hand, combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) lack the flexibility to match the fluctuations in electricity demand. They rely on a consistent and pressurised gas supply and are most efficient when operated close to full capacity. They are not suited to offset the intermittent supply of renewables.

Detailed technology comparison between CCGT and ICE power plants show that for an equivalent 350 MW plant running 8,000 hours per year, Wärtsilä’s solution saves between 11 to 17 million US dollars per year compared to CCGT solution, thanks to its better performance in hot climates, better part-load efficiency and lower investment cost.

But there is more. Flexible ICE power plants offer several other advantages relevant in Nigeria. Thanks to their modular design, ICE power projects are easy to construct, fully scalable and can be deployed in phases. They can be ramped-up or down quickly to adjust to demand, and also provide a great hedge against fuel supply risk, as its engines can be operated on natural gas, Diesel, HFO or biofuels. What is more, they require little water to operate: Their water consumption is less than 1 % compared to the CCGT technology.

Today, Nigeria’s electricity system faces a perfect storm. Small, inefficient, expensive, and polluting diesel generators are widely used to compensate for weaknesses in the country’s grid capacity. Despite recent improvements, the gas supply system is not fully stable, which places additional strain on country’s still fragile electricity network.

Wärtsilä is convinced that building flexibility into the system by investing in gas engine power plants can provide a stable and reliable long-term solution to Nigeria’s energy challenges. As Wale Yusuff, Managing Director of Wärtsilä M&P Services Nigeria Ltd, concluded at the end of the event: “It is clear that IPPs can provide an important source of investment for new power projects. A prototype has been established and electricity tariffs are crystalizing at a fair price for the Nigerian economy and for consumers. At Wärtsilä, we understand the need to be innovative and mindful regarding off-take and financing. With flexibility and reasonably sized projects, we are convinced that together with our Partners and Stakeholders, we can generate sustainable power with improved impacts for the environment and the economy of Nigeria.”

###

About Wärtsilä Energy: Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonisation by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 74 GW of power plant capacity and more than 80 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit: https://www.wartsila.com/energy.

About Yusuff Wale: Yusuff Wale is the Managing Director, Wärtsilä Nigeria. Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. He is a seasoned professional in Management, Sales, Marketing and Business Development in the Nigerian Oil and Gas and Power Industry. He started his career as a process engineer in one of the Nigerian Petroleum Oil Refineries. Over the years, he has been actively involved in large transactions of Turbo-Machineries into major FPSO projects in Nigeria as well as Internal combustion engines for both Industrial and Captive Independent Power Plants. He has presented technical papers at both local and international Oil, Gas and Power Conferences. He holds a MSc. and Bachelor of Engineering degrees in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious University of Lagos and Federal University of Technology, Minna, respectively. He has attended many trainings both in Nigeria and abroad. He is a corporate member, Nigeria Society of Engineers (MNSE).

12 April 2022: Solar Sister illuminates the lives of three million people in sub-Saharan Africa with solar products.

The Solar Sister network of women entrepreneurs has brought clean energy to three million people. Now three million more people can breathe easily, their children can study at night and get a better education, and their day doesn’t end when the sun sets. Communities are thriving, and women, in particular, are safer and have a better chance for equality. Access to energy is a crucial element of social equity and poverty alleviation.

“Without the solar lights, our health clinic relies on mobile phone light. We were virtually unable to treat patients at night. This makes it especially difficult for expecting mothers to deliver in our clinic at night”. - Dr. Crispian Ndibalema, a leading physician at Mafuleta Clinic, Tanzania.

Delivering access to energy to people in underserved communities opens up economic opportunities for women and has a positive impact on the women, their families, their communities, and even the world at large. When women have more agency they make better choices for their lives, including caring for their families and communities. When they have income of their own they invest in better education for their children, better healthcare for themselves and their families, and accumulation of savings to build resilience.

Solar Sister invests in women’s leadership and enterprise in off-grid communities. By engaging with women who deeply understand their communities, Solar Sister reaches people who have been missed by business-as-usual energy models. Centering women as leaders in the growing clean energy sector is essential to eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable solutions to the climate crisis and many development issues.

Nanbet is a young maize farmer and single mother raising five children in a rural Nigerian village with no electricity. She’s one of 6,800 entrepreneurs trained and supported to run clean energy technology businesses. Since Nanbet started her business, she’s brought in enough income to stop laboring on other people’s farms. She earns an income to provide for her family and says people see her differently now that she is a businesswoman.

“Before, my life wasn’t like this. People have since been surprised to see my children and me with meat on our bones, looking healthy. With the profits from selling solar lamps, I paid for two grandchildren to go to school”.

###

About Solar Sister: Solar Sister drives impact by investing in women’s clean energy businesses in off-grid communities in Africa. Solar Sister eradicates extreme energy poverty by empowering African women with economic opportunity, providing essential services and training that enable women entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses. Solar Sister is a climate solution that also improves human well-being, boosts equity, and helps usher in prosperity for people in sub-Saharan Africa who are least responsible for the climate crisis. To date, over 6,800 Solar Sister Entrepreneurs have reached over three million people with clean energy access. Products sold by Solar Sister Entrepreneurs have eliminated over 946,763 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.

12 April 2022: Hybrid 90kW mini-grid connects households and small businesses to clean, reliable power | Launch directly impacts 1,500 people in Niger State | Inauguration attended by African government and energy industry dignitaries.

ENGIE Energy Access, a leading provider of solar homes systems and mini-grid solutions, has inaugurated its hybrid 90kW mini-grid to connect unelectrified households and small businesses in Nigeria.

With this mini-grid, ENGIE Energy Access connects the people of Gbangba community in Niger State to an electric power supply for the first time ever and empowers over 300 customers, comprising households, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The mini-grid directly impacts over 1,500 people by providing them with affordable, reliable and clean electricity.

The mini-grid was formally inaugurated today in the presence of Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Honourable Mamman Musa, who acted as representative for the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Mrs Emmanuelle Blatmann, during the launch event attended by dignitaries from the Nigerian government, power sector, traditional institutions, youth, media and the local community.

Speaking at the launch, Bankole Cardoso, the Managing Director of ENGIE Energy Access Nigeria, said that Nigeria’s electricity challenge remains a huge gap that needs to be filled in the country’s journey to fulfill its full potential as a nation.

Cardoso said that the power challenge in Nigeria requires the support of the private sector, and the construction of the Gbangba mini-grid demonstrates how private investment can help to address the infrastructure gap in the energy industry.

Cardoso added: “This mini-grid will foster socio-economic development and prosperity in the Gbangba community, its people and its neighbors. It will serve private households and commercial businesses – provision shops, grocery sellers, bakeries, mobile phone chargers etc. It will boost the productivity of farmers and food production by powering agricultural loads such as irrigation pumping and cold storage, productive loads such as grind mills and wood or metal working shops, and semi-industrials such as telecom towers and processing plants.”

Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO of ENGIE Energy Access, said that this mini-grid is not only a win for Gbanga community but a win for Nigeria at large, as it demonstrates ENGIE Energy Access’s strong commitment to meeting the growing decentralized energy needs with an ambition to build 100+ mini-grids throughout the country.

“The launch of our first mini-grid in Nigeria means that we have now installed mini-grids in five African countries, with other ENGIE Energy Access mini-grid sites in Benin, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. Our plan is to further expand our mini-grid business on the continent over the coming months and years – adding other countries to our footprint,” said Huart.

“The launch of the Gbangba mini-grid is a further demonstration of ENGIE Energy Access’s commitment to improving the quality of life and economic potential of people in rural communities, by increasing their capacity for productivity.”

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s lowest energy access rate, with more than half of its people unconnected to electricity. In Nigeria, about 43.5% of people live without access to energy. This presents an opportunity to employ grand-scale innovation and the intervention of renewable energy solutions within the electricity sector in Nigeria.

• EDP will focus on the Just Energy Transition through a more focused social investment strategy aligned with its purpose;
• All projects will be framed under a new common identity – EDP Y.E.S. – You Empower Society, a global brand across all countries where EDP invests in social impact initiatives;
• EDP’s ambition is to invest annually more than 30 million euros and a new area will ensure the global strategy and coordination;
• The launch of the 4th edition of the A2E (Access to Energy) fund – which supports clean energy access projects in developing countries – is one of the initiatives to go ahead with doubling the amount of funding in previous editions.

11 April 2022: With the main focus on Just Energy Transition, EDP will invest in initiatives to combat energy poverty, promote access to energy and energy efficiency, and implement solutions for access to solar energy or electric mobility. EDP is committed to investing more than 300 million euros by 2030 through a new global social investment program that will develop, promote, and coordinate the different initiatives in this area.

EDP thus demonstrates its commitment to accelerate decarbonization and achieve carbon neutrality, but without leaving anyone behind. These initiatives to promote a just energy transition are expected to represent around 45% of total investment by 2030.

In parallel, EDP maintains access to Culture as a key axis of its social strategy. The group has a long history of investment in this area, which is reflected in its role in assets such as the MAAT, the Tejo Power Station and the Portuguese Language Museum in Brazil, and believes in the importance of culture for the development of societies.

All social projects developed in the group will, from now on, have a new common identity – EDP Y.E.S. – You Empower Society – a global and transversal brand that will allow us to tell an integrated narrative about EDP’s various social projects, highlighting their positive impact on society.

The investment, over 30 million euros per year, will be made through different vehicles, such as the foundations in Portugal, Spain and Brazil and the different business units.

“The climate emergency demands ambition, commitment and a collective effort towards a fair and faster energy transition. No one should be left behind and that is why EDP is reinforcing its commitment to a more ambitious social program with greater impact on communities. We want to do it through initiatives to fight energy poverty and ensure access to energy, while promoting education and culture. At EDP, we’ve made it our mission to bring positive change, and I am confident that Y.E.S. is an important contribution to achieving this goal”, says Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP.

Strategy with new global coordination

In 2022, the planned actions include the Futuro Ativo Sines (Sines Active Future) program, an example of projects to reconvert thermoelectric power plants into green energy production centers, with support for sustainable entrepreneurship initiatives, training in renewable energies or improving energy conditions for families.

Another of the planned initiatives involves promoting solar solidarity in different countries through the Foundations in Portugal, Spain (with Fundación EDP) and Brazil (with Instituto EDP), which consists of providing photovoltaic panels for energy production to NGO’s, families or more vulnerable groups.

With the new strategy, EDP also assumes the fight against energy poverty and the promotion of energy efficiency in poorest communities as one of its priorities. In Spain, several projects have already been launched in this area, with similar initiatives planned for Portugal this year with an overall investment of more than one million euros. Additionally, EDP has strengthened its partnership with the NGO Just a Change, with which it has collaborated since 2018 in the fight against energy poverty.  

In addition to the reinforced investment, a Social Impact Coordination Office (SICO) was set up to maximize the EDP Group’s social impact by defining the global strategy and coordinating social projects in the different countries and areas of activity, including volunteer work and partnerships with other entities.

A2E Fund doubles funding for projects in Africa

The focus on projects that promote access to clean energy in developing countries is another commitment that is reinforced by EDP’s new social impact strategy. Created in 2018, the A2E Fund (Access to Energy) launches its fourth edition this Tuesday, April 12th, with double the amount of funding: one million euros to support projects in five African countries – Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Angola and Rwanda.

Besides the reinforcement of the global amount, the value to be attributed per selected application is also increased to an amount that can go from 50 thousand to 150 thousand euros. It is a significant change that will allow the development of more robust projects with greater impact on communities, both in the number of organizations supported and in the number of people benefited.

The application phase, that has just started through the EDP website, ends on May 16th, and the results will be announced at the end of the year. In the last three editions, the A2E Fund has allocated 1.5 million euros to 20 projects, generating direct and indirect benefits for more than one million people in seven African countries.

11 April 2022: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE). The MoU outlines the shared goals of the two organisations to address the challenges related to the optimal use of the various renewable energies for electrification and the potential for energy efficiency in Mozambique. Both organisations agreed to promote social and economic development by increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix in Southern Africa and particularly Mozambique.

The associations will collaborate on various activities, including joint advocacy for renewable energy policies in Mozambique to create a conducive market environment for decentralised renewable energy (DRE) actors, accompanying and contributing to the government’s efforts to achieve renewable energy targets as well as targeted business development and market intelligence support for renewable energy companies.

In this regard, the associations especially aim to develop the capacity of renewable energy stakeholders in Mozambique to create local jobs and enhance the capacity of the sector to attract adequate financing for renewable energy projects and businesses. This will, for example, be achieved by spearheading in-person or virtual “DRE Investment Academies” or similar trainings and capacity building activities for Mozambican and international DRE developers and other stakeholders, with the aim of facilitating additional funding and technical support.

Finally, the MoU states that the partners will offer support through business development services for renewable energy actors working in Mozambique, to address electrification, energy security and climate change challenges, as well as conduct applied research to foster the market for renewable energy technologies.

David Lecoque, CEO of ARE said: “As ARE, we are happy to sign this MoU that lays out concrete steps to advance clean and affordable energy access in Mozambique. Together with AMER, we aim to further empower renewable energy companies and investors active in Mozambique to achieve SDG-7 in the country.”

Gabriele Pammesberger, ARE Africa Lead added: “We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with AMER to jointly foster the development of a thriving, private sector-driven renewable energy sector in Mozambique, specifically by building local capacity and empowering local entrepreneurs. Skills development, capacity building and knowledge exchange will lie at the heart of our cooperation.”

Ricardo Costa Pereira, President of AMER said: “This MoU has come to cement the long and fruitful relationship that AMER and ARE have had over the years that has brought, and will continue to provide, numerous benefits and opportunities for AMER members as well as the overall renewable energy sector”.

Helena Macune, Communication Officer of AMER said: “There is no doubt that this partnership brings a continuity of our relationship with more added value. We believe that both organisations are winners and above all we believe that it will increase our commitment to the work we do for our members”.

1 April 2022: The impact of Covid-19 has reversed progress on access to electricity and clean cooking while slowing vital improvements in energy efficiency, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest update of data and projections related to key aspects of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, renewable energies have shown resilience to the shock caused by the pandemic.

Even if renewables maintain their rapid growth, and if access and efficiency improvements recover to their pre-pandemic pace, these measures will still lag the rate of improvement needed to achieve both universal energy access by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, according to the IEA analysis SDG7: Data and Projections, which is fully available online.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 7, or SDG7, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. The IEA is at the forefront of global efforts to assess and analyse progress towards this goal, and its most up-to-date data and projections are available through these interactive data tools. For the first time, these projections incorporate the IEA’s landmark Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, in which the SDG7 targets are achieved in full.

About 770 million people worldwide lacked access to electricity in 2020, according to the most recent data, breaking a multiyear stretch during which the world was making marked progress. In Africa, the number of people without access increased for the first time since 2013, and the continent now accounts for almost 80% of the world’s population without electricity. Gains slowed down in Asia, but proved more resilient than in Africa, thanks to effective policies and easier access to financing. Without additional policy action, there would still be around 670 million people without access in 2030, almost all of them in Africa.

The number of people lacking clean cooking facilities rose in 2020, with serious implications for household air pollution and deforestation. The pandemic not only shifted government priorities away from clean cooking initiatives, but economic hardship forced many people who had gained access to revert to burning charcoal or wood for fuel.

Worldwide, about 2.5 billion people lack clean cooking options, and under today’s policy settings their number will decrease only to about 2.1 billion by 2030. Reaching full access by 2030 would require finding clean solutions for 280 million people a year, around five times the rate of improvement seen in the years leading up to the pandemic.

Achieving full access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030 would require annual investment of around USD 43 billion – or only 2% of current global energy investment.

The pandemic also slowed energy efficiency progress, with global energy intensity improving by only 0.5% in 2020. Some of this was a result of global market turmoil, but low energy prices, fewer efficiency enhancements and a shift in economic activity towards manufacturing and away from less energy-intensive services all contributed to lower levels of intensity improvements. While early estimates for 2021 suggest a return to progress levels similar to before the pandemic, the average rate of improvement during the 2020s is expected to only reach 2.3% per year. This would be well below the 3.2% pace required to achieve SDG targets and the more than 4% pace needed to be on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

One bright spot is that renewable electricity capacity additions reached a new record in 2021, shrugging off the pandemic’s disruptions to economic activity and supply chains. Wind and solar have the fastest growth rates among renewable electricity sources, though hydro remains by far the largest source. With current policies, the world is on track to derive 18% of total final consumption from modern renewables by 2030, up from around 12% in 2019, though this would still be well short of the 32% needed by 2030 to be on track for net zero by mid-century.

The IEA works with four other international organisations – the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) – to produce an annual report that reports the official statistics indicating progress on the SDG7 targets. The next edition is scheduled to be published in June.

• The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency, in collaboration with RMI and supported by the GEAPP, launches the Energizing Agriculture Program to catalyze economic development and improve rural livelihoods in Nigeria through linking minigrids and agricultural productivity.

31 March 2022: Today, the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and RMI, an independent nonprofit focused on transforming the global energy system to secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all, officially launched the Energizing Agriculture Program (EAP). The EAP is a three-year initiative with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), with funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, that aims to stimulate the use of minigrid electricity in agricultural productive uses (i.e., those that drive local economic growth). The EAP focus is on enabling market-led solutions and breaking the silos separating electrification and agricultural development.

Over the next three years, the EAP initiative will foster a pipeline of agriculture-energy projects that demonstrate the impact of collaborative development efforts across the energy and agriculture sectors. Across these activities, the EAP is designed to ensure local ownership of solutions and scaling by partnering widely and sharing insights broadly.

As part of the GEAPP’s broader efforts to bring reliable electricity to 1 billion people by decade’s end, avert 4 billion tons of greenhouse gases and enable 150 million green jobs that generate inclusive economic growth, the EAP will build on existing agriculture and electrification initiatives in Nigeria and then accelerate the deployment and adoption of the most effective solutions for rural communities across the country. The EAP will achieve this by bringing together teams of local partners to validate commercially led business models, demonstrate agricultural appliances and scale proven solutions.

Agriculture is the economic backbone of rural Nigerian communities, where minigrids, small-scale electricity grids that can power a community independently, are often the least-cost electrification option. Experts estimate that Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which provides nearly one-quarter of the country’s GDP and employs two-thirds of the labor force, has the potential to generate $40 billion in exports. Using electricity to power opportunities like these can drive a virtuous cycle for rural development by increasing incomes and community resilience and improving the financial performance of the minigrid utility.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has been very deliberate about leveraging strategic partnerships for optimum impact in off-grid communities across Nigeria. I am confident that the EAP is deliberately designed to open a whole new world of possibilities to farmers and artisans in the agricultural sector,” said Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR, Minister of State, Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power. “As the renewable energy space improves yearly, we have continued to keep a keen eye on the deployment of programs and solutions geared toward socioeconomic impact in unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria. The EAP is one of those programs.”

“This program encourages the productive use of energy to deepen our objective of organizing and managing the agricultural sector in Nigeria. Leveraging renewable energy technologies for productive use in off-grid communities greatly helps to strengthen production capacity of the average Nigerian farmer in rural communities. The EAP is in line with our mandate at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development toward strengthening agriculture and rural development across the country,” said Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Catalyzing the productive use appliance market is a critical priority on the current REA strategy roadmap, designed to increase economic opportunities in off-grid communities. Beyond providing electricity to the unserved and the underserved, the ultimate goal for the REA is to make sure that the electricity impacts the communities both socially and economically, and agriculture is the chief activity that supports livelihoods in almost all rural communities. That is why we are going beyond powering residential communities to also focus on energizing their agricultural clusters as well,” said Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, managing director/CEO of REA.

“Addressing the energy deficit challenge in sub-Saharan Africa is fundamental to unlocking agricultural productivity, new income-generating activities and acceleration of global decarbonization efforts,” said Justin Locke, managing director of RMI’s Global South Program. “The EAP’s potential to electrify agricultural loads can catalyze scaling the adoption of decentralized renewable energy systems and spur local community development.”

Supporting demand, jobs and small and medium enterprise growth by increasing agricultural productive use at minigrid sites is critical to uplifting low-income communities in Nigeria. The EAP will directly contribute to these efforts by deploying productive use appliances in rural communities and proving out business models to scale similar interventions at minigrid sites throughout Nigeria. Equipment like electric grain mills and cold storage can plug directly into existing agricultural value chains once electricity is available.

“Despite incredible advances in renewable energy technologies, we haven’t seen these innovations spread at the speed and scale needed to reach the communities most in need, especially in the agricultural sector,” said Joseph Nganga, executive director for Africa at the GEAPP. “The EAP will bring together farmer organizations, private agricultural companies, donors, equipment manufacturers and governments to surface innovations and embed them within existing value chains. If we are successful, some of these solutions will have wide uptake, helping to catalyze more equitable and sustainable economic development.”

###

About REA: The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the Federal Ministry of Power tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to catalyze economic growth and improve quality of life for Nigerians. The Agency is responsible for creating an enabling environment for private sector-led projects which includes conducting pre-feasibility assessments, energy audits, enumeration, data analysis, identification of qualified private sector developers, and project stakeholder engagements.

About RMI: RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. For more information, visit: www.rmi.org.

About the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP): The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched at COP26 with USD10 billion of committed capital to accelerate investment in green energy transitions and renewable energy solutions in developing and emerging economies. This historic partnership leverages catalytic grant funding to unlock investment capital with the aim of mobilizing public and private capital in order to reach one billion people with reliable, renewable power, avoid and avert 4 billion tons of carbon emissions, and create more than 150 million direct jobs and drive economic growth over the next decade. GEAPP provides grant funding, a range of financing options, and technical assistance and serves as a platform for collaborative action. For more information, visit: www.globalenergyalliance.org.

About The Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation to enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We work to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to healthy and nutritious food. For more information, visit: rockefellerfoundation.org.

24 March 2022: The World Bank today approved a $295 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Chad expand its access to energy.

The Chad Energy Access Scale Up Project (PAAET) aims to increase access to electricity and clean cooking solutions via expansion of the main power grid and mini-grids, standalone solar systems, deployment of improved stoves, and natural resource management. It will expand electricity access in the capital city of N’Djamena and in 12 secondary cities in which the national power company, Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNE), operates mini-grids, and provide access to electricity services in additional secondary cities and villages, including those located near refugee camps. Public and private investments will strengthen the country’s electricity generation, storage, and distribution capacity.

“The Bank’s support strategy for access to energy in Chad is based on a two-pronged approach: off-grid electrification led by the private sector to rapidly boost access and national grid-based electrification by SNE, which is strategically important,” said Clara de Sousa, Country Director for Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger.

“With private sector participation, this project aims to increase electricity access from the current rate from about 6% to 30% by 2027 for approximately one million households,” added Rasit Pertev, World Bank Country Manager for Chad.

As a result of the PAAET, more than six million people will benefit from electricity services, including 400,000 refugees and about 740,000 people from host communities. The project will also provide access to electricity for approximately 850 medical centers and 700 schools, mainly in rural areas, including 150 medical centers and 200 schools for refugees and host communities.

Despite significant fossil fuel resources and abundant sunshine, Chad has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world at 6.4%, compared to the average of 48% in Sub-Saharan Africa. In July 2020, the government implemented a National Emergency Electricity Plan (NEEP) with a view to achieving a 53% access rate by 2030. The PAAET, the Cameroon-Chad Power Interconnection Project (CCPIP) currently being implemented, and the World Bank-financed energy sector reforms are expected to help Chad achieve the objectives of the NEEP.

###

About International Development Association - World Bank: Established in 1960, the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low- or zero-interest loans for programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve living conditions. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the 1.5 billion people who live in the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Annual IDA commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the past three years, with about 54% going to Africa. For more information, visit: http://ida.worldbank.org/.

24 March 2022: A new partnership between New Energy Nexus and Clean Tech Hub announced today will accelerate diverse clean energy entrepreneurs and the development of local ecosystems to support climate solutions across Nigeria and West Africa.

Located in Abuja, Nigeria, Clean Tech Hub is a pioneering hub for the research, development, and incubation of clean technologies, increasing energy access and improving climate resilience. The partnership will leverage New Energy Nexus’ expertise in accelerating clean energy startups around the world through funds, skills and networks at the most critical stages of an entrepreneur’s journey to build their climate solution.

“Clean Technology Hub has been a leading accelerator in the Clean Tech ecosystem for several years, incubating several early-stage startups and providing them with growth support in the years to come. We are excited to meet New Energy Nexus in this partnership and to continue supporting clean energy startups,” said Ifeoma Malo, CEO and co-founder at Clean Tech Hub.

“Our partnership with New Energy Nexus will allow us to further scale our impact as we expand across West Africa – a particularly urgent task given the need for grassroots and locally developed solutions to tackle the climate crisis.”

West Africa is at the forefront of climate change impacts, but is also poised to be a center for economic growth and innovation. Nigeria, already the largest economy and population in Africa, is projected to have the 14th largest economy by GDP in the world by 2050. Over 30% of Nigerian residents are new entrepreneurs or the owner/manager of a new business – among the highest rates in the world. West Africa, home to more than 380 million people, is one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world.

“There are not enough diverse and thriving clean energy entrepreneurs to match the scale of the clean energy transition, at the global level, let alone in the regions we need it most. That’s why we are thrilled to partner with Clean Tech Hub. Not only is it Nigeria’s leading organization supporting clean energy innovation, it is perfectly positioned to scale local climate solutions across West Africa,” said Danny Kennnedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus.

The New Energy Nexus and Clean Tech Hub partnership is a region-wide acceleration program for West African countries with a climate fintech program in Nigeria already in an early design stage.

###

About New Energy Nexus: New Energy Nexus is the world’s leading ecosystem of funds and accelerators supporting diverse clean energy entrepreneurs. NEX started in Silicon Valley and now operates an ecosystem of programs and partners across 11 countries that we’ve identified as most strategic for clean energy development. Since 2004, NEX has leveraged US$1.5 billion in investment, invested in over 100 clean energy enterprises, and supported over 450 more through its industry leading programs.

About Clean Tech Hub: Clean Tech Hub is a pioneering hybrid hub for the research, development, demonstration and incubation of clean and green ideas and technologies in Africa, and their validation for commercial-stage development.  It is an early start-up incubator for inventions and innovations in clean energy, a consultancy for sustainability and energy efficiency solutions and a driver of clean energy investment into Africa.

24 March 2022: Energy 4 Impact is pleased to announce that it has selected BM Solutions and Ventura as the first two energy access companies to receive support along their fundraising journey through the GET.invest Finance Readiness Support programme. A service of the European programme GET.invest, the GET.invest Finance Readiness Support enables locally owned and managed clean energy businesses to access the required finance to grow and offer clean energy solutions at scale in Africa.

Despite playing a vital role as engines of job creation and economic growth, early-stage companies face significant barriers in tapping into funding opportunities, largely due to their lack of track record, relatively small size, and sizeable financing requirements. This access-to-finance gap for small local companies is a major roadblock towards achieving universal energy access: 84% of people without access to energy live in rural areas and local companies are well-positioned to meet their needs given their deep distribution roots and knowledge of local customer preferences. Support from Energy 4 Impact through GET.invest will enable promising energy companies to prepare their business case to prove to investors that they are ready for capitalisation.

Solar supplier BM Solutions installs solar home systems, solar-powered water pumps and solar fridge freezers at rural households, farms and businesses in Benin. The company distributes lighting and appliance charging options, potable water production systems, and irrigation and cold chain solutions in regions where the grid is weak or non-existent.

Such products can have a significant impact on communities and businesses: from extended business operating hours and more productive farms and shops better able to offer safe food products with a longer shelf life; to more secure residential areas, with well-lit homes where children can study after dark, and families can access broadcast media for learning and entertainment.

The company has ambitious plans to extend its reach to the least electrified region of northern Benin and become the leading provider of solar-powered irrigation in the country by 2025. Energy 4 Impact will support BM Solutions by offering market analysis, creating a business plan including a growth trajectory, producing a financial model for their capital raise, along with a pitch deck to approach investors.

Alban Brice Mongbo, co-founder of BM Solutions says, "Being part of the first cohort is an extraordinary opportunity for us to put our ambition and vision in motion. With Energy 4 Impact’s investment readiness support, we’ll cost our operational expansion and build a convincing story for strategic investors. Our future investors and partners will play a vital role in enabling us to bring life-changing equipment and appliances to those most in need".

Ventura is a solar-powered mini-grid developer currently working on three mini-grid projects in Nigeria to provide sustainable electricity on demand to power local businesses, industries, and households. The company plans to develop a fast-growing portfolio of green mini-grids over the next five years in areas within the country where around 70% of the local communities are off-grid, and the remaining 30% are underserved. There is huge potential for clean energy to boost local economies in these regions through providing productive use equipment and appliances to small businesses, especially in the agri-processing sector. Energy 4 Impact will support Ventura with technical assistance in market research as well as operational and business strategy development. Investment readiness support will also help them package their projects persuasively to raise capital for two of their mini-grid projects that currently remain unfunded.

Obinna Agwu, Managing Director/CEO of Ventura, comments, "We are excited at this opportunity to work with the GET.invest and Energy 4 Impact teams on raising funds for our solar mini-grid projects. It is a hugely welcome development that will help us complete our projects more quickly and scale up our business".

The GET.invest Finance Readiness Support was launched in 2021 to provide early-stage, micro, small and medium-sized local energy companies in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific with hands-on, in-depth business development advice and coaching alongside their fundraising journey. The concept is based on extensive stakeholder consultations and is being further developed in close cooperation with several industry partners in an initial pilot phase. Implemented by eight leading advisory firms, including Energy 4 Impact, the GET.invest Finance Readiness Support will draw upon their networks to support innovative, impactful and scalable businesses. GET.invest is a renewable energy investment mobilisation programme supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Austria.

23 March 2022: African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (AGF) has signed an equity guarantee agreement with Empower New Energy (Empower) paving the way for long-term renewable energy investments for commercial and industrial businesses across Africa.

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) has also provided partial support to the costs of the guarantee, with the instrument expected to be the first of many as Empower scales up its African renewable energy investments this year. This first guarantee will cover part of Empower’s investment into Ghana’s Solarplast Project Company Limited and has enabled the financing of a rooftop solar PV facility at the factory premises of Miniplast Limited in Accra, Ghana.

Bank lending represents by far the largest source of external finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. As a result, SMEs rely heavily on traditional debt to fulfill their cash flow and investment needs which sometimes leads to inappropriate use of short-term funds to finance long-term projects. Consequently, financial distress increases on these SMEs as their debt-to-equity ratio increases. To avoid this, equity finance is crucial for SMEs seeking long-term investments, in order to sustain innovation, value creation and growth.

Commenting on the partnership, AGF Group CEO Jules Ngankam stated, “The low level of capitalisation of SMEs and excessive reliance on debt financing compared to equity imposes costs and increases the risk of financial distress and bankruptcy. While bank financing will continue to be crucial for the SME sector, more diversified options for SME financing are needed to support long-term investments and reduce the vulnerability of SMEs to changes in the credit market. Through this equity guarantee agreement with “Empower New Energy”, AGF is indeed broadening the range of financing instruments available to SMEs in Africa, to enable them to continue playing their role in growth, innovation and job creation. We are also particularly glad that our equity guarantee has enabled financing of renewable energy thereby contributing to meeting Africa’s fast-growing demand for power.”

Terje Osmundsen Empower CEO & Founder stated, “We are delighted to enter into a new partnership with AGF, and to be the recipient of their first equity guarantee. The potential of the commercial and industrial renewable energy market in Africa is significant, but requires highly tailored solutions that reflect the specific needs of companies. As Empower scales up this year, combining our unique investment model with AGF’s equity guarantees will reduce risks and help to provide cheaper, more reliable energy for even more businesses across Africa”.

Empower New Energy is a renewable energy investment company investing in small and medium-sized clean energy projects, with a main focus on Commercial and Industrial clients in Africa. The investment vehicle, Empower Invest, is financed by private and public Norwegian and European investors, including Norfund (Norway’s development fund) and ElectriFI (the European Union).

23 March 2022: The clean energy transition is an opportunity for many African countries to bypass traditional fuels and infrastructure and go straight to building sustainable energy systems, but they will need the support of the international community, especially to attract the necessary investments.

Ministers and stakeholders from across Africa met today in Paris at an event organised by the International Energy Agency to share their experiences and views of the continent’s energy priorities and challenges. The event was chaired by Belgian Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten ahead of the IEA’s 2022 Ministerial Meeting.

Assessing the situation following the COP26 Climate Change Conference last November – and ahead of COP27, which Egypt will host later this year – participants in today’s event agreed on the need for strengthened international action to address existing barriers to clean energy investment and to promote capital deployment across the continent.

Africa is already one of the regions of the world most affected by climate disorders and is home to one-sixth of the global population. Yet, it accounts for less than 6% of global energy consumption and 2% of cumulative global emissions. The continent faces a parallel imperative of extending electricity access to hundreds of millions of citizens who are currently deprived of it, which would stimulate economic growth and help attain sustainable development goals.

At the same time, Africa has the potential to play a leading role as the world’s energy systems transition to a net zero future. The continent’s geographic diversity holds huge potential for solar and wind power, and its soils are home to many of the minerals and rare earths needed for clean energy technologies.

The IEA has long placed a special focus on Africa, particularly in terms of its work on energy access issues. The Agency’s analysis has highlighted that because of perceived risks, energy investments in Africa often face much higher financing costs than comparable projects in developed markets. Later this year, the IEA plans to publish its latest Africa Energy Outlook report, which will focus on addressing this issue in particular ahead of COP27.

Following today’s event, Minister Van der Straeten recommended to the broader IEA membership that the Agency further deepen its engagement with Africa to identify practical steps that industry, governments and international organisations can take to drive down the cost of energy investments while focusing on the technologies best suited to Africa.

The 2022 IEA Ministerial Meeting is taking place in Paris on 23 and 24 March under the theme of accelerating global action on clean energy and energy security. It is chaired by US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. Ministers from IEA Member, Association and Accession countries, and other key partners, are taking part in the events along with top representatives from industry, finance and civil society.

23 March 2022: The Project Management Unit for the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) officially commenced activities in March 2022 within the ECOWAS Department of Energy and Mines in Abuja. The main assignment of the experts in the Project Management Unit (PMU) is to execute the key programmes of ROGEAP that will facilitate access to electricity for households, businesses, and schools in 19 countries [1] across West, North and Central Africa.

ROGEAP is now in its execution phase for the ECOWAS Commission. The PMU was received and briefed at the beginning of March by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Energy and Mines, Mr Sediko Douka. Speaking on behalf of H.E Jean Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, he welcomed the Project Management Unit members, reminding them of the context and the importance of ROGEAP for ECOWAS and its partners.

Launched in 2017 as Regional Off-Grid Electricity Project (ROGEP), the project was restructured and re-launched in November 2020 by ECOWAS and its Technical and Financial Partners as the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP). The project aims to increase access to sustainable electricity for households, businesses, government hospitals, schools within communities across the 15 ECOWAS member countries and four other African countries using stand-alone solar products and entirely based on a harmonised regional approach.  The project is being managed by a Steering Committee comprising representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, West African Development Bank and World Bank.

The 338.7 million-US Dollar project is funded by the World Bank, Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Netherlands. The ECOWAS Commission, through the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), and the West African Development Bank (BOAD) are responsible for the implementation of the project’s regional market development component and access to funding for stand-alone solar products component, respectively.

The creation of a business-friendly environment through identification of obstacles, technical and financial support for businesses across the 19 countries concerned in the development of solar energy, and the establishment of credit facilities to develop stand-alone solar products are among the expected outcomes of this project.

It is a blessing for the ECOWAS region which currently has an electricity access rate of only 50%, with renewable energy forming only a fraction of its energy mix. Through ROGEAP, the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks will be established and harmonised to encourage private businesses interested in developing off-grid electricity supply through solar products.

The ROGEAP Project will complement existing rural and peri-urban electrification efforts of ECOWAS Member States and is in line with the ECOWAS Master Plan for Rural Electrification adopted in 2018 by the governing bodies. It will therefore support the grid-based Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP), which is already underway with its Regional Implementation Unit within the Energy and Mines Department of the ECOWAS Commission. At a cost of 690 million US Dollars, the project covers Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Mauritania.

The two projects combined and the individual efforts of Member States in terms of electrification, have placed the ECOWAS region on the right path towards attaining universal access to energy services by 2030 as advocated by the United Nations “Sustainable Energy for all SE4all” initiative.

[1] 15 ECOWAS countries, and Cameroon, Mauritania, Central African Republic and the DRC.

16 March 2022: The Spark+ Africa Fund has raised over $40 million in a first close, it was announced on Wednesday. The Fund is the world’s first impact investment fund focused on financing the value chains of clean and modern cooking appliances and fuels, to make them available to more people across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Clean cooking businesses face many challenges, including limited access to investment capital to increase their production and distribution capacity, high-risk perception, and an insufficient return profile to attract commercial investment. Spark+ directly responds to these challenges and is a key component of the African Development Bank’s actions in the area of clean cooking. Spark+ is anchored by the African Development Bank, using resources from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa.

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank, provided anchor financing for the innovative fund. Dr. Daniel Schroth, the Bank’s Acting Director for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, said: “SEFA’s anchor investment in the Fund’s first-loss tranche contributed to catalysing the participation of additional financiers in Spark+. We are pleased that the Fund has been established as its investments are expected to support the delivery of clean cooking solutions to well over 10 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa, with significant benefits for public health, gender equality, the environment, and climate.”

The Spark+ Africa Fund was launched by its Switzerland-based investment advisor Enabling Qapital and Netherlands-based foundation Stichting Modern Cooking. Peter George, Co-Investment Director of Spark+ and Chairman of Stichting Modern Cooking, said: “We are grateful for the catalytic role that the African Development Bank and SEFA have played in launching Spark+. Access to clean and modern cooking solutions is an underappreciated component of infrastructure, with a major impact on the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people, and in particular women, on the continent.”

Xavier Pierluca, Co-Investment Director of Spark+ and Managing Partner of Enabling Qapital, said: “The support from SEFA and the African Development Bank are key and timely to finance an essential segment of the access to energy space with a significant impact on people’s lives and our planet. Spark+ will offer tailored investment instruments throughout the value chain, from innovative design and manufacturing companies to last-mile distributors, in order to further the outreach of clean cooking solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Apart from the African Development Bank, Spark+ Africa Fund is supported by more than a dozen investors, including governments, foundations and financial institutions. The Clean Cooking Alliance, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation, and its donors, including the Norwegian and Dutch governments and the African Development Bank, supported the development of Spark+. The Fund has a target size of $70 million.

Spark+ Africa Fund will make debt, mezzanine, and equity investments in companies that manufacture and distribute clean cooking solutions, such as biomass stoves, advanced biomass fuels, liquefied petroleum gas, ethanol and biogas systems. Spark+ will also invest in distributors and consumer finance providers, such as off-grid solar companies and microfinance institutions that extend their services to clean cooking products.

Access to reliable and affordable energy remains an aspiration for many Africans. While Africa has made strides towards increasing electricity access over the last decade, there has been less progress on access to clean cooking solutions. Close to 900 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to modern energy services for cooking, with negative impacts on health, especially for women and children, and the environment.

16 March 2022: The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) programme has signed its first new agreements in Zambia, after a finalised pilot programme, to support the expansion and scale-up of high-quality solar home systems and development of mini-grid connections to help provide energy access in rural and peri-urban areas in the country over a four-year period until 2026.

The three first projects have been signed with RDG Collective Limited, Zengamina Power Limited and VITALITE Zambia Ltd. The total value of these contracts is approx. EUR 5.9 million and the total project budgets about EUR 20.3 million.

“We are proud to continue supporting affordable and renewable off-grid energy services in Zambia through the Beyond the Grid Fund, together with Nefco and KfW. It is very encouraging that we can now start the project implementation phase with these three Zambian companies. We look forward to announcing further companies selected under BGFA, investing in renewable and modern energy solutions in Zambia,” highlighted Anna Maj Hultgård, Swedish Ambassador to Zambia.

RDG Collective is a company developing its own solar home systems, established in Zambia in 2018. Since 2019, the company has sold over 4,000 energy service subscriptions, and today it has operations in eight Zambian provinces. RDG Collective operates the entire supply chain from design and manufacturing to sales and distribution, and provides after-sales support in all the provinces. With the support from BGFA, the company plans to establish and sell over 25,000 new energy service subscriptions by providing its own-designed solar home systems for households, including lighting, USB charging and other small rechargeable devices such as radios, as well as TV screens, refrigerators for commercial use and solar water pumps for farmers. The support is essential for RDG to expand its operation to the remote Northern and Western Provinces of Zambia.

“We are incredibly appreciative to be working alongside BGFA to empower the future of thousands of households in Zambia. Significantly, the growth generated in productive use appliances from this partnership will enable RDG to become a major catalyst for rural development in Zambia. Appliances, such as solar water pumps and refrigerators provide rural communities with the necessary tools to generate growing incomes and jobs that will be financially and environmentally sustainable in the long term,” said Rune Gunnar Dige, CEO and Founder at RDG Collective, in connection with the signing.

“We are excited to start the cooperation with RDG Collective to support its expansion across Zambia, which will provide energy access for up to 128,000 people in remote rural areas,” commented Heli Sinkko, Programme Manager at Nefco.

Zengamina Power Limited is a mini-grid company with an existing hydropower plant with an annual power generation capacity of 5.4 GWh situated in Zengamina, in North-Western Province in Zambia, about 900 kilometres from the capital Lusaka. With the BGFA funding, the company will be able to extend this capacity with a new solar power plant and install a Li-Ion battery storage system as back-up for night-time and drought periods. In addition, the company will extend its geographical reach and densification of connections. This will result in the establishment of 2,600 higher tier energy service subscriptions for rural customers, including small businesses in the area.

“We are very thankful for the support from BGFA and excited to get the work started to develop the first of its kind hydro-solar-BESS hybridisation, which will fast-track our mission to expand our grid in Zengamina and make Ikelenge the first fully electrified district in Zambia,” said Daniel Rea, Managing Director at Zengamina Power.

VITALITE Zambia has been operating since 2013 and is one of the market pioneers in Zambia selling solar home systems to off-grid rural areas. The company currently has some 40,000 energy service subscriptions provided to households and businesses across the country. With the BGFA funding, the company will be able to further scale up its business operations and provide solar home systems to low-income customers in remote areas of Zambia. The company plans to establish 113,400 new energy service subscriptions for basic residential energy needs, such as lighting, radios and cell phone charging, as well as for TV screens and productive use appliances including to business customers.

“Our team is delighted to build on the productive relationship with the BGFA programme donors and partners established through the Beyond the Grid Fund pilot programme. The BGFA programme presents an exciting opportunity to maximise our collective social impact by bringing clean, affordable energy to off-grid areas of Zambia and developing long-term sustainable energy access in the communities we serve,” said Russell Lyseight, Managing Director at VITALITE Zambia.

“Through their further business scale-ups and estimated new energy service subscriptions, Zengamina and VITALITE can benefit up to 658,000 people, providing both households and small businesses with electricity, and at the same time increase employment opportunities in Zambia,” commented Kari Hämekoski, Senior Programme Manager at Nefco.

These off-grid energy solutions will provide a cleaner, safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to candles and kerosene lamps, which are often used by people in remote areas, and increase the reliability of power supplies for them. The distribution of solar water pumps will enhance food and water security. The funded companies will also help to improve the affordability of off-grid energy products. In the long-term, increased energy access will lead to a higher standard of education and create numerous new employment opportunities in Zambia.

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa opened its first funding round in September 2020, including in Burkina Faso and Liberia, and a second stage in Zambia (BGFA1). It opened two more funding rounds, in Mozambique (BGFA2) and Uganda (BGFA3), in spring 2021. The facility is currently concluding the first round of funding and, in addition to the first contracted companies in Zambia, the first projects in Liberia were announced at the end of January, and the first project in Burkina will be announced shortly.

###

About BGFA: The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa is a multi-donor facility established and managed by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco). Nefco is an international financial institution based in Helsinki, Finland, focusing on environmental and climate investments. BGFA is implemented in partnership with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), an international multilateral partnership based in Vienna, Austria, working to accelerate market-based deployment of renewable energy and energy-efficiency solutions in developing countries.

The current EUR 107.6 million BGFA programme was established in 2019 on Sweden’s initiative through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Sweden contributes SEK 835 million (EUR 80 million) from the Swedish embassies in the target countries. It has since been developed by Nefco into a multi-donor programme. Denmark, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joined the BGFA programme in December 2020 and is now providing DKK 117.5 million (EUR 15.8 million) to support the programme in Uganda. Power Africa, an initiative administered by USAID, is providing an in-kind technical assistance contribution worth USD 4.5 million (approx. EUR 4 million) over three years to help operationalise the initiative and develop a pipeline of commercially viable projects within the framework of BGFA. Germany, through its development bank KfW, has joined the BGFA country programme for Zambia with a focus on mini-grids, providing EUR 7.5 million.

• Bboxx has launched a new entry-level brand, Flexx by Bboxx, to provide affordable, reliable, and flexible clean energy solutions to those at the bottom of the energy pyramid, starting in Rwanda and Kenya;
• Having delivered clean energy solutions for over 2 million people, Flexx by Bboxx will enable Bboxx to serve members of the rural population they have not reached previously, unlocking even more potential;
• The launch is central to Bboxx’s mission to solve energy poverty, in line with UN SDG7 – clean energy for all.

15 March 2022: Bboxx, a next-generation utility, has launched Flexx by Bboxx, a new brand offering entry-level clean energy products to millions of people at the bottom of the energy pyramid. Flexx by Bboxx will bring new and reliable products to market that are affordable, accessible, and flexible, getting millions more people onto the energy ladder.

As part of the launch, Bboxx announced two new clean energy products that will add to their existing roster of clean energy, clean cooking, mobile technology, and accessible finance solutions:

• Flexx10 is an affordable ‘plug and play’ portable solar lantern, designed for rural customers and those who are mobile. The product is also capable of charging mobile phones. Flexx10 is an upfront cash sales product;
• Flexx40 is a Pay-As-You-Go token-based multi-light solar system, designed for rural customers at the bottom of the energy pyramid, with a demand for lighting applications and mobile phone charging. The system comes with dimmable LED light bulbs, which allows customers to have more control over their energy usage.

Both new products are designed to minimise lifetime costs and include features that reduce maintenance and service requirements. All Bboxx’s systems run on its comprehensive management platform Bboxx Pulse®, enabling clean energy access to be scaled to places previously considered too expensive or difficult to reach via traditional grid infrastructure.

The products will have a significant impact on the lives of those they support, be that allowing a child to study at home, allowing a vendor to continue trading after dark, or allowing remote communities to stay connected by charging their devices.

Twelve years ago, Bboxx set out to do one thing: connect billions of underserved customers to modern utilities. Through the launch of Flexx by Bboxx, the company will build on the momentum of its ongoing expansion and serve a wider array of customers. At present, the majority of the underserved rural population still needs access to a reliable energy source. Flexx by Bboxx will help change this.

To date, Bboxx has successfully delivered clean energy solutions for over 2 million people globally, with substantial operations in countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Togo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of these products are aimed at the top 25% of rural communities. The introduction of Flexx will enable Bboxx to reach the other 75%.

Flexx by Bboxx will first launch in Rwanda and Kenya before expanding to other Bboxx markets in subsequent months including in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Commenting on the launch, Mansoor Hamayun, CEO and Co-Founder of Bboxx, said: “We are passionate about our mission to address the major global problem of energy poverty. The scale of the issue is vast, with 759 million people living without access to energy, of which 570 million are in Africa. We are therefore delighted to be expanding our product offering to include even more flexible and affordable solutions for customers struggling to get onto the energy ladder.

We are confident that Flexx by Bboxx will significantly aid us in transforming the lives of millions in the developing world, powering the energy needs of individuals, families, emerging businesses, and wider communities. Energy is the key to unlocking inclusive and sustainable economic development on a global scale, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact Flexx by Bboxx will have on this new pool of underserved customers.”

###

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 over 2 million people with its products and services in over 27 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 1000 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. For more information, visit: https://www.bboxx.com/.

15 March 2022: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Burundi Renewable Energy Association (BUREA) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE). The MoU sets out the shared goals of the two organisations to address the challenges related to the optimal use of the various renewable energies for electrification and the potential for energy efficiency in Burundi. Both organisations agreed to stimulate social and economic development by increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix in East Africa and particularly Burundi.

The associations will work together on a number of activities, including accompanying and contributing to the government’s efforts to reach renewable energy targets, targeted business development and market intelligence support for decentralised renewable energy (DRE) companies, and joint advocacy for renewable energy policies in Burundi.

In this regard, the associations aim to further develop the capacity of renewable energy stakeholders in Burundi to create local jobs to drive more financing for renewable energy projects and businesses. This will, for example, be achieved by business events and by spearheading “DRE Investment Academies” or similar trainings for Burundian and international DRE developers and stakeholders, with the aim of providing additional fundraising and technical support.

Finally, the MoU states that the partners will offer support through business development services for renewable energy actors working in Burundi, to address electrification, energy security and climate change challenges, as well as conduct applied research to foster the market for renewable energy technologies.

David Lecoque, CEO of ARE stressed that: “We are excited to sign this landmark partnership with BUREA. The cooperation fits squarely within ARE’s goal to increase country-level actions and support private sector to boost renewable electrification. It is now time to catalyse investments further to improve energy access in Burundi through partnerships, for example with our long-standing partners GET.invest and ARE Member EDFI ElectriFI, and the latter are being supported by €10.6 Million from the EU to fund renewable electrification efforts in Burundi through a specific Country Window.”

Théodore Kwigize, Legal representative of BUREA said: “BUREA has a vision for Burundi where each actor understands and fully plays its role for the promotion and access to renewable energies and its mission is to help the country to find adequate solutions to the energy problems in collaboration with other stakeholders in the field, both at the national, regional and international level. It has just signed an MoU with ARE to contribute more to the promotion of renewable energies in Burundi where the rate of electrification is 60.5% in urban areas, 2.6% in rural areas with a national average of 9.1%.”

14 March 2022: The Sasol Solar Challenge (SSC) is proud to announce the return of its seventh biennial challenge from the 9th to 16th September 2022.

“It should come as no surprise that the 2022 challenge is one that is highly anticipated,” said Robert Walker, director and owner of the SSC. “It’s great to see just how much this event continues to evolve with the help of so many communities, businesses, volunteers, partners and sponsors who continue to help the SSC team put on this amazing event.”

The 2022 SSC will be moving across more than 20 different towns, touching five provinces. Communities in these provinces will be witnessing solar-powered cars moving through their streets on the eight-day long challenge for the first time in almost four years.

For 2022, the challenge has an almost brand-new route with new towns, road and communities. This has been done to increase the impact which the event has on the communities which it passes through.

“We are expanding the reach of the event across the country to not only showcase the mind-blowing innovations and technologies developed by the teams, but also raise awareness on the use of renewable energy to save our country and the entire planet,” said Walker. “The SSC goal is to impact communities to develop and embrace renewable energy and the future of STEM.”

Walker said this year’s event is also aimed at encouraging the youth in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

“One of the key objectives for the SSC is to attract young people to STEM-based studies at learning institutions, through hands-on learning and real-life applications from like-minded scholars from around the world, who will be racing in their towns.”

Sasol senior manager for group brand and sponsorships, Nozipho Mbatha echoed Walker and said, "The Sasol Solar Challenge demonstrates the value of science, technology, engineering and maths initiatives. It is  a showcase of where engineering and technology meet in real life.”

Mbatha added that, “the event creates a space for young South Africans to develop skills for careers of the future, bringing our purpose of innovating for a better world.”

The SSC is on its fourteenth year. It is a biennial competition that sees local and international solar-powered vehicles challenging each other to move as far as possible along a set route, using only the power of the sun and cutting-edge technology. It runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns.

This year’s event is set to include secret routes and shorter loops. Teams will be forced to strategise to find information regarding routes, as it would be withheld until the night before they take on the road. There will be changes in landscape, with different mountain terrains and hills will be introduced.

“However, it’s always been a fundamental challenge to see who can get the most kilometers down to Cape Town,” said Walker.

14 March 2022: Following two years of COVID restrictions we are excited that the Africa Energy Forum (aef) is back to full capacity with the return of the massive exhibition, the four-day multi-streamed agenda focusing on the private sectors investment needs and business development. In Brussels aef will welcome back over 2,500 industry leaders (doubling the number we saw in London last year), from some 82 countries worldwide – yes, the African energy community is back ‘in one place’, to build back better and accelerate energy deals and projects.

Simon Gosling, Managing Director of EnergyNet, commented “It’s great to be back to full capacity!! As we reflect on the past 24 months it feels like the world has truly adjusted and is daring to be more responsible in investment decision making. However, responsible investing needs to be aligned with the reality of the private sector which can only survive in a profit enabled world, seeking out new revenue streams to maintain a strong and sustainable business. At aef in Brussels, we will therefore be looking at financing and blended energy solutions, to reduce emissions significantly across the industrial landscape, whilst also maintaining capacity output, growth and broader job creation – THE JUST TRANSITION”

Whilst countries across Africa remain some of the biggest investment destinations anywhere in the world, the energy sector is still significantly underinvested, not necessarily because of a lack of capital, but often due to a lack of capacity to build at pace and an underdevelopment industrial base. aef will therefore continue to focus on building new capacity in the energy markets and the evacuation of those electrons to enable and better serve the industries, business and homes that will in turn create a more bankable and sustainable investment climate.

Being a closed forum (not open to the general public), aef will again provide stakeholders a destination to have meaningful discussions around blockages in specific projects, learn of new areas of investment such as the vast offshore potential of wind and gas, and of course break down some of the barriers to investment which is stunting the number of projects reaching financial close which presently sits at a rather lowly 10%.

Who’s back – we’re delighted to already have confirmed a plethora of new sponsors and are ready to announce a number of powerful new partnerships, however aef is about stability and enabling continuous engagement with stakeholders critical to private sector success including; governments, utilities, regulators, development finance institutions, commercial banks, power developers, technology providers, EPCs and professional services – needless to say, they are all back….

See you in Brussels.

###

For more information about the Africa Energy Forum [aef]:

Contact: Harpreet Sohanpal – Director of Marketing Operations

Event dates: 21-24 June 2021

Event location: Taxi & Tours, Brussles, Belgium

Organisers: EnergyNet, part of Clarion Events Ltd

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact: +44 (0)20 7384 7955

Website: www.africa-energy-forum.com

10 March 2022: The African Development Bank and the Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) have approved a combined-equity investment of $20 million in the AfricaGoGreen Fund, a debt fund established to promote private investments in energy-efficient technologies and business models, with the objective of decarbonising African economies and accelerating the energy transition.

These new investments come on top of $11.5 million equity contribution approved by the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) in December 2021. NDF provides financing to climate change mitigation and adaptation activities within the nexus of climate change and development. NDF is also a donor to SEFA, thus reinforcing the close partnership to advance the transition to cleaner and greener solutions for the continent while encouraging the participation of the private sector.

“This combined Bank investment will lead to increased financing of emerging projects and businesses in the areas of industrial appliances, electric mobility and green buildings, which are key to the decarbonization of African economies and to a just energy transition”, said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth.

“Achieving the climate goals and universal access to clean and affordable energy will require vast investment in energy efficiency and, more broadly, in electrification and other sector coupling trends. By targeting these emerging sectors in Africa, AGGF complements our climate and energy access portfolio, and is aligned with our strategic role as an early-stage catalytic investor”, said Mr. Henrik Franklin, Director for Portfolio Origination and Management at the Nordic Development Fund.

Launched in early 2021 with EUR 45 million in catalytic capital, the AfricaGoGreen Fund is a flagship project under the G20 Compact with Africa.

“We are really happy to see the Bank, SEFA and NDF as new investors in AGGF. These new investments are also expected to trigger additional investments by commercial investors and financiers either directly or through co-funding of projects”, said Jan Martin Witte, Director Global Equity and Funds for KfW Development Bank.

The Fund approved its first deal in August 2021, a loan to AktivCo – a company that finances clean energy solutions for powering telecommunication towers located in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger. Also, in December 2021, it made an additional approval of a $5.5 million loan to BBOXX, a technology company exploring energy solutions that would provide electricity and other utilities to the millions without them, for the expansion of access to clean cooking solutions.

The AfricaGoGreenFund provides flexible and tailored debt instruments to private businesses in green appliances for domestic and industrial processes, green buildings, e-mobility solutions, and battery energy storage projects. It is managed by LHGP Asset Management, part of the Lion’s Head Global Partners group.

Clemens Calice, Co-CEO and founding partner of Lion’s Head Global Partners said: “We are excited to welcome the African Development Bank, SEFA and NDF as investors to the AfricaGoGreen Fund. The Fund will take efforts to transition to a lower-carbon economy a step further by offering financing to innovative African companies that embrace energy efficiency as a challenge and an opportunity.”

###

About SEFA: SEFA is a Multi-Donor Special Fund that aims to unlock private sector investments that contribute to providing universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa strategy and Sustainable Development Goal 7.

About NDF: The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) is the joint Nordic international finance institution of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. NDF focuses on the nexus between climate change and development in lower-income countries and countries in fragile situations. Since the introduction of the climate mandate in 2009, NDF has built a track record of adding value by financing climate mitigation and adaptation projects in close interaction with its extensive network of strategic partners.