13 December 2021: Release by Scatec has entered into a lease agreement with electricity company ENEO in Cameroon to deliver two hybrid solar and storage plants totalling 36 MW solar and 20 MW/19 MWh storage. The plants will supply low cost, clean and reliable electricity in Maroua and Guider in the Grand-North of Cameroon. IFC is partnering with Release to realise these redeployable projects.

Release by Scatec will further install 7.7 MWp solar in Chad to supply clean, renewable energy to five smaller grids owned by ZIZ Energie. FMO and Energy Access Ventures back the Chad project.

Cameroon

“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with ENEO, which further fuels our journey to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable across growth markets. The deal marks our entry into the Cameroonian market, and we are proud to contribute with a cost-efficient and immediate solution to a cleaner and more stable electricity supply in a region suffering from power shortages caused by droughts limiting the supply of hydropower,” says Raymond Carlsen, CEO at Scatec.

Release by Scatec is a pre-assembled, modular and redeployable solar power and storage system, allowing for fast and easy power generation. ENEO and Release by Scatec have entered into a flexible contract term that enables ENEO to coordinate the generation capacity with their needs going forward.  

IFC will contribute 10-20% of the project costs of the Cameroon project and will further support the development of Release by Scatec through project development activities and future financing.

“Access to sustainable, reliable and affordable power is essential to economic recovery and growth. IFC is proud to partner with Scatec’s Release to help bridge the power gap in Cameroon through a unique solution that enables solar power systems to be quickly deployed to help meet the electricity needs of today while paving the way for more competitive, cleaner and long-term energy sector sustainability in Cameroon. This partnership fits with the World Bank Group’s mandate to align its work with the Paris Agreement goals to help our private and public sector partners meet global climate targets,” says Sylvain Kakou, IFC’s Country Manager for Central Africa.

The first power is expected to be delivered around year end 2021, and the remaining will be delivered in phases, where the full project is expected to be completed by mid-2022.

The pay-back time for Scatec’s investment in the project is in line with previous guidance around the Release business concept.

“The structure of this project is unique as it ensures supply of clean and reliable energy for governments and utilities, without sovereign guarantee requirements or parliamentary approvals. We believe this model will be a sound solution for many utilities in Africa struggling with power shortages and grid instabilities,” says Hans Olav Kvalvaag, SVP Release by Scatec.

Chad

In Chad, Release by Scatec is installing 7.7 MWp of solar plant capacity  across the country, which will support clean energy access to 300,000 people across 5 provincial cities and their newly built decentralised “metro-grids” developed and operated by local private utility ZIZ Energie. ZIZ Energie is backed by the Dutch FMO and Energy Access Ventures and has recently received funding from the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), to build grid infrastructure and connections to provide access to electricity for households and industries in the proximity. Installation of the power plants is expected to be finished during 2022.

The projects in Cameroon and Chad add to Release by Scatec’s ambitions of providing cost-competitive, high-quality and redeployable renewable energy solutions with a unique financing model to countries and consumers that are hit hardest by the impact of climate change.

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About Scatec ASA: Scatec is a leading renewable power producer, delivering affordable and clean energy worldwide. As a long- term player, Scatec develops, builds, owns and operates solar, wind and hydro power plants and storage solutions. In the first half of 2021, Scatec will have a total of 3.3 GW in operation on four continents and more than 500 employees. The company is targeting 15 GW capacity in operation or under construction by the end of 2025. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘SCATC’. For more information, visit: www.releasesolar.com.

About IFC: IFC - a member of the World Bank Group - is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit: www.ifc.org.

13 December 2021: Genius Watter innovative talent and commitment to the environment and social sustainability have been internationally recognized and celebrated at the prestigious AFSIA Solar Awards 2021.

Genius-RO, our solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination technology has won Genius Watter the "Solar Innovation of the year" award, while the Chairman and Co-founder of Genius Watter, Franco Traverso, has won the “Lifetime Achievement” award for his 40 years of experience in the solar sector and his significant long-term contribution to the development of the African solar industry.

Genius Watter has engineered and patented a battery-free modular desalination technology that can provide high volume clean water in off-grid areas by using exclusively solar energy. Genius-RO can successfully meet the water demand from the agriculture, tourism, health care and humanitarian aid sectors in water-stressed locations.

Click on the links below to find out more about the two awards and watch the awards ceremony at the Africa Energy Forum, held in London:

• Solar Innovation of the year - Genius-RO, solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination technology: https://www.geniuswatter.com/afsia-solar-awards-2021-solar-innovation-of-the-year/;
• Lifetime achievement - Franco Traverso: https://www.geniuswatter.com/afsia-solar-awards-2021-lifetime-achievement-award/.

• With this investment, Spark will support its last-mile distributors in supplying solar electricity to hundreds of thousands of low-income households over the next two years.

9 December 2021: Social impact investor Oikocredit is providing a credit line of € 2 million to Spark, a supplier of pay-as-you-go off-grid modular solar solutions and appliances. This credit line will support Spark’s plans to bring access to electricity to an estimated 500,000under-served households in sub-Saharan Africa.

With Oikocredit's support, Spark will be able to give low-income people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and others both access to clean energy and a path to ownership of off-grid solar products that can be extended to fit users' growing energy needs. Access to renewable electricity will support households in improving their living standards, increasing their earning potential and achieving lives of greater dignity.

Since its inception in 2013, Spark has pioneered and built innovative solar energy solutions. It has sold more than 75,000 energy kits to date, helping improve the lives of over 375,000 people and providing technical capacity building to 2,700-plus solar sales agents. Renewable energy generated by Spark's solar home systems over their product lifetime currently avoids approximately 200,000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by replacing kerosene lanterns and diesel generators.

Bas Pijnenburg, Finance Director at Spark, said: "Cooperating with Oikocredit enables us to provide renewable electricity to significantly more homes and villages. Working with Oikocredit means we have a partner with a strong presence in the sector. Combining our strengths, we believe Oikocredit and Spark can lead the way towards a better, solar-powered future for under-served households and communities."

Siebren Wilschut, Investment Officer at Oikocredit, said: "We're very pleased to support Spark in its expansion to ensure access to energy and other technology services across Africa. We're proud to be partnering with Spark, a game-changer in the industry, and to support the company as it continues to scale up and increase its social impact by helping low-income people become healthier, improve their livelihoods and be better connected."

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About Spark: Solar-powered lives are future-proof lives. Spark delivers smart and simple solutions that are owned and operated by the people who need them most. Spark empowers emerging markets to take control of their energy needs with systems that are smartly distributed, viable and sustainable. This means that life doesn’t stop when the sun sets. Spark’s modular solutions make it easier for people to climb the energy ladder and allow small businesses to grow. For more information, visit: www.sparkenergy.io.

About Oikocredit: Social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit has 46 years of experience funding organisations active in financial inclusion, agriculture and renewable energy.

Oikocredit's loans, equity investments and capacity building aim to enable people on low incomes in Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve their living standards sustainably.

Oikocredit finances 527 partners, with total outstanding capital of € 876 million (at 30 September 2021). For more information, visit: www.oikocredit.coop.

9 December 2021: The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA), represented by Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Stephens, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) represented by the Secretary General, Ms Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. The signing of the MOU underscores the two parties' shared efforts to promote sustainable energy access and the energy trade in the COMESA region.

Under this agreement, AMDA and COMESA agreed to enhance the quality of data collection and dissemination about the minigrid sector in the region, improve the availability of financial instruments that increase the sustainability to the sector and support programmes that build synergies with the agriculture, health and education industries. This will be supported by the overarching commitment to work with COMESA states to develop and implement policies and regulations that are supportive of minigrids as a tool to help Africa achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7: universal access to affordable and clean energy by 2030.

“The signing of the MoU is part of our efforts as AMDA to create the right policy and finance environment that will help African nations meet their growing energy and climate resilience needs.”, Ms Stephens said.

This notion of cross-continental action was reiterated by Ms Kapwepwe:

“COMESA recognizes that the key challenges faced by most of COMESA member states include inter alia low-level access to modern energy, weak development of energy infrastructure, lack of appropriate financing mechanisms and unclear regulatory environments for private sector involvement in renewable energy projects. We believe that by implementing the regional infrastructure Finance Facility Project (RIFF) and working with organizations such as AMDA, we can see a modern, sustainable energy systems develop in COMESA member states.”

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About the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a regional inter-governmental organization established by Treaty on 8th December 1994 as an organization of free independent sovereign states which have agreed to co-operate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all their people’ and as such it has a wide-ranging series of objectives which necessarily include in its priorities the promotion of peace and security in the region. For more information, visit: comesa.int.

About the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA): The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is the leading body representing private sector minigrid developers on the continent. We work with governments, donors, funding partners and the wider energy sector to build an optimal energy network that will meet the current and future needs of African economies. AMDAs work focuses on improving the financial and regulatory landscape for the decentralized utilities sector ensuring that we can collectively tackle the energy access challenge in order ensure that we eliminate energy poverty. Today, AMDA represents over 35companies, who operate minigrids in 15 Sub-Saharan countries. For more information, visit: africamda.org.

• The two parties will work closely together on de-risking investments in decentralised renewable energy systems.

7 December 2021: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), to strengthen their existing cooperation on rural electrification and universal access to energy. The MoU was signed in the margins of the fifth International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC) by IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera and ARE Chief Executive Officer David Lecoque.

Off-grid renewable energy solutions provide an opportunity to achieve universal access to energy without undermining climate goals, making them critical to achieving a just energy transition. According to IRENA, decentralised renewables create employment opportunities in productive uses ranging from agri-food and healthcare to communications and commerce in local communities. “Building out the deployment of off-grid renewable energy in low- and medium-income countries is crucial to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and delivering positive outcomes for people and communities in rural settings,” said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA. “This partnership brings together two organisations with complementary strengths but a singular aim to drive inclusive, equitable development through the widespread adoption of renewable energy.”

“ARE is very proud to vastly scale up its cooperation with IRENA to boost distributed renewables and the clean energy transition, underpinned by the ambitious MoU signed today. Building on ARE’s enormous growth in 2021 and IRENA’s public sector leadership, this landmark partnership demonstrates the powerful benefits of strong cooperation between key governmental and private sector actors to achieve our shared objectives,” said David Lecoque, CEO of ARE. The MoU represents an extension to an existing partnership between IRENA and ARE that has seen the two parties work closely since 2012, notably delivering five successful IOREC meetings in four countries. IOREC has quickly established itself as the preeminent global meeting place for the off-grid renewable energy community.

Steady cost reductions and technological innovation have strengthened the business case for off-grid renewables as a means to expand rural electricity access. However, accelerating the deployment of mini-grid and stand-alone solutions will depend also on stable policies and regulations, along with dedicated funds and de-risking instruments for renewables. Moving forward under the new agreement, IRENA and ARE will jointly work on de-risking investments in energy access and decentralised renewable energy and on activities aimed at increasing private sector participation.

The two parties will also exchange expertise on emerging delivery models for the deployment of decentralised renewable energy solutions and collaborate on capacity development in issues pertaining to skills development, improving resilience of decentralised renewable energy projects and renewable energy entrepreneurship support.

25 November 2021:  The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is pleased to announce the closing of a USD 4.2 Million transaction with Sunspot Energy Kenya Limited (operating as Spark Possibilities), to finance new solar home systems in Kenya.

The financing will enable Spark Possibilities to offer an expanded range of solar energy solutions to more households in Kenya and to enter other markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The relationship underscores the potential for more private sector mobilization, access to improved, reliable and affordable electricity, and contributes to the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 5 Gender Equality, and SDG 13 Climate Action.

This transaction is supported by TDB’s USD 75 million SME Off-Grid Facility, in turn supported by a USD 415 million World Bank Regional Infrastructure Finance Facility (RIFF) signed with TDB in 2020 – the first of its kind to be extended to a regional development bank by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). Through this facility, TDB finances long-term infrastructure projects, particularly in renewable energy, including those of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in need of debt financing.

Founded in 2016, Sunspot Energy Kenya Limited provides affordable, high-value, reliable pay-as-you-go (PayG) solar home systems to customers in rural and semi-rural communities in Kenya. Sunspot has scaled-up principally through private sector funding without any meaningful support from any grant, philanthropic or governmental programs. As a certified B Corp, the company’s core business model contributes to ethical and environmental objectives that align with multiple SDGs. As part of its commitment to grassroots development, most of Sunspot’s personnel is under 30 years old, 99% of its staff is Kenyan, and half of its employees are women. To date, Sunspot operates across 12 Kenyan communities.

Admassu Tadesse, TDB President Emeritus and Group Managing Director said: “In line with TDB’s progressive growth in green energy and SME portfolios, the Bank has been expanding its suite of innovative low-carbon product offerings for clients, including for MSMEs in the region it serves. With 25% of the Kenyan population still lacking access to electricity and almost 30% in rural areas, we are excited to finance Spark Possibilities to build more solar home systems, enabling those who need it the most to run their businesses, study, and improve their living standards overall.”

“With 1,200 jobs expected to be created by the end of 2022 including 700 representatives in local communities, 40% of which are women, Spark Possibilities is growing into an impactful business, which in addition to reducing the electrification gap, is empowering youth and women in rural and semi-rural areas. We are pleased to be part of their story,” added Michael Awori, TDB Deputy CEO and COO. “Via this transaction, we look forward to working together to contribute to further driving triple bottom-line impact in our region.”

“This financing marks a new chapter,” commented Hal Peters, CEO and Co-Founder of Sunspot Energy Kenya Limited. “Having TDB as a long-term partner further raises the bar for our young company, which plans to not only grow its Kenyan footprint but also expand into new Sub-Saharan countries in 2022. With this transaction, TDB has visibly demonstrated its expertise to create an innovative, bespoke debt structure. Clearly understanding prospective financial capacity along the company’s growth path is significant – TDB has great team, and we are delighted that they are our financial partner.”

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About TDB: Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is a multilateral, treaty-based, investment-grade development finance institution, with 41 sovereign and institutional shareholders and assets of USD 7.2 bn. TDB serves 22 economies in its region, with the mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration, and sustainable development.

TDB is part of the TDB Group, which also comprises TDF (the Trade and Development Fund), ESATF (the Eastern and Southern African Trade Fund), TCI (TDB Captive Insurance), and the TDB Academy. For more information, visit: www.tdbgroup.org.

About Sunspot: Sunspot is a revenue-generating, off-grid solar distributed energy services company focused on enhancing the lives of millions of residents living in rural sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, visit: http://www.sparkpossibilities.com/.

About Qbera Capital: Qbera Capital is an independent advisory and asset management firm, facilitating and providing debt and equity solutions for real economy assets and companies specialising in the energy, resources, agricultural and renewables sectors. Qbera Capital is the strategic advisor to Sunspot Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit: https://www.qberacapital.com/.

22 November 2021: Solaris Offgrid is thrilled to announce their partnership with Kenyan manufacturers The KGS Group, a collaboration put in place to make the AllSola computer Paygo-compatible through PaygOps SaaS platform, enabling underserved and off-grid communities in Sub-Saharan Africa to have access to the Internet and benefit from education and financial opportunities that may help them improve their livelihoods.

The AllSola computer is an integrated solar device with a 60-watt solar panel, a 20 AH lithium battery, a charge controller (for lighting and charging electronics), and an attached Google 9.0 Certified FHD 13.3'' Android screen (for free- to-air TV and Internet). The device provides stable and reliable warm lighting and device charging in addition to a platform for digital TV and internet access through app and digital content.

This robust combination between the AllSola computer and PaygOps flexible features enables an innovative platform with access to energy and digital content to users who are unable to pay for the product in cash. By providing affordable access to the internet, the two organisations are empowering underserved users to be more literate, aware, connected and able to generate income from new opportunities. On top of that, last-mile distributors of the AllSola devices will be able to smoothly manage their lease, sales and after-sales operations through PaygOps, Solaris Offgrid’s renowned last-mile management software.

“We believe that our partnership with PaygOps will increase access to clean energy and information to the right groups, such as marginalised communities, refugees, students, rural populations, and connect them to the rest of the world, thus offering them better life opportunities to improve their lives.” Marielle Fillit, co-founder and CEO at The KGS Group.

Technology and access to the internet are powerful tools to break the cycle of poverty, yet millions of people in emerging markets do not benefit from the advantages of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products, due to their high costs. Computers are essential tools for schools to create better learning environments and for students to access unlimited resources of information and foster their education. PaygOps is committed to reducing the digital divide, facilitating and promoting access to ICT such as the AllSola computer by The KGS Group.

"In our continued efforts to bring our Paygo and open source technologies to as many sectors as possible, we see The KGS Group as a strong partner that allows us to provide clean energy and digital communications to neglected communities.By leveraging the advantages of the innovative AllSola computer through our Paygo flexible functionalities, we’re supporting LMDs in their mission to serve more customers in remote areas with robust life-changing products”, adds Thibault Lesueur, Co-founder and CCO at Solaris Offgrid.

The KGS Group develops and distributes smart solar products as a positive contribution to fighting climate change. With the AllSola device, they envision a connected world, with renewable energy at its core. Their mission is to achieve quality, efficiency and affordability in providing energy solutions to the right groups of users.

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

19 November 2021: The African Development Bank Group and the Government of Burundi on Tuesday signed a $29 million grant agreement to finance Phase 1 of the Access to Energy Project, which is part of the country's infrastructure development program.

The agreement was signed during an official meeting in Bujumbura between the African Development Bank Group's Director General for East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo, and Burundi's Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Domitien Ndihokubwayo.

Nwabufo was in Burundi to reaffirm the Bank's commitment to the Burundian government's 2018-2027 National Development Plan. She was accompanied by Daniel Ndoye, the Bank's Country Manager in Burundi, and Marcellin Ndong-Ntah, Chief Economist for East Africa.

Phase I of the Energy Access Project will benefit not only the population but also private sector development, said Ndihokubwayo, welcoming the Bank's donation. The Minister stressed that cooperation between the African Development Bank and the Government of Burundi was well under way.

"The African Development Bank is once again pleased to expand the list of agreements signed with Burundi," said Nwabufo. "Our support will not be limited to the energy sector. It will also take into account agriculture and job creation for young people in the coming years."

18 November 2021: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Business Council of Renewable Energies of Senegal (COPERES) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE). The MoU sets out the shared goals of the two organisations to address the existing obstacles which hinder the optimal use of the various renewable energies for electrification and the potential for energy efficiency in Senegal. Both organisations agreed to promote social and economic development by increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix in West Africa and particularly Senegal.

The associations will work together on a number of activities, including joint advocacy for renewable energy policies in Senegal 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 DRE companies.

In this regard, the associations aim to develop the capacity of renewable energy stakeholders in Senegal to create local jobs and secure more financing for renewable energy projects and businesses. This will, for example, be achieved by spearheading “DRE Investment Academies” or similar trainings for Senegalese and international DRE developers and other stakeholders, with the aim to attract additional fundraising and technical support.

Finally, the MoU states that the partners will offer business development services for renewable energy actors working in Senegal, 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: “This MoU exemplifies ARE’s ambition to work in tandem with national counterparts to boost renewable electrification at the country level. The cooperation with COPERES empowers efforts to drive and expand clean and affordable electrification across rural Senegal”.

Karim NDIAYE, President of COPERES said: “COPERES is very pleased with this partnership, which fits well with our missions. We need a strong and innovative private sector in renewable energy. We look forward to a fruitful cooperation with ARE”.

18 November 2021: Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd, the Zambian geothermal exploration and energy development company whose objective is to be a regional producer of sustainable baseload power, is pleased to announce that the Malawi Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining has granted the Company’s Malawi registered subsidiary a Reconnaissance Licence for the Chiweta Geothermal target in the northern region of Malawi.

The Chiweta target is 370 Km north of Lilongwe in Rumphi District, proximate to the western shoreline of Lake Malawi. It is within the northern portion of the Malawi Rift, a branch of the East African Rift System, which is widely considered to be very prospective for geothermal.  

A prefeasibility study conducted by ELC-Electroconsult of Italy in 2017 under a credit from the International Development Association of the World Bank to support the implementation of the  Malawi Energy Sector Support Project established that the granitic Basement Complex is overlain by Karoo (Permian) era sediments and a thin level of Quaternary deposits, which would create the  conditions for a caprock for a geothermal system. The geoscientific investigations conducted during  the study included geological, geochemical, gravimetric and geoelectrical surveys, the data from  which were used to create a conceptual model of the field. A volumetric estimate of the electric  potential of the Chiweta system indicates a likely value of 13.5 MW electrical and a highly probable value of 10.5 MW electrical. No drilling was undertaken. 

The Company will now verify earlier exploration results and reassess the model, which is likely to define targets for an exploratory drilling programme, aimed at proving the existence of a geothermal  system and defining its thermodynamic, hydraulic, and chemical features. Concurrently, the Company  will also sample for gases and instigate feasibility studies in selected direct applications. The initial objective is to assess the viability of commercial power generation with an associated hub for direct  applications and if viable undertake development and commercial operation. 

Kalahari Director, Dr Moses Banda, who has led the negotiations with the Malawi Authorities  commented: We thank the Malawi Ministry of Mining for the opportunity to assess the Chiweta  geothermal target. We believe our experience with our Bweengwa River target, which is in a similar  geologic setting, and our experience of operating in the region gives us the ability to conduct and  effectively manage the exploration work required to be able to develop Chiweta.  

Even at a modest scale, sustainable baseload power generation, would have an impact on power  availably and reliability in the Northern Region, which largely relies on hydro power from the Shire River in Southern Region and diesel generation. This is particularly pertinent given increased  uranium exploration and mining around Livingstonia, some 12 km to northwest of Chiweta. Direct applications of thermal energy are likely to lead to greater food security, social uplift, and climate adaption. 

The inclusion of Chiweta is a further step in the Company’s objective of being a regional energy producer. 

Geothermal Energy  

Geothermal energy is the heat produced by sub-surface materials of the earth. It is contained in the  rocks and fluids beneath the earth’s surface, heated by hot molten rock, magma, deeper in the earth’s crust and mantle. To produce electrical power from geothermal energy, wells are drilled to access underground reservoirs and the pressurised steam and hot water contained there, this can then be used  to drive turbines connected to electricity generators. At the identified temperatures in Malawi,  Kalahari is likely to use binary technology to produce power, wherein the geothermal fluid heats a secondary liquid with a lower boiling point and is then pumped back into the reservoir feed zone,  ensuring a closed system. The secondary liquid flashes to vapour to drive the turbine and produce  electricity. The hotter and more pressurised the geothermal fluid, the greater the electricity generated. 

Geothermal power is sustainable, operates at a high capacity and is environmentally benign. In addition to this, the direct application of heat for agro-industrial processes may have a significant impact in strengthening food security at a time of uncertainty as to the ongoing effects of climate change.

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About Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd: Formed in 2010, Kalahari GeoEnergy is a privately owned, Zambian-registered exploration company whose objective is to be an Independent Renewable Energy Power Producer. The management and  their consultants have wide-ranging experience in exploration, development and energy utilisation.  

The Company is currently undertaking a Feasibility Study at is Bweengwa River geothermal project in southern Zambia on the Kafue Rift. It is anticipated that a pilot power and direct application units will  be developed in 2022 with commercial development once regulatory permits and funding are in place. 

16 November 2021: The growth of the off-grid solar sector into a USD 1.75 billion industry, delivering energy services to 420 million global users, speaks to the sectors’ immense value.  CLASP, which leads the VeraSol quality assurance initiative, commissioned a study to evaluate consumers’ experiences with off-grid solar products in Kenya, a global off-grid market leader. Overall, the consumers surveyed confirmed that off-grid solar products are indeed delivering as expected, with about 70% expressing satisfaction with solar products’ durability, price and aftersales services offered​.

“It seems that years of quality assurance and consumer awareness support have had their intended impact and led to Kenya’s consumers being more discerning when purchasing solar products, which could be a significant factor in driving the high levels of user satisfaction,” says Dana Rysankova, Global Lead for Energy Access at the World Bank.

This study was the first of its kind and sought to complement existing data gathered through laboratory testing by focusing on how consumers interact with quality-verified and non-quality verified products. “This type of consumer survey is important and will continue to be critical for the sector to understand the effectiveness of adopting quality standards by interrogating the type of products that ultimately reach the consumer and the user experience (which supports the need for quality verification of products),” says Pauline Githugu, Team Leader for the UK aid-sponsored Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility.

In addition to being a key off-grid market, Kenya is also an early adopter of the IEC quality standards for solar products, making it a suitable example of the value of leveraging government support in implementing national quality assurance measures. EED Advisory conducted the consumer study by visiting and interviewing a nationally representative sample of 3915 households in early 2021 about their experiences with solar lanterns, lighting kits, home systems, and appliances. The study found that 28% of Kenyan households have access to at least one standalone off-grid solar product, with 21% using it as the primary source of lighting. Rural households were more than twice as likely to have off-grid solar products as were urban households (37% vs 16%), and seven counties (Homa Bay, Kilifi, Kitui, Machakos, Migori, Narok and Siaya) stood out as having a higher prevalence of off-grid solar products compared to the rest of the country.

The study results highlight a clear link between quality assurance and consumer satisfaction in many but not all aspects. For example, respondents indicated similar satisfaction rates with product durability for quality-verified (77%) versus non-quality verified (72%) solar lighting systems. However, for product breakdowns, a significantly higher proportion of non-quality verified solar lanterns (19%) and solar home systems (31.3%) were reported to have broken down compared to quality-verified ones (9.2% and 8.9%, respectively). For repair cost, there was a stark difference, with non-quality verified lanterns over three times more expensive to repair than quality-verified lanterns in Kenya.

The study proposes building firm-level verification methods and standards, strengthening partnerships between affiliate brands and last-mile distributors, and leveraging brand integrity to predict products’ quality and service to enhance quality assurance. Read the full ‘Quality in the Off-Grid Solar Market: An Assessment of the Consumer Experience in Kenya’ report for more information.

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About VeraSol: An evolution of Lighting Global Quality Assurance, VeraSol supports high-performing, durable off-grid products that expand access to modern energy services. VeraSol builds upon the strong foundation for quality assurance laid by the World Bank Group and expands its services to encompass off-grid appliances, productive use equipment, and component-based solar home systems. VeraSol is managed by CLASP in collaboration with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University. Foundational support is provided by the World Bank Group’s Lighting Global program, UK aid, IKEA Foundation and others. For more information, visit: verasol.org.

16 November 2021: Kiri Energy has won the Kenyan stage of the EDF Pulse Africa Tour, part of the more global EDF Pulse Africa innovation competition. Twelve candidates will take part in the grand finale, held on December 2 in Paris. Embodying EDF's commitment to Africa, the EDF Pulse Africa competition supports its most promising innovative start-ups to meet Africa's current energy challenges and contribute to its economic development.

The EDF Pulse Africa Tour, launched in 2019, is conducted in partnership with African incubators and other EDF institutional partners to meet innovative start-ups on the ground. During the Kenyan finale, two candidates stood out among the nine finalist start-ups, demonstrating the diversity of the Kenyan entrepreneurial and start-up ecosystem.

The entrepreneurs presented and defended their projects in front of a jury of experts in the field of entrepreneurship, renewable energy, and energy transition, composed of Luc Koechlin, EDF VP for Southern and Eastern Africa; Christ Anderson Ahoua Boua, EDF Pulse Africa Project Manager; Dennis Keya, EDF Kenya Country Manager; Vladimir Dugin, Investor at Energy Acess Venture; Lillian Marenya, Head of Catalytic Support at GrowthAfrica; Mikayla Czajkowski, Chief Of Staff at Sunculture; Jerome Baconin, Head of the Economic Service at the French Embassy in Kenya; Jeff Vanden Berghe, Managing Director of BBOXX Kenya; as well as Emmastella Gakuo, COO and Co-founder of Savanna Circuit.

At the end of this stage, the jury finally awarded two prizes (a first prize and a "jury's coup de coeur") to two Kenyan entrepreneurs:

• The first prize was awarded to the start-up Kiri Energy and its integrated distribution offer of electric scooters;
• The jury's coup de coeur is the project Baridi, which creates and commercializes systems of conservation of meat by the cold fed by solar panels, in a “Pay-as-you-store” fashion.

During the final, on December 2, 2021, in Paris, four winners will be able to win up to €15,000 and join the EDF Pulse Africa Factory, an acceleration program bringing together players committed to accompanying and supporting the growth of African “nuggets” in the field of energy access. 

This fourth edition is redoubling its ambition after a growing success over the last five years, with 79 profiles selected in 2017 against 536 in 2019, spread over more than half of the 54 African countries. It will award three prizes as well as a "jury's coup de coeur" to African start-ups and SMEs proposing innovative solutions in the following areas:

• Off-grid power generation - any innovative solution for the generation or storage of electricity in off-grid areas;
• Electricity services and uses - any service that extends electrification and any innovative product that is electricity efficient or reusable by users of electricity services;
• Access to water - any innovative solution to improve access to water through electricity.

"EDF Pulse Africa is at the core of EDF dedication to the renewal of energy offering in Africa, pushing and supporting innovation to foster the emergence of locally produced solutions," says Luc Koechlin, EDF VP for Southern and Eastern Africa.

This initiative is a continuation of the EDF Pulse Awards. These awards were launched in 2012 and fostered 1,500 innovative projects in France, the UK, and Italy. They are part of EDF's strategy to identify potential partners, develop its ecosystem, and give visibility to young innovative African structures to gain agility and respond more appropriately to market needs.

As a reminder, EDF has been present for 50 years in more than 14 African countries, with more than 500,000 households electrified according to a "low-carbon" model that favors sustainable and accessible energy. This is evidenced, for example, by its acquiring of shares in two Kenyan companies, Aconet Energy Kenya, which specialized in solar energy destined to companies, and Bboxx Kenya specialized in the development of autonomous solar kits. EDF aims to expand its off-grid offering to the residential market and connect more than two million Kenyans to electricity by 2025.

• Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC) is partnering with Daystar Power to roll out solar systems as a primary day-time energy source for all its Nigerian factories over the next year. These installations will bring SBC’s total installed solar power capacity to 12MW, making it Nigeria’s largest industrial player using solar energy to power its operations.

10 November 2021: Daystar Power, the leading provider of solar power solutions to West Africa’s industrial manufacturers, announced that it has reached an agreement with SBC to install 10.5MW solar power systems for five of its factories across Nigeria. This will bring SBC’s total installed solar power capacity to 12MW, making it Nigeria’s largest industrial manufacturer to power its operations with solar energy.

In 2021, SBC partnered with Daystar Power (“Daystar”) to design, operate and manage nearly 1.5MW solar power systems at two of its bottling plants. Daystar installed 450kW and 990kW solar systems at SBC’s Kaduna and Kano factories. The rooftop installations consisted respectively of 842 535Wp panels and 1,543 535Wp and 532 310Wp panels. With the two solar power systems, SBC will offset a combined 24,224 MT in CO2 emissions over the installations’ twenty-year lifetime and save up to 40% on its power costs.

Following these two installations, SBC has committed to partnering with Daystar on additional solar power systems at its five factories in Abuja, Lagos (Ikeja), Ibadan, and Ilorin over the next six months. This will bring Seven-Up’s total installed solar power capacity to 12MW across 7 factories. The solar power systems at the factories could provide over 50% of its total daytime power consumption depending on the installation size and amount of sunshine. Current Daystar clients in Lagos have generated up to 86% of total daytime energy needs from solar power.

Both companies are in discussion to roll out solar energy as the primary daytime power source at SBC’s nine sites in Nigeria, making it Nigeria’s largest industrial manufacturer to use solar energy in its operations.

“We’re delighted to deepen our partnership with Daystar Power to install solar power systems for our Nigerian operations. Solar energy is a win-win for us - we can save significantly on our power costs and reduce our carbon emissions,” said Ziad Maalouf, Managing Director of SBC.

“Seven-Up has shown extraordinary leadership in adopting solar energy. They are proof that Nigerian industrial manufacturers can save costs on energy and meet their sustainability requirements,” said Jasper Graf von Hardenberg, CEO and Co-founder of Daystar Power.

“We’re excited about this partnership between Daystar Power co-founders, Jasper Graf von Hardenberg and Christian Wessels who are Endeavor Entrepreneurs, and Faysal El-Khalil, Chairman of Seven-Up Bottling Company, who is a member of the Endeavor Nigeria board. Daystar Power has built a fantastic solution and we were thrilled we have a board member whose company would benefit from using solar energy to power its operations. This partnership clearly illustrates the magic of the Endeavor network and the relevance of fostering lasting relationships,” Tosin Faniro-Dada, Managing Director and CEO, Endeavor Nigeria.

9 November 2021: At COP26, World Resources Institute (WRI), in partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Bloomberg Philanthropies, launched a Solar Investment Action Agenda, which identifies potential high-impact opportunities to rapidly accelerate solar investment and reach ISA’s goal of mobilizing US$1 trillion by 2030.

To meet both climate goals and growing energy needs over the coming decades, the world must rapidly scale investment in solar energy. Scaling solar deployment – by providing access to clean electricity, creating jobs, improving human health, and advancing gender equality – can help countries tackle growing demand for energy and achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

The Action Agenda summarizes policy and risk management actions that can unlock investment by industry, governments and investors—and initiates an examination of the institutional arrangements needed to accelerate solar deployment. It will guide the development of a Solar Investment Roadmap to be released in 2022.

“The time for solar energy is now. Solar makes economic sense for energy access, energy security and climate mitigation,” said Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO, World Resources Institute. “We must ensure that the commitments made by financial institutions, governments and foundations are used to scale up solar and get energy to the people who need it most. The Action Agenda and Roadmap can help us get there. WRI is pleased to work alongside the International Solar Alliance and Bloomberg Philanthropies to accelerate this movement.”

Enormous growth and investment in solar generation capacity will be required to meet global climate and development goals. Solar investment today lags far behind global needs: To get the world where it needs to be, average annual solar investment needs to double through 2050. And today, developing and emerging economies — home to two-thirds of the world’s population — receive only 20% of global renewable energy investment.

“Solar can be capitalized to help lift people out of energy poverty, and drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. Trillions of dollars in investment need to be mobilized and the right policy frameworks need to be put in place,” said Dr. Ajay Mathur, Global Director, International Solar Alliance (ISA.) “The ISA is working towards mobilizing USD 1 trillion of investment for a massive deployment of solar energy technologies and for expanding solar markets. Public and private finance must be equal contributors in mitigating the climate change challenge. ISA’s partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and World Resources Institute to develop the Solar Investment Action Agenda and Solar Investment Roadmap will drive the infrastructure and ecosystem requirements for a zero carbon emission future.”

Scaling solar investment is essential to build just, resilient and climate-safe economies. In addition to helping achieve global climate goals, clean electricity from solar can meet growing demand across a range of end uses, including buildings, transport and agriculture, and next generation solar technologies are critical for enabling the industrial sector to decarbonize. Solar power also diversifies countries’ energy supply, thereby increasing energy security and improving system resilience in the face of challenges like extreme weather. And, critically, it makes economic sense.

"Speeding up investment in solar power is critical to winning the battle against climate change,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “It will also help us deliver energy to the hundreds of millions of people who still lack it without increasing carbon emissions and deadly air pollution. We're glad to be working with the International Solar Alliance and WRI on this roadmap to ramp up solar investment and unlock its benefits. The more we work together, the faster we can turn plans into action."

“The scale of investment needed to fulfill solar’s potential to achieve these benefits is possible to achieve through increased collaboration among public and private sector actors. “A better climate future is within reach provided countries have access to the scale and type of finance needed,” said Mafalda Duarte, CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, among the world's largest multilateral climate funds. “Concessional climate funding is key to overcoming investment barriers and to crowd in other sources of finance. We at the Climate Investment Funds have demonstrated it across sectors and geographies and are launching new initiatives at COP26 to raise the level of ambition.”

Just as critically, there is an urgent need to ensure that committed investments and financing are programmed in time to meet climate goals and in a way that results in an equitable distribution of solar energy to support energy access and security.

“At COP26, it is clearer than ever the world needs to change energy for good to expand access to renewable electricity for those without, create good jobs for people and avert greenhouse gas emissions,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, which we launched last week with $10 billion in committed capital and nearly two dozen public and private sector partners from around the world aims to do just that; and we applaud the International Solar Alliance and WRI‘s new Solar Investment Action Agenda and Roadmap.”

The Action Agenda—and the more detailed Solar Investment Roadmap that will follow in 2022—will help governments and investors expand solar energy for households, electrical utilities and industry. The Roadmap will analyze high-impact opportunities to equitably scale solar investment and deployment; define strategic interventions by policymakers and investors to increase the level and pace of investment; strengthen coalitions of governments, private sector leaders and international financial institutions to optimize opportunities for scaling solar; and help mobilize $1 trillion of solar investment by 2030.

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About World Resources Institute: World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization that spans more than 60 countries, with international offices in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, regional offices in Ethiopia (for Africa) and the Netherlands (for Europe), and program offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Our more than 1,400 experts and staff turn big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. For more information, visit: https://www.wri.org/.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 810 cities and 170 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2020, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.6 billion. For more information, visit: bloomberg.org. 

About International Solar Alliance (ISA): The ISA is a growing international organisation of 80 member countries. ISA supports governments around the world to improve energy access and security by promoting solar energy as a sustainable, affordable and resilient way to transition to a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s vision is to facilitate energy access in every corner of the world by delivering cleaner electricity to all by 2030. ISA’s mission is to unlock USD 1 trillion of investment by 2030 by reducing the cost of the technology and its financing, and increasing the skills of people working in the industry. The ISA will help deliver global relevance, local benefit to all countries through collaborations, with its key interventions focusing on readiness & enabling activities, risk mitigation & innovative financing instruments, which will then facilitate the promotion and deployment of technologies in respective target markets.

About the Climate Investment Funds: The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) was established in 2008 to mobilize resources and trigger investments for low-carbon, climate-resilient development in select low and middle-income countries. 14 contributor countries have pledged up to $10.5 billion to the Funds. To date, committed CIF capital has generated an additional $61 billion in co-financing for mitigation and adaptation interventions at scale in 72 recipient countries. CIF is one of the largest active climate finance mechanisms in the world. For more information, visit: www.climateinvestmentfunds.org.

About Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet: The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched on November 2, 2021 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 USD100 billion in public and private capital in order to reach one billion people with reliable, renewable power, avoid and avert four billion tons of carbon emissions, and create, enable, or support more than 150 million jobs and drive economic growth over the next decade.  The Alliance serves as a platform for collaborative action and provides grant funding, technical assistance, and a range of financing options.  For more information, visit: www.globalenergyalliance.org.

• Delivered by leading advisory firms, the new service will help to bridge the access-to-finance gap for local, earlier stage companies in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

4 November 2021: On the COP26 Energy Day, the European programme GET.invest – supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria – is officially launching the pilot phase of the GET.invest Finance Readiness Support, a new offering to help locally-owned and managed energy access companies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, access finance.

Across market segments, these companies tend to face significant barriers in tapping into funding opportunities, not least due to their track record, size and financing requirements. This is mirrored in global market trends. Investments in the off-grid solar sector have been highly concentrated, with the top 10 recipients of financing receiving 80 percent of the total value of investment in 2020 (GOGLA Off-Grid Solar Investment Trends 2020). This access-to-finance gap is a major roadblock for universal energy access, as 84% of people without access to energy live in rural areas and could benefit from companies with deep distribution roots and knowledge of local customer preferences. Furthermore, small and medium sized companies (SMEs) in emerging markets are widely considered key engines of growth, job creation and economic development.

Building on broad stakeholder consultations as well as the experience of supporting over 200 companies and projects in the sustainable energy sector, GET.invest launches the Finance Readiness Support to complement the advisory portfolio of the GET.invest Finance Catalyst. As such, the new service will target local, earlier stage micro-, small- and medium-sized energy companies and provide hands-on, in-depth business development advisory and coaching along the fundraising journey.

In the words of Michael Franz, Team Leader of GET.invest: “With this new service, GET.invest extends its support of mobilising renewable energy investments to an underserved clientele, who in turn often serves those in greatest need of access to energy. The GET.invest Finance Readiness Support has been built specifically for locally owned and managed businesses aiming for growth but in need of customised, professional advisory to get there. Our new service will support them in getting ready for investment and accessing finance, usually for the first time. Our vision with this is to make a real difference towards reaching SDG7 with diverse and vibrant energy markets.”

The GET.invest Finance Readiness Support will be implemented by eight advisory firms: Catalyst Off-Grid Advisors, Energy 4 Impact, GFA Consulting Group, GreenMax Capital Advisors, Inensus, KPMG, Open Capital and Persistent. In its initial pilot phase, the service will draw on the firms’ networks to support innovative, impactful and scalable companies and projects, based on eligibility criteria developed in collaboration with industry associations.

GET.invest will shape the Finance Readiness Support throughout the pilot phase by working closely with several core partners, including the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), GOGLA, the Global Distributors Collective (GDC), the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) and ENERGIA (Hosted by HIVOS). 

Additionally, GET.invest is collaborating with national renewable energy associations including the

Associação Moçambicana de Energias Renováveis (AMER), Energy Private Developers (EPD), the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) and the Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA). More partners are expected to be mobilised. Via this coalition, lessons learned and knowledge generated will also be shared with the energy access community at large.

“We are glad to see this facility materialise, especially in the aftermath of Covid-19 and its impact on earlier-stage locally-owned enterprises. This service will be crucial to reach our goal of ‘energy access for all’. GET.invest is uniquely positioned to drive this forward given its wide network and partnerships with the industry associations at global and national levels, which can make this approach more holistic and inclusive,” said Sarah Bieber, Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships at Acumen on the occasion of the launch.

Ruchi Soni, Programme Manager, Results-Based Financing at SEforALL, added: “A just and equitable energy transition can only happen with increased investment in local energy access enterprises, including those serving the last mile. The GET.invest Finance Readiness Support will be key in mobilising much needed capital for these companies.”

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About GET.invest: GET.invest is a European programme which supports investments in decentralised renewable energy. The programme targets private sector business and project developers, financiers and regulators to build sustainable energy markets in developing countries. Services include market information, a funding database, matchmaking events and access-to-finance advisory. The programme is supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria, and works closely with initiatives and business associations in the energy sector. The GET.invest Finance Readiness Support is a service of GET.invest. For more information, visit: https://www.get-invest.eu/.

2 November 2021: Today, Husk Power Systems (huskpowersystems.com), the rural clean energy services leader in Africa and Asia, launched its first six solar hybrid minigrids in Nigeria, located in Nasarawa State. It is the first time that a company has rolled out multiple mini-grids at one time under the Nigerian Electrification Project (NEP), an initiative funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank and implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Husk Power established its presence in Nigeria in early 2020, and its Abuja-based team has grown to more than 40 staff, with more than 50 part-time hires in the communities that Husk serves. With strong local leadership, Husk forecasts a fleet of more than 100 minigrids in Nigeria within the next 24 months, growing to 500 minigrids by 2026. It also plans to expand to several other Nigeria states before the end of 2023.

In Nasarawa, the newly launched minigrids will provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity to about 5,000 households and 500 businesses in Doma and Lafia Local Government Areas (LGAs). The six communities accessing electricity for the first time are Rukubi, Idadu and Igbabo in Doma LGA, and Kiguna, Akura, and Gidan Buba in Lafia LGA.

“Nigeria’s leadership in rural electrification and making minigrids a centerpiece of national energy strategy is a global best practice,” said Manoj Sinha, Husk co-founder and CEO. “Husk Power is proud to be contributing to the government’s vision of public-private partnership to provide clean, quality, reliable electricity that powers economic opportunity for small businesses and households across the country.”

In September, Husk received financial support from Nigeria’s REA to develop seven hybrid solar minigrids in Nasarawa, as part of the NEP’s performance-based grant program. The seventh site will come online in 2022 along with a larger pipeline of projects. Besides providing electricity to the local Doma and Lafia households and businesses, the minigrids will also support local agricultural activities such as milling, cold chain and irrigation.

Quote from His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State: 

“The completion of six minigrids by Husk Power Systems in Nasarawa State is an important step in scaling rural electrification and achieving energy access for all Nigerians. It is with great pride that Nasarawa State has collaborated with Husk Power, the world’s leading rural clean energy services company, and the Federal Government through the Rural Electrification Agency to implement these impressive projects, which will ensure clean, safe and reliable electricity for the communities in Rukubi, Idadu, Igbabo, Kiguna, Akura and Gidan Buba.”

Quote from Ashish Khanna, Acting Regional Director for Infrastructure, Africa West and Africa East; Practice Manager, West and Central Africa Energy: 

“The World Bank is a proud partner of the Government’s Nigeria Electrification Program (NEP). It is 2 years ago that the first solar minigrid was commissioned under NEP at Rokota village, since then significant progress has been made with 359 private sector led solar minigrid projects under development with the potential to provide electricity to 1.1 million people. Husk Power is now showing the way in scaling, with the first ever deployment of 6 sites simultaneously under the program, contributing to their ambition to roll-out 500 systems by 2026. We look forward to jointly continue to move the needle in providing electricity to the 80 million people who don’t have access to this today. ”

Besides its core minigrid business, Husk’s local entity Husk Power Systems Nigeria Limited, also installs turnkey rooftop solar for off-grid and weak-grid commercial and industrial (C&I) customers as well as providing energy efficient appliances and equipment for both households and businesses.

Husk is the international leader in community solar minigrids with over 130 sites operating in India, Nigeria and Tanzania. It ended 2020 with more than 5,000 small business customers.

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About Husk Power Systems: Founded in 2008, Husk Power Systems is the leading rural clean energy services company. Its smart and sustainable solutions accelerate access to clean, modern and affordable electricity in Africa and Asia and catalyze socio-economic development. Husk’s customer-centric culture also matches the growing needs of households, businesses, and public institutions, while its grid-integratable solution supports national electrification plans. For more information, visit: huskpowersystems.com.

29 October 2021: New analysis reveals $1.2 trillion investment opportunity over the next 10 years can be realised by building productive market demand for off-grid renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa needs energy for development and the socio-economic transformation of hundreds of millions of people. Increasing the productive use of energy (PUE) is an important way to unlock jobs, create incomes and deliver social impacts in local communities. Two reports released today by the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) Programme outline the business case for investment into productive equipment and appliances and the scale of the investment opportunity that exists.     

PREO is funded by the IKEA Foundation and UK aid, via the Transforming Energy Access platform and delivered by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact. The programme enables African businesses to harness clean energy to improve incomes, build climate resilience and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To date it has funded 23 private sector and non-profit enterprises that demonstrate the business and impact case of PUE in multiple sectors. PUE refers to the type of energy demand that generates revenue, increases productivity, enhances diversity, and creates economic value.

The PUE market opportunity in sub-Saharan Africa is significant. The Capital Required to Maximise the Productive Use of Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa report details new analysis that estimates $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years (or $120 billion per year) is required to ensure the necessary level of productive and revenue generating demand is created to improve the economics of off-grid renewable energy. This is significantly larger than the estimated $40 billion required annually to achieve global universal energy access on the same timeline, the report says.      

The business case for investment is backed by results as PREO releases the first impacts from the projects being supported via the programme. The Power of the Productive Use of Energy – an Impact Investment Frontier; details outcomes from six pilot projects (in e-mobility and transport, cooling for food and healthcare).

PREO funding has enabled the businesses it supports in sub-Saharan Africa to demonstrate business model viability while gathering critical business information and securing commercial scale-up capital. Each of the projects uses PUE appliances or equipment to create business opportunities and grow local economies, while providing essential services in agriculture, e-mobility transport, and healthcare.

In e-mobility, PREO has demonstrated viable payback for investment over a little more than two years through a daily leasing model of e-motorbikes. Moreover, the projects have created jobs, created opportunities for women, boosted local production capacity, and created supply chain opportunities. Emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels in conventional internal combustion engine motorbikes have also been avoided while running and service costs have come down by 68% and 33% respectively.

Cooling for food companies supported through PREO have shown that off-grid cold storage directly aggregates smallholder farmers and achieves breakeven at a 72% utilisation rate. The cooling units reduce agricultural waste by a third, and client farmers typically pocket 20% more for their produce when using the service. Over six months, client farmers sold 2 550kg more produce, resulting in $11 460 additional income.

In primary healthcare, companies supported by PREO show that by adopting solar, facility downtime can be minimised by as much as 40%, and revenues improved by up to 20% through serving more patients and introducing electricity-powered medical devices and other healthcare services. Investment will attract capital for more off-grid implementation and is a model that may be applied elsewhere.

“Stimulating greater demand for renewable energy and boosting investment in productive use equipment and applications is a critical way to support business opportunities, grow local economies and create jobs in sub-Saharan Africa,” Jon Lane, Associate Director at the Carbon Trust says. “However, traditional forms of investment in energy access often fall short of bridging the gap between the high cost of supplying renewable energy to off-grid communities and building consistent and reliable demand from businesses or households. We hope the release of these reports not only highlights the scale of the investment opportunity available, but also confirms the economics and social benefits that can be delivered.”

PREO is funded by the IKEA Foundation and UK aid via the Transforming Energy Access platform, and delivered by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact.

Please click on these links to watch short videos about three PREO pilot projects: Opibus, SokoFresh and Access Afya.

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About PREO: The Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) Programme stimulates renewable energy demand in Africa by providing high-risk grant capital, technical assistance and knowledge dissemination services to a portfolio of companies in a range of sectors. In this way it creates sustainable jobs and reduces poverty through economic growth and empowering women. It is supported by the IKEA Foundation and UK aid, and delivered by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact. For more information, visit: www.PREO.org/.

26 October 2021: The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), together with the United Nations System in Madagascar (UNDP, UNIDO and UNCDF), Joint SDG Fund and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), organised the Madagascar Rural Electrification Forum (FERM), which took place virtually on 20-21 October 2021. The two-day event was also supported by the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons (MEH), Rural Electrification Development Agency (ADER), Electricity Regulation Office (ORE) and Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM). 

The Forum brought together almost 300 stakeholders from the DRE sector, including private and public sector representatives such as the Government of Madagascar, investors, project developers and technology providers. FERM showcased the potential of the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) market in Madagascar and connected key financial and technical players to do business. 

David Lecoque, CEO of ARE said: “We are honoured to organise the first ever Madagascar Rural Electrification Forum and bring together public and private sector actors to help drive rural electrification efforts in Madagascar. We believe that these fruitful discussions will help turbocharge the DRE market in Madagascar and contribute to the massive and rapid deployment of DRE across the country.” 

Sambatra Ramiandrasoa, Director General of Energy & Hydrocarbons of MEH stated that: “Together, we will work hard to bring electricity to every rural, remote and landlocked area of the country. Several projects should be implemented to achieve such ambitions. That is why we have organised this forum to discuss how to effectively achieve the set objectives in a B2B format." 

Issa Sanogo, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Madagascar underlined that: “The UN System supports the Madagascar Government and other stakeholders in the promotion and development of a green economy to support sustainable and inclusive development. The UN System supports actions for a better electrification of rural areas while promoting renewable energies because these discussions allow not only the strengthening of mechanisms of adaptation and mitigation to climate change but also so we do not leave aside the populations in these areas." 

The discussions demonstrated that DRE technologies were fundamental in harnessing the vast renewable energy potential, delivering vast socio-economic benefits and increasing energy autonomy and diversification in Madagascar, thereby enabling energy access for all. In addition, FERM provided an important opportunity to shed light on how investors can contribute to furthering electrification rates in Madagascar.

Christoph Feldkötter, Country Director of GIZ Madagascar stated that: “This forum is truly an exceptional opportunity for Madagascar to present its renewable energy potential to investors and to contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in the General State Program. It is also an opportunity to contribute to the mitigation of climate change. We are convinced that this dialogue will contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the population in rural areas!” 

FERM opened with an overview of the current state of the DRE market in Madagascar. This session outlined that it was important to acknowledge the economic role of DRE and it was vital to grasp this enormous potential, particularly in the most vulnerable areas of Madagascar.

The high-level discussions and debates attracted many key actors from the public and private sector including ARE Members ABC Contracting, Africa GreenTec, ADEME, ANKA Madagascar, Asantys Systems, atmosfair, BAE Batterien, Benoo, ENERSOL, ENGIE Energy Access, Faber, Gommyr Power, NRECA International, Phaesun, Rutten NES, Solar23, Studer Innotec, Tanatech, Upya, Voltalia and Zimpertec.

The second day brought together DRE technology providers and private and public sector investors to highlight the types of financial instruments available to stimulate rural electrification efforts in Madagascar. Practitioners on the ground also had the chance to present their Malagasy projects and technical solutions for mini-grids and stand-alone renewable energy systems.

Lastly, ARE facilitated approximately 150 virtual matchmaking sessions, enabling investors, technology providers, project developers, as well as other innovators in the sector to connect.

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The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) is an international business association with the aim to promote a sustainable decentralised renewable energy industry for the 21st century, activating markets for affordable energy services, and creating local jobs and inclusive economies. ARE enables improved energy access through business development support for more than 185 Members along the whole value chain for off-grid technologies.

For 50 years, the UNDP has been the development agency of the United Nations System which has contributed to the promotion of good governance, the eradication of poverty and the significant reduction of all forms of inequality and exclusion in the world. UNDP is present in nearly 170 countries and territories. In Madagascar, UNDP supports Malagasy institutions and communities in promoting good governance, while supporting the transition to sustainable development in which economic growth benefits everyone and where irreversible damage to the environment is avoided. To do this, UNDP provides efficient and equitable services to citizens, especially poor and marginalized groups, and supports democratic and governance institutions to be more inclusive, transparent and efficient.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been working in Madagascar on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 1982. It also undertakes commissions for the European Union. The GIZ country office has been based in Antananarivo for over 35 years. GIZ is assisting the Malagasy Government and the private sector in improving general conditions for public and private investment in order to promote expansion of the country’s energy supply. A new energy policy and an energy act have been adopted, providing legal certainty for private companies investing in renewable energy.

The Joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund is an innovative instrument to incentivise the transformative policy shifts and stimulate the strategic investments required to get the world back on track to meet the SDGs. The UN Secretary-General sees the Joint SDG Fund as a key part of the reform of the UN’s development work by providing the “muscle” for a new generation of Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) to really accelerate SDG implementation.

The agencies of the United Nations System have been operational in Madagascar and work in collaboration with the Government, the private sector and civil society in the social, economic and humanitarian fields. The main activities of the United Nations System in Madagascar revolve around three axes: the promotion of human rights, peace and security and development. Actions and advocacy in favor of theSDGs are a priority. The agencies work in close collaboration with the State to achieve the SDGs and to implement the country's National Development Plan.

UNIDO is the specialised agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States.

The UNCDF makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

• USD 1.25m loan from REPP also marks UK-government funded programme’s first investment in a majority women-led company.

21 October 2021: A ground-breaking solar mini-grid project is delivering far-reaching health and socio-economic benefits in rural Sierra Leone following a USD 1.25m loan from REPP, funded by the UK government.

The “Moyamba” project is being developed by Energicity (SL) Limited (“Energicity”) after the company won a concession to build and/or upgrade and operate 32 mini-grid sites from Sierra Leone’s Rural Renewable Electrification Project, which was conceived in the wake of the 2014 Ebola crisis to support the country’s struggling health care system.

A significant part of the Moyamba project targets increasing the system’s capacity and strengthening its resilience to climate change via direct connection to hospitals and clinics. As part of the agreement with the government, Energicity’s project company is required to provide a minimum daily amount of power to community health centres free of charge.

As well as supporting health care, all 32 mini-grids are suitable for productive uses of energy, such as milling and grinding, thus providing income-generating opportunities for local businesses and direct job opportunities for communities. Energicity, a subsidiary of majority women-led Energicity Corporation, is also developing “behind the meter” relationships with customers, providing value-added services such as leasing freezers and electric motors.

REPP’s loan will now enable the completion of the project and provide funding for the operation of all 32 sites which are situated in Sierra Leone’s Port Loko, Kambia, Karene and Moyamba districts. Once completed, the mini-grid portfolio will provide first-time access to electricity to nearly 80,000 people, directly supporting Sierra Leone’s national electrification target of 92% by 2030. The sites will also add a combined 1.3MW of renewable energy capacity and avoid over 2,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Nicole Poindexter, CEO and Founder of Energicity Corporation, said: “With the support of REPP’s USD 1.25 million loan, the project is not only providing a source of reliable power to the districts’ under-pressure health clinics, but once completed will have connected almost 80,000 local people and small businesses to electricity for the first time. These people include Kadiatu Maseray, who with affordable and reliable electricity has increased the profits of her cold drinks business by 300% and the Conakry Dee Junior School, which has seen a 25% increase in attendance and a 235% increase in students passing since being connected to its local mini-grid.

“We are grateful for the REPP team’s commitment to helping us achieve our vision of providing affordable, reliable, scalable electricity so that families and communities can thrive.”

Geoff Sinclair, Managing Director of REPP’s investment manager, Camco Clean Energy, said: ”The Ebola outbreak in 2014 had a devastating impact on Sierra Leone, and put an overwhelming demand on the country’s healthcare system. The ongoing success of the Moyamba project is a sign of a country on the mend and proof of how renewable energy initiatives present a viable investment decision for external investors.

“From the start, Moyamba has been designed to have the widest positive impact on people, not just through providing free power to hospitals and clinics, but by delivering a sufficiently high service quality so as to promote the productive use of electricity, as well as providing households with a clean, healthy and more affordable alternative to kerosene.”

By having 60% female representation in Energicity (SL) Limited’s senior management team, the Moyamba project meets the 2X Challenge’s criteria for gender lens investment. This means that of all REPP’s current investments, 53% now meet this widely regarded criteria for supporting gender equality.

 “In its role as REPP’s investment manager, Camco is committed to increasing the role of women in the sector,” said Sinclair. “Unfortunately, women-led businesses remain a rare entity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s renewable energy space, and so being able to support Moyamba as a majority women-managed project is a particular highlight.”

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About REPP: The Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP) works to mobilise private sector development activity – and investment – in small to medium-sized projects (typically up to 25MW). It is supported with £148m funding from the UK’s International Climate Finance through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and to date, has agreed contracts with 30 renewable energy projects across 16 countries, employing six different technologies, from SHS and PV mini-grids to biomass and run-of-river hydro. For more information, visit: www.repp.energy.

About Camco Clean Energy: Camco Clean Energy is a specialist fund manager focused on renewable energy, climate finance and impact in emerging markets. We offer elegant and practical financing solutions to lead the clean energy transition, pairing the conscience of a development bank with the agility of a small 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 Accra, Helsinki, Johannesburg, London, Nairobi and Toronto. For more information, visit: www.camco.energy.

About the UK’s International Climate Finance: UK International Climate Finance (ICF) is the UK’s primary international instrument to help deliver on our commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. It is one of the vital tools we are deploying to tackle climate change internationally and help us secure successful outcomes at the COP26 negotiations.

The UK’s ICF helps developing countries mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, reduce deforestation and pursue clean economic growth. The ICF is focused on driving transformation in line with the scale of action required to tackle climate change. For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-climate-finance.

About Energicity Corporation: Energicity Corporation is a developer and operator of solar-powered mini-grid utilities in West Africa.  Energicity has won concessions in Sierra Leone (Power Leone) and Benin (Weziza Benin) that will serve over 120,000 people in the two countries. The company’s innovative deployment models enabling affordable, reliable, scalable electricity were hailed by TechCrunch in 2020 as Africa’s Utility of the Future.  Founded in 2015 by Nicole Poindexter and co-founded by solar engineer Joseph Philip, the company’s investors include Treehouse Investments and the flagship investment of  Ecosystem Integrity Fund’s Fund IV. For more information, visit: http://energicitycorp.com/home/.

18 October 2021: d.light, a leading innovator of solar, lighting and sustainable products, announced today that it had raised USD 15 million of equity financing from existing investors, led by Inspired Evolution. This latest round of funding, in addition to the USD $10 million raised recently from Proparco in May, brings the total to USD 25 million raised this year by the company, underscoring the confidence investors have in the industry and d.light despite the pandemic. This capital raise will bolster the company’s plans to continue growing its PayGo consumer finance business in key markets across Africa.

“We are grateful for the continued support of our investors during these uncertain times. Thanks to our focus on financial discipline and operational excellence, d.light minimised the pandemic’s impact to our business. We are now in a strong position to accelerate our plans to expand our Pay-Go operations and enter new product categories and markets in the near future,” said d.light co-founder and CEO Ned Tozun.

Inspired Evolution led the USD 15 million round, supported by Evolution II, Shell New Energies, FMO, Norfund, Swedfund, and KawiSafi Ventures. On the investment, Wayne Keast, Co-Managing Partner of Inspired Evolution said, “We are pleased to support the company with additional capital for growth and to secure the support from many of the existing shareholders during these difficult Covid-19 times.”

After reaching its founding goal of impacting 100 million lives by 2020, d.light has embarked on another ambitious journey to impact 1 billion lives by 2030 with transformative products. The company provides customers with a broad portfolio of sustainable solutions, ranging from portable solar lanterns to financed solar home systems and related aspirational products, such as smartphones and televisions. d.light’s award-winning products are sold through over 30,000 outlets.