5 February 2021: The World Bank approved $500 million to support the government of Nigeria in improving its electricity distribution sector. The project will help boost electricity access by improving the performance of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) through a large-scale metering program desired by Nigerians for a long time. In addition, financial support would be provided to private distribution companies only on achievement of results in terms of access connections, improved financial management and network expansion. 

85 million Nigerians don’t have access to grid electricity. This represents 43% percent of the country’s population and makes Nigeria the country with the largest energy access deficit in the world. The lack of reliable power is a significant constraint for citizens and businesses, resulting on annual economic losses estimated at $26.2 billion (₦10.1 trillion) which is equivalent to about 2 percent of GDP. According to the 2020 World Bank Doing Business report, Nigeria ranks 171 out of 190 countries in getting electricity and electricity access is seen as one of the major constraints for the private sector.

“Improving access and reliability of power is key to reduce poverty and unlocking economic growth in the aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” says Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director. “The operation will help improve the financial viability of the DISCOs and increase revenues for the whole Nigerian power sector, which is critical to save scarce fiscal resources and create jobs by increasing the productivity of private and public enterprises”.

The Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) will help improve service quality, as well as the financial and technical performance of distribution companies by providing financing based on performance and reduction of losses. This project complements the support provided under the Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO) approved in June 2020. Specifically, it will ensure that distribution companies make necessary investments to rehabilitate networks, install electric meters for more accurate customer billing and to improve quality of service for those already connected to the grid. It will also help strengthen the financial and technical management of DISCOs to improve the transparency and accountability of the distribution sector.  

“The program will only be eligible to those DISCOs that transparently declare their performance reports to public with actual flow of funds based on strict verification of achieved performance targets by an independent third party. The program would also make meters available at affordable prices to all consumers in Nigeria, a long pending demand of Nigerians,” says Nataliya Kulichenko, World Bank task team leader for the project.

The program will reduce the CO2 emissions of the Nigerian power sector by reducing technical losses, increasing energy efficiency, replacing diesel and biomass with grid-electricity, and investing more in on- and off-grid renewable energy.  DISREP supports the development of regulatory guidance on climate-resilient infrastructure and facilitates inclusion of climate risks in decision making.

4 February 2021: Bboxx, a next generation utility, is partnering with Trafigura, one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading companies, to accelerate progress on meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (UN SDG 7) – clean energy for all – in Africa.

Bboxx manufactures, distributes and finances decentralised solar powered systems in developing countries, operating across Africa and Asia, and in the ten years since Bboxx was founded, it has positively impacted over one million people through clean energy. Trafigura’s minority equity investment comes as Bboxx embarks on the next phase of its growth and accelerates its clean cooking commitments – a key part of tackling energy poverty and meeting UN SDG 7.

Inaction on the clean cooking crisis is costing the world over $2.4 trillion each year*. The use of charcoal and wood result in significant emissions of greenhouse gases and black soot, as well as deforestation. The lack of modern cooking solutions also has negative health and gender equality consequences, and results in lost economic opportunities. Access to modern clean cooking services using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is significantly cleaner and a vital step in the energy transition to low and zero-carbon sources.

This landmark agreement brings together complementary expertise to fast-track progress on clean cooking access in Africa. Bboxx’s innovative Internet of Things (IoT) technology and experience from its established Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Solar Home Systems business, are all needed to deliver clean cooking in a scalable and distributed model. Bboxx has been applying this expertise to PAYG LPG clean cooking through pilots in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Kenya. It has been ramping up efforts in the DRC after receiving funding from USAID to roll out a PAYG LPG clean cooking access programme.

As a global leader in LPG, Trafigura will play a major role in the future supply growth of LPG across Africa. Trafigura has recently set targets to reduce its operational greenhouse gas emissions and is committed to accelerating the energy transition through its Power and Renewables division, which is investing in renewable energy projects and building a portfolio of investments in innovative renewable technology firms.

Mansoor Hamayun, CEO and Co-Founder of Bboxx commented: “We are committed to tackling energy poverty in all its forms – and it is unacceptable that in 2021 billions of people still live without access to clean cooking facilities. The world is still a long way off meeting UN SDG 7 – clean energy for all – and by forging partnerships and working with major global firms like Trafigura, we can turbocharge progress to unlock potential and transform even more lives for the better.”

James Josling, Head of Africa Energy Trading for Trafigura said: “Trafigura’s investment in Bboxx forms part of our strategy to continue to develop markets for LPG as a lower carbon fuel for clean cooking. Bboxx’s innovative business models and proven expertise in providing renewable energy services make it an ideal company to collaborate with and an attractive investment for Trafigura.”

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

So far, Bboxx has deployed more than 350,000 solar home systems. Bboxx has over 800 staff across nine offices including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Togo, with its head office in the UK and its manufacturing operations in China. In 2019, Bboxx was the winner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Energy category – testament to the way the company is making a meaningful difference to people’s lives around the world.

About Trafigura: Founded in 1993, Trafigura is one of the largest physical commodities trading groups in the world. Trafigura sources, stores, transports and delivers a range of raw materials (including oil and refined products and metals and minerals) to clients around the world and has recently established a power and renewables trading division.

The trading business is supported by industrial and financial assets, including a majority ownership of global zinc and lead producer Nyrstar which has mining, smelting and other operations located in Europe, Americas and Australia; a significant shareholding in global oil products storage and distribution company Puma Energy; global terminals, warehousing and logistics operator Impala Terminals; Trafigura’s Mining Group; and Galena Asset Management.With circa 850 shareholders, Trafigura is owned by its employees.

Over 8,500 employees work in 48 countries around the world. Trafigura has achieved substantial growth over recent years, growing revenue from USD12 billion in 2003 to USD147 billion in 2020. The Group has been connecting its customers to the global economy for more than two decades, growing prosperity by advancing trade. For more information visit: www.trafigura.com.

Part of Foundation’s Billion-Dollar Global Commitment to Ending the Pandemic and Providing Sustainable Pathways out of Poverty

3 February 2021: The Rockefeller Foundation announces an initial USD 34.95 million to ensure more equitable access to Covid-19 testing and vaccines; leverage innovation, data, machine-learning; combat the escalating food crisis; and scale up access to renewable energy in Africa. Collaborating with 24 organizations, businesses, and government agencies, this pan-African effort will also focus on 10 countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The announcement comes 100 days after the Foundation’s landmark commitment of USD 1 billion over three years to help end the Covid-19 pandemic and drive a more inclusive and sustainable global recovery. 

“Since The Rockefeller Foundation first opened its Africa Regional Office in Nairobi in 1966, the region has remained a top priority for us,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “With this initial round of funding, we are beginning to deliver on our billion-dollar pledge to help end the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa and for us all, while investing in wealth-building opportunities for those who have been shut out of economic progress and are bearing the brunt of this pandemic.” 

“We are very pleased to be committing over USD 30 million to ensure a sustainable, equitable Covid-19 response in Africa,” William Asiko, Managing Director and Head of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office. “A significant portion of this funding will benefit the Africa CDC’s effort to accelerate testing and tracing in several countries across the continent. These efforts will allow Governments at national and subnational levels to make informed policy decisions about lifting restrictions on movement and thereby re-opening economic activity.” 

Closing the Health Inequity Gap – Covid-19 Testing, Innovation, and Investment:

The largest portion of the pan-African commitment goes to the Africa Public Health Foundation to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC). Announced last week in the lead up to the Agency’s fourth anniversary, the Foundation provided a USD 12 million grant to expand the geographic availability of testing centers to both urban and rural areas as well as strengthen community level tracing efforts, and enhance data infrastructure through the Africa CDC’s Partnership to Accelerate Covid-19 Testing (PACT).  

In addition to PACT, the Foundation is supporting a range of organizations working all across the continent, including:

• Ending Pandemics to scale the crowdsourced epidemic intelligence platform, EpiCore, and support EAIDSNet in Tanzania to improve their abilities to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks through a One Health approach; 
• Lacuna Fund, a project of Meridian Institute, awarded funding to six teams across the continent to build locally representative datasets to reduce bias in machine learning tools for agriculture analytics, fuelling an equitable recovery for farmers;  
• Malaria No More to establish a guarantee facility through The Health Finance Coalition to unlock working capital for private small and medium size healthcare providers in Africa; 
• Praekelt.org to launch an initiative to integrate Ada‘s AI-powered health assessments into the South African National Department of Health’s MomConnect platform with potential to provide over 1 million mothers and young children across South Africa with access to intelligent healthcare technology; 
• Shining Hope for Communities to expand Covid-19 testing and tracing efforts in Kenyan Informal Settlements because Covid-19 poses even greater risks to those living in densely populated communities with less access to healthcare and sanitation services; 
• Speak Up Africa to encourage and promote positive social behavior change to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

Collaborating to Combat the Covid-19 Crisis and Unlock Access to Opportunity:

Covid-19 has deepened food insecurity and hunger across the world and in Africa. The World Food Programme estimates that hunger has doubled as a result of the pandemic, leaving more than 270 million people without enough to eat. The Rockefeller Foundation’s efforts focus on responding to the urgency of the Covid-19-triggered food crises while advancing more sustainable, nourishing, and equitable food systems across Africa. Through The Rockefeller Foundation Catalytic Capital (RFCC), the Foundation’s new public charity, USD 5 million will support the structuring and implementation of an accelerator to power agriculture and protective foods SMEs. As the second RFCC venture overall, and first one in Africa, the Accelerator is expected to provide technical and financial support to small- and medium-sized enterprises addressing the issues of availability, equitable access, and affordability for protective, healthy foods among poor and underserved communities on the continent.  

To build food systems across Africa that are equipped to nourish people and sustain the planet’s resources, The Foundation is supporting organizations like:

• African Population and Health Research Center for developing an action plan to transition Nairobi’s food system to be more nourishing and sustainable by the year 2050 as part of the Food System Vision Prize; 
• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa to strengthen food systems data and information generation while developing a platform to help governments better coordinate strategic responses to African food security; 
• Darkpore Media Africa for outlining a multi-faceted plan to build a more regenerative and nourishing food system in southwest Nigeria as part of the Food System Vision Prize; 
• Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises with the resources to sustain access to nutritious foods during the Covid-19 pandemic; 
• International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to support researchers and stakeholders in East Africa to build more equitable and sustainable food systems while promoting healthy diets; 
• Seed Systems Group to extend the benefits of improved seed and other technologies in order to create resilient, smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa; 
• Vanguard Economics to increase the consumption of nutritious whole grains in vulnerable communities through safety net programs reaching more than three million students at schools in Rwanda.

To address the growing food crisis in Kenya in particular, The Foundation is collaborating with: 

• D-Implement to carry out a market assessment for the insect-based feed sector to support transition towards sustainable feed for protective foods such as fish and chickens; 
• Eastern Africa Grain Council to develop and demonstrate a smart market concept for the future that increases access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food; 
• Farm Shop to use its franchise model to design and implement sustainable farmer aggregation centers in Kenya to support smallholder farmers and increase the availability of protective foods; 
• Retail Trade Association of Kenya to develop a road map for the implementation of food safety standards for fresh produce. 

For much of the world’s poor, a key impediment to their entry into a modern economy is a lack of access to reliable electricity. More than 75% of people without access to electricity today live in sub-Saharan Africa, and the pandemic has caused energy access rates to decrease here for the first time since 2013. In addition, barely a quarter of healthcare facilities have access to reliable power. Unlike traditional approaches to electrification, which has done little to expand access for the hundreds of millions of people in rural and peri-urban areas without power, the Foundation is investing in distributed renewable energy (DRE), which is local and inclusive.  

DRE creates local jobs and drives economic inclusion and new opportunities in education, healthcare, agriculture, and small business. In support of these efforts, the Foundation is working with:

• Power for All and partners to build national coalitions and awareness to advance healthcare electrification with DRE in Zambia and Burkina Faso to start, with plans to expand to other priority countries; 
• Odyssey Energy Solutions, and FactorE, alongside The Shell Foundation, to cut the cost of DRE and electrify health centers across the continent; 
• CrossBoundary for a mini-grid learning lab that is focused on gathering and analyzing data to expedite the expansion of DRE projects in Africa;  
• Konexa, to launch its integrated electricity distribution platform in Nigeria, which will also serve as a model for utilities across Africa to accelerate access to affordable and reliable power; 
• Sustainable Energy for All to catalyze electricity connections by mini-grids in Africa through a new results-based financing facility, the Universal Energy Facility.

The Rockefeller Foundation’s Commitment to Reimagining the Future:

This is a time of tremendous economic, technological, and social change. An estimated 435 million people have been pushed deeper into poverty during the pandemic, and climate change is threatening decades of global progress. The Rockefeller Foundation’s catalytic USD 1 billion investment to reduce energy poverty and fight the Covid-19 pandemic reaffirms its commitment to building a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future to enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. As part of the Foundation’s goal to align its internal investment strategy and external values and mission, in December 2020 it announced a commitment to divest its own USD 5 billion endowment from existing fossil fuel interests while refraining from future fossil fuel investments.

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About The Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation advances new frontiers of science, data, and innovation to solve global challenges related to health, food, power, and economic mobility. As a science-driven philanthropy focused on building collaborative relationships with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation seeks to inspire and foster large-scale human impact that promotes the well-being of humanity throughout the world by identifying and accelerating breakthrough solutions, ideas, and conversations. For more information visit: rockefellerfoundation.org.

29 January 2021: Namene Solar’s carbon credits will finance solar lights to serve every household without grid access across the entire country with Namibia’s first Gold Standard project.

Namene Solar today announced their latest carbon offsetting project in Namibia, certified by Gold Standard. It’s the first project in Namibia to receive the certification. It will see climate finance subsidise the sale of the company’s award-winning solar lights to rural homes and informal settlements across the country.

Currently just over 3% of Namibia’s population use solar to light their homes. Many people living off-grid in rural and peri-urban areas rely on paraffin candles and kerosene lamps for lighting. This is costly and harmful to health as well as contributing large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. They are also a leading cause of fires, which are a major issue in Namibia’s informal settlements.

Truly affordable solar light

Namene Solar’s project uses climate finance to replace fossil fuel-based lighting with renewable solar lights that provide clean, safe light at a truly affordable price, for the first  time.

Namene Solar’s Managing Director Patrick Lagrange said:

“We’re delighted to receive this certification and now look to rapidly scale the deployment of our lights nationwide across Namibia. By unlocking the carbon value of a solar light we can provide clean, affordable light for customers living off-grid and in informal settlements. Climate finance schemes like Namene Solar’s are vital to cut carbon emissions and reach the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Our solar lights compensate for carbon emissions, eliminate harmful fuels and improve education and economic outcomes for households.”

Across Namibia 652,000 solar lights will be distributed, avoiding 252,000t CO2 and benefitting 1.2 million people. On average households save $522 by cutting out the purchase of kerosene for lamps. This is Namene Solar’s second Gold Standard project, following the certification of the Zambia project in December 2020.

Solar light SDG impacts

The project directly contributes to several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG1: no poverty; SDG7: universal clean energy and SDG13 climate action. The solar lights also have multiple, immediate benefits for users which include improving education outcomes and reducing health risks and fire hazards associated with kerosene lamps. Namibia is the second country added to the company’s solar light carbon credit programmes which cover a number of Sub-Saharan African countries that together have a significant impact on global carbon emissions. 

28 January 2021: The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a $50 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to improve access to electricity in Sierra Leone and enhance institutional capacity and commercial management of the sector. The project will also be co-financed with a $2.7 million grant by the Japan Policy and Human Resources Development Fund.

The Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access project will support the country’s post COVID-19 economic recovery by providing electricity to households, businesses, health clinics and schools, which is a critical part of the recovery process. It also supports the replacement of costly fuel generation plants with low cost power, which would free up scarce fiscal resources for other urgent socio-economic needs. This project will provide electricity to approximately 276,000 people and about 700 health facilities and schools and help cut an average of 15,135 tons Greenhouse Gas emissions per year.

Only 23% of Sierra Leonean have access to electricity, which is below the Sub-Saharan average of 30%. The gap in infrastructure is not only impacting people’s welfare and ability to access services, it is also severely impeding on competitiveness, job creation and poverty reduction. Private companies mention inadequate electricity provision as a major cause for high costs, disrupted production, and reduced profitability.

“Improving access to electricity in Sierra Leone is a critical development accelerator. This project will help address the country’s key infrastructure deficits, which is one of the most fundamental elements for promoting sustainable growth and job creation in the COVID-19 recovery,” said Gayle Martin, World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone. “More efforts are needed to improve the sector’s efficiency, as well as its overall financial sustainability. In addition to financing, the World Bank is also supporting a robust analytic and knowledge agenda.”

The Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access project is aligned with the outcomes of the multi-stakeholder energy sector roundtable held in October 2019 and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority turnaround roundtable in November 2019 where the Government and donor partners were in consensus on the sector’s priorities.

26 January 2021: A new report from Efficiency for Access shows promising improvements in the performance and cost of off-grid appropriate appliances, particularly televisions and fans.

The 2021 Appliance Data Trends report finds near-to-market products are significantly more energy-efficient and affordable than they were five years ago. Televisions are 48% more efficient and 44% cheaper than 2016 models, despite increases in screen size. Similarly, fans are 49% more efficient than models assessed two years ago, with some models 2-3 times more efficient than conventional models sold in Europe.

Improving the performance and affordability of off-grid appliances and equipment can help make critical income-generating and time-saving devices more accessible to consumers in developing economies. A typical household in sub-Saharan Africa owns 2-5 appliances, compared to the 30+ appliances found in a typical European or North American household. Achieving greater parity in appliance ownership could enable households and businesses in developing countries to realise significant productivity and quality of life improvements.

While near-to-market appliances show clear signs of improvement, further advancements in performance and cost are needed to scale the market for emerging technologies. Refrigerators and solar water pumps have gained market traction in recent years, but remain out of reach for most consumers. According to the report, the average cost of a refrigerator or solar water pump is 3-5 times higher than 50% of off-grid consumers’ annual budget for energy and appliances.

“Understanding where the energy efficiency and pricing gaps are in emerging product classes is critical to unlocking the full potential of solar”, says Elisa Lai, Manager of Appliance Testing and Quality Assurance for the Low-Energy Inclusive Appliances Programme (LEIA). “Market actors rely on our independent testing data to improve product performance and identify investment opportunities capable of delivering the greatest impact.”

However, efficiency improvements alone may not be sufficient to drive down high appliance prices, the report finds. “The 2021 Appliance Data Trends report demonstrates the positive impact that Efficiency for Access programs have had in spurring innovations that drive cost and efficiency improvements”, says Jenny Corry Smith, Manager of the LEIA Programme. “However, sales and market penetration for these appliances are still low. Less than 4% of rural Africans own a refrigerator and less than 1% of all irrigation systems installed in India are solar-powered.”

Addressing high taxes, duties, and costs along the value chain and expanding consumer financing may help make larger appliances more accessible to consumers. However, larger interventions are also needed. “To further improve affordability whilst maintaining efficiency and high performance of appliances, we need to consider enabling factors such as interoperability, quality assurance and the use of higher-efficiency permanent magnet motors”, says Makena Ireri, Research Manager for LEIA. “Efficiency for Access is conducting more exploratory research on these topics to support the growth of appliance markets in-tandem with our work on efficiency and cost.”

The 2021 Appliance Data Trends report is a flagship publication of Efficiency for Access, a global coalition working to promote high performing appliances that enable access to clean energy for the world’s poorest people.

READ THE REPORT

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About Efficiency for Access: Efficiency for Access is a global coalition working to promote high performing appliances that enable access to clean energy for the world’s poorest people. It is a catalyst for change, accelerating the growth of off-grid appliance markets to boost incomes, reduce carbon emissions, improve quality of life and support sustainable development.

Efficiency for Access consists of 15 Donor Roundtable Members, 10 Programme Partners, and more than 30 Investor Network members. Current Efficiency for Access Coalition members have programmes and initiatives spanning 44 countries and 22 key technologies. The Efficiency for Access Coalition is coordinated jointly by CLASP, an international appliance energy efficiency and market development specialist not for-profit organisation, and Energy Saving Trust, which specialises in energy efficiency product verification, data and insight, advice and research.

BLK1 has increased the size of its local currency receivable financing facility for d.light’s Kenyan business to USD 127 million with an additional USD 15 million of senior debt from Norfund. The expansion sees Norfund join DFC as a senior lender in the BLK1 structure, which is a local currency impact financing vehicle dedicated to providing d.light’s Kenyan PAYGO SHS business with access to on-going, flexible and sustainable receivables funding.

21 January 2021: Solar Frontier Capital Limited (SFC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of African Frontier Capital (Mauritius) LLC (AFC), d.light design Inc. (d.light), a leading global innovator of solar energy products and Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, have jointly announced the expansion of Brighter Life Kenya 1 Limited (BLK1). The expansion sees Norfund join the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), who acted as the original cornerstone senior lender, in the structure as a co-senior lender.

BLK1 is an off-balance sheet financing vehicle that is dedicated to acquiring pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) Solar Home System (SHS) accounts receivables from d.light’s Kenyan subsidiary, d.light Limited (d.light Kenya). It has been set up to provide the company with flexible, working capital to finance its continued growth.

BLK1 has been structured to provide d.light Kenya with local currency financing (up to the Kenyan Shillings equivalent of ca. USD 127 million in face value of receivables purchased2) over a two year commitment period and is intended as the first in a series of vehicles designed to provide d.light with continuing access to sustainable and affordable local currency receivable financing.

Part of BLK1 is being financed by a senior debt facility with USD 20 million of commitments from DFC and USD 15 million from Norfund3. SFC acts as the subordinated lender and the master servicer under the transaction and, more generally, as sponsor of the structure.

21 January 2021: Innovex, a Uganda-based startup enabling pay-as-you-go and remote monitoring for solar companies, closed a Series Seed Round with an equity investment from Gaia Impact Fund.

Innovex is a technology company with hardware and software development teams offering a service 100% made in Africa. The company was founded in 2016 by Douglas Baguma K and David Tusubira, both graduated from the Makerere University. The 2 co-founders came to the realization that solar energy had the potential to bridge the energy access gap for the 30 million Ugandans remaining without electricity, but were frustrated the technology was not reaching Ugandans fast enough. Douglas & David took on this problem by helping installers and distributors of off-grid solar energy systems to scale up using digital tools. There are 300 active solar companies in Uganda alone, and thousands more in sub-Saharan Africa.

The team has developed ‘Remot’, a cloud-based IoT solution enabling solar companies, EPC and distributors to remotely monitor and manage their energy systems. ‘Remot’ has transformed the way many of these solar companies do business such as better aftersales support and opening up pay-as-you-go for larger size solar systems. This has reduced overall downtime and improved accessibility of solar systems and equipment. Many of these solar assets are installed in facilities such as health centers, schools and SMEs across the 5 countries in the East African region i.e. Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, DRC and Ethiopia.

Innovex stands out as a true African grown inspiration and has received support and recognition on the international stage from partners such as OVO, CISCO, Energy 4 Impact. The company received additional extensive support from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund and later the Carbon Trust under the Transforming Energy Access program.

Gaia Impact Fund will support the company’s efforts to scale ‘Remot’ to 100 solar distributors across Africa thus enabling solar energy access to 3 million people by 2023.

Douglas Baguma, Innovex’s CEO and co-founder says: “The biggest challenges that are faced with most solar companies revolve around selling a product at a price that is high for the people that need it most. Our efforts at Innovex are aimed towards fixing how solar energy is delivered both as a product and as a service to these low-income populations and we strongly believe that modern technologies have a transformational role to play. It is exciting that Gaia Impact Fund has bought into our mission and most importantly decided to make a bold move by investing in this future”.

“The problem that we are solving is massive. It requires a great deal of commitment to transform the distribution of solar energy. We are delighted to have strong partners who recognize the urgency of the challenge in Gaia Impact Fund. We are also excited for the magnitude of impact that lies ahead.” adds David Tusubira, Innovex’s CTO and co-founder.

Hélène Demaegdt, Gaia Impact Fund’s President, comments: “We’re thrilled to start this journey with this fantastic team and work with one of the most promising technology companies in the energy access sector. Innovex definitely fills a gap in the value chain by bringing tailored solutions for solar companies and distributors and having a tremendous positive impact on off-grid communities. We look forward to working closely with Douglas and David and supporting them in their growth”.

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About Innovex: Founded in 2016, Innovex is a Ugandan company which aims to spur Africa’s social-economic transformation through the development of novel technologies. Their competences include embedded systems, connected devices, web and software development, and wireless communication technologies. Innovex entered the market with a home-grown IoT solution. This solution, ‘Remot’, offers after-sales service support; remotely monitoring and controlling solar PV systems and equipment, and supporting preventative maintenance and repair activities. To-date, ‘Remot’ has been used in over 5 countries in Africa by solar companies and solar energy researchers.

About Gaia Impact Fund: Gaia Impact Fund is a French impact fund dedicated to energy access entrepreneurs. Gaia Impact Fund invests in startups and SMEs operating in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, and active on various segments: solar kits, productive uses of electricity, mini-grids, commercial & industrial solar installations, cleantech. Gaia Impact Fund was created by a team of entrepreneurs specialized in renewable energy and social impact investing. Since 2017, Gaia Impact Fund has supported 11 innovative companies in emerging countries and is actively pursuing its investment strategy with strong social and environmental impact. For more information visit: www.gaia-impactfund.com.

12 January 2021: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE). The MoU sets out the shared goals of the two organisations to support decentralised renewable energy (DRE) businesses from and active in Tanzania.

The associations will work together on a number of activities, including joint advocacy to create a conducive market environment for 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 Tanzania to create local jobs and enhance the capacity of the sector to raise increased financing for renewable energy projects and businesses. This will be achieved by spearheading in-person or virtual “DRE Investment Academies” or similar trainings for Tanzanian and international DRE developers and other stakeholders, with the aim to provide additional fundraising and technical support.

Finally, the MoU states that the partners will deliver joint offers and support services for Tanzanian renewable energy actors, who work to address energy access, energy security and climate change challenges in Tanzania and conduct applied research creating the market for renewable energy technologies.

TAREA Executive Secretary, Dr.-Ing. Matthew Matimbwi, said: “The MoU is a unique opportunity to work alongside ARE and spearhead the development of the DRE market in Tanzania. We look forward to taking on board ARE’s far-reaching experience as an established business association in the DRE sector and ensuring that Tanzanian DRE projects can bear fruit.”

ARE CEO, David Lecoque, commented: “This MoU is in line with ARE’s goal to increase country-level actions and support by working in tandem with National Renewable Energy Associations such as TAREA and will provide a framework for future collaboration on DRE promotion in developing and emerging markets. In this regard, it is a great pleasure for us to have signed this MoU with TAREA as we strongly believe that we share common values to take concrete steps forward to expand clean and affordable energy access in Tanzania.”

ARE Africa Lead, Gabriele Pammesberger, added: “The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between TAREA and ARE, with the common objective of increasing access to renewable energy, energy security and climate change simultaneously and effectively across the country.”

The investment will allow West Africa’s fastest growing C&I solar provider to accelerate its regional expansion.

12 January 2021: Daystar Power, a leading provider of hybrid solar power solutions to businesses in West Africa, today announced a Series B investment of $38 million. The round was led by the Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), the Danish development finance institution (DFI). IFU is joined by new investors STOA, a French impact infrastructure fund, Proparco, the French DFI, backed by a guarantee from the European Union under the African Renewable Energy Scale-Up facility (ARE Scale-Up) and Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Taking into account the previous round by Verod Capital and Persistent Energy, Daystar Power has received equity investments totaling $48 million.

With the fundraise, Daystar Power will grow its operations in its key markets of Nigeria and Ghana, while deepening its presence in other regional countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo. Daystar Power is on track to expand its installed capacity to over 100 megawatts, meeting demand from its clients in the financial services, manufacturing, agricultural and natural resources sectors. Daystar Power will continue to enhance its digital offerings and expand its local teams.

“By offering our commercial and industrial clients cheaper, reliable and cleaner power, we have seen a more than 50-fold increase in power-as-a-service revenue over the last two years,” said Jasper Graf von Hardenberg, CEO and Co-founder of Daystar Power. “African businesses are realizing that solar power — stand-alone or in tandem with a second power source — is a superior energy alternative to the often-unreliable grid or too expensive, polluting diesel generators.”

“We believe that Daystar Power has the right elements — the client base, technology, engineering expertise, and executive leadership — to scale off-grid solar across West Africa. Not only is Daystar Power at the forefront of a growing market, it is helping to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in some of Africa’s fastest growing cities,” said Thomas Hougaard, Vice President Sub-Saharan Africa, IFU.

“STOA is excited to start this journey alongside Daystar which is perfectly positioned to provide reliable, environmentally friendly and cheap electricity to businesses across West Africa. This investment reflects a core part of our mission – we aim to invest more than 50% of our capital in Africa and in renewable energies,” said Charles-Henri Malecot, CEO, STOA.

“Proparco is delighted to support the growth of Daystar Power (DSP) which represents our third commitment under the ARESUF facility backed by the European Union. In line with Proparco’s objectives of improving energy access and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this funding will enable DSP to expand reliable power supply at competitive cost to West Africa’s C&I sector,”  Damien Braud, Head of Private Equity Africa & Middle East division, Proparco.

“Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s Climate Impact Solutions fund seeks to generate compelling returns with a focus on helping to solve critical climate issues. Our aim in partnering with the team at Daystar Power is to help deploy clean energy at commercial scale – creating a positive, long-lasting environmental, health and financial impact in West Africa,” said Vikram Raju, Head of Climate Impact, Morgan Stanley Investment Management AIP Private Markets

“Sunray Ventures founded Daystar Power to address one of West Africa’s most significant barriers to economic development — access to reliable and affordable power. We are happy that this transaction will provide Daystar Power with the required financing to continue to lead in off-grid solar for commercial and industrial customers in West Africa,” said Christian Wessels, Co-Founder of Daystar Power and Sunray Ventures.

12 January 2021: Aeris, an IoT technology leader, today announced that the reliable connectivity provided by the Aeris Fusion IoT Network (Fusion) has helped Bboxx, a next generation utility that manufactures, distributes and finances decentralised solar powered systems in the developing world, deliver clean energy to over one million African citizens.

Bboxx’s core products are a range of solar home systems that enable both individuals and small businesses to power appliances—from lights and mobile phones to refrigerators and computers. Bboxx installs the Aeris global subscriber identity module (SIM) at the point of manufacture, reducing both supply chain costs and deployment time. By utilising Aeris' single global access point name (APN), the Bboxx solar system can also be deployed anywhere in the world, even in the most remote locations, on a simple plug-and-play basis, without any requirement to configure local network settings.

Since partnering with Aeris in 2017, Bboxx has utilised Aeris’ multi-carrier connectivity, ensuring that Bboxx is able to deploy its devices faster than if it relied on one single carrier, whilst having the support from Aeris to scale to new markets. The continued expansion of Bboxx in Africa is also assisted by Aeris’ global SIM, which is deployed at the point of manufacture, enabling Bboxx to reduce its supply chain costs and solution deployment time.

The collaboration between Aeris and Bboxx means that Bboxx devices have reliable IoT connectivity no matter where in the world they are deployed, allowing products to be remotely monitored and expediting deployment timeframes. Companies like Bboxx operate in the most remote locations, with products purpose-built for off-grid rural environments, require a reliable mobile network that provides consistent connectivity worldwide to enable effortless remote monitoring of energy systems. To overcome these many life-critical, energy-delivery issues, there is significant need for reliable GSM and CDMA connectivity to deliver functional, energy saving solutions.

Christopher Baker-Brian, co-founder and managing director at Bboxx, said “Aeris' high-quality service and IoT expertise have assisted Bboxx to deliver clean energy solutions to communities and households in eleven countries in Africa with minimal deployment time. By partnering with companies like Aeris, we are making reliable and clean energy more accessible as we continue our mission to unlock potential and transform lives.”

Paul Tarsey, IoT Solutions Consultant, Aeris, comments: “Aeris’ ability to offer high-quality IoT connectivity at the most optimised total cost of ownership ensures that Bboxx’s solar systems are operational and reliable no matter where they are deployed. We look forward to continuing to help assist Bboxx to expand their capabilities and deliver clean energy to people throughout the world.”

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About Aeris: Aeris is a global technology partner with a proven history of helping companies unlock the value of IoT. For more than a decade, they have powered critical projects for some of the most demanding customers of IoT services. Aeris strives to fundamentally improve businesses by dramatically reducing costs, accelerating time-to-market and enabling new revenue streams. Built from the ground up for IoT and road-tested at scale, Aeris’ offering is based on the broadest technology stack in the industry, spanning connectivity up to vertical solutions. As veterans of the industry, Aeris is keenly aware that implementing an IoT solution can be complex, and they pride themselves on making it simpler.

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

So far, Bboxx has deployed more than 350,000 solar home systems. Bboxx has over 800 staff across nine offices including in 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.

22 December 2020: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a $7 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), for a new technical assistance initiative meeting the needs of the continent’s fast-evolving renewable mini-grid industry.

The Africa Mini-Grid Market Acceleration Programme (AMAP), which aims to expand private mini-grid investment on the African continent, will include three core components: the implementation of a new and standardised framework for national-scale Mini-Grid Acceleration Programmes (MAPs) in four countries; the design and enhancement of financial de-risking solutions; and support for knowledge, innovation, and skills development activities, including the continuation of the Bank’s Green Mini-Grid Help Desk website.

“Mini-grids are an integral and increasingly important feature of the energy access solution, not just in terms of providing lights to households, but also in ensuring that underserved populations have access to productive uses of energy to power inclusive and green economic growth. AMAP underscores the African Development Bank’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s mini-grids industry, which we see as a key driver for accelerated energy access, climate resilience, and a green post COVID-19 recovery, ” said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, the Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth.

Over the years, the Bank has established leadership in building the African mini-grid industry. In addition to the AMAP, the Bank hosts a number of targeted initiatives, including the Green Mini-Grid Market Development Programme under the Sustainable Energy for All Africa Hub, the Nigeria National Electrification Project, and the DRC Green Mini-Grid Programme.

AMAP’s initial phase is expected to lead to 880,000 new electricity access connections providing modern energy access to over 4 million people; over 80 MW of renewable energy-based generation; the creation of 7,200 full-time jobs, of which 1,800 are anticipated to be held by women; reductions of over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq) in lifetime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the facilitation of an estimated $650 million of public and private investments in mini-grids.

AMAP is strongly aligned to the ambitions of the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa as well as the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Aaron Leopold, CEO of the Africa Minigrid Developers Association, said, “Mini-grids are a fundamental but under-supported element of Africa’s energy future. To achieve SDG 7,the UN’s target for universal energy access, the sector must be radically scaled up, and to do this, a holistic and broad-spectrum support programme informed by industry needs is required to bring governments, investors, and of course the mini-grid sector the kind of support that can facilitate fast and efficient progress. For these reasons, AMDA is excited to see AfDB working to bring mini-grid investments in Africa to the next level.”

MOU will help empower some of the world’s most vulnerable people and support Covid-19 recovery by delivering reliable electricity.

Focus on distributed renewable energy will help deliver power to remote communities.

21 December 2020: The Rockefeller Foundation and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work to end energy poverty by promoting investment in Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) around the world. The memorandum will focus on delivering reliable, sustainable electricity to the 800 million people worldwide who currently lack electricity, and 2.8 billion more who have unreliable access, to support economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and foster long-term economic growth.

The partnership will be built around three pillars:

• Financing: DFC will invest up to $2 billion in distributed renewable energy and The Rockefeller Foundation will provide up to $50 million to de-risk DFC investments.
• Global Platform: DFC and The Rockefeller Foundation will develop a multi-partner global platform to mobilize additional investment by promoting co-financing, grantmaking, transaction pipeline development, advocacy, and technical assistance to expand investments in distributed renewable energy in underserved markets.
• Green Energy: DFC and The Rockefeller Foundation will work together to communicate the role that green energy infrastructure and distributed renewable energy can play in powering an inclusive recovery for the more than one billion people worldwide who lack access to reliable electricity.

“The pandemic has undermined decades of progress on poverty reduction,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “Global cooperation and investment are desperately needed to address this crisis and ensure a broad and inclusive economic recovery. Our collaboration with DFC will be key to unlocking significant investment in distributed energy and will build on the Foundation’s work to expand access to reliable, sustainable electricity that can power the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people.”

“Our collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation fills a critical gap that exists for the private sector to finance renewable energy projects, a problem that has been exacerbated by the global pandemic,” said DFC CEO Adam Boehler. “By using blended finance, this MOU advances DFC’s work to sustainably expand energy access while continuing to respond to the pandemic by focusing on communities that have been traditionally been hardest to reach. Our partnership will empower billions of dollars of renewable energy projects across the developing world.”

“We applaud the partnership between DFC and The Rockefeller Foundation focusing on distributed renewables,” said Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica. “DRE is often the fastest and most affordable way for many communities to achieve access to clean and sustainable energy. This partnership unlocks the potential for DFC to support community-owned distributive energy in countries most in need.”

Distributed renewable energy is focused on generating power from sources such as mini-grids and off-grid sources that are located near the point of use, rather than centralized generation sources like power plants. This approach helps address one of the key challenges in delivering power to remote communities that often cannot access power from large power plants. Recent technological advances have made DRE systems more affordable, effective, and easier to deploy, offering the potential to quickly provide electricity for homes, business, healthcare, agriculture, and education.

The MOU seeks to achieve economies of scale by bringing together two major initiatives: The Rockefeller Foundation’s Powering an Inclusive Covid-19 Recovery and DFC’s Roadmap for Impact, the agency’s new strategy for maximizing its development impact.

As part of the signed MOU, The Rockefeller Foundation and DFC have committed to share their respective strengths, experiences, and resources to promote the development of DRE infrastructure projects that quickly, sustainably and cost-effectively end energy poverty. The organizations will support an equitable global recovery that prioritizes economic growth, human development, and environmental sustainability.

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About The Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation advances new frontiers of science, data, and innovation to solve global challenges related to health, food, power, and economic mobility. As a science-driven philanthropy focused on building collaborative relationships with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation seeks to inspire and foster large-scale human impact that promotes the well-being of humanity throughout the world by identifying and accelerating breakthrough solutions, ideas, and conversations.

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

17 December 2020: The educational opportunities of thousands of schoolchildren in Kenya have been transformed by energy access programme Project Jua. Funded by OVO Energy's charity arm, OVO Foundation, and implemented by Energy 4 Impact, Project Jua has extended solar energy provision to primary and secondary schools either off-grid or lacking reliable energy access, benefitting more than 86,000 students. Schoolchildren in poor rural communities typically face a digital divide, but solar-powered lighting and equipment is now helping to bridge this gap in educational prospects.

The implementation phase of Project Jua began in May 2019 after a successful pilot. It complements the government electrification programme by providing innovative and sustainable off-grid solutions that will enable Kenya to pivot away from fossil fuel consumption. Project Jua has now completed the installation of solar PV systems at 50 health clinics and 250 schools with the aim of bringing life-changing benefits to the populations of five counties with low electrification rates: Turkana, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Kilifi and Isiolo. Teams of electricians were hired to undertake the installation of cabling infrastructure which provided a significant boost to local employment.

With the implementation phase of Project Jua completed in December 2020, a fuller picture of the impact on targeted schools is now available. Before the installation of solar systems, many schools had received technological resources from the Ministry of Education as part of the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP), but were unable to use the tablets and laptops until the provision of solar energy access. The capacity to study using tablets and laptops enables students to acquire the digital skills that are increasingly essential in the modern world. Moreover, teachers would also often have to travel to cyber cafés in nearby towns to print and photocopy documents for exams. However, the energy access provided by Project Jua allowed them to use equipment such as printers, photocopiers, typesetters, projectors and computers onsite. Not only does the availability of equipment such as projectors boost the quality of teaching, the proximity of such equipment on the school premises makes teaching more labour and time-efficient.

Aside from powering equipment, energy access has generated a range of other practical and economic benefits for schools. Electric lighting enables schools to increase study times with evening and early morning classes. Schools can also offer safer and more comfortable boarding options now that dormitories are lit. The wider village also benefits as more community events can be hosted onsite. The reduction in fuel bills creates savings that can be redirected to meet other costs such as learning resources. The schools also report higher morale amongst teachers since staff quarters have become electrified and they now have the ability to charge phones and laptops at school.

The Deputy Headteacher at Mwangani Primary School, Samuel Taura Malingi testifies to the impact of solar power: 

It has shaped our school into a modern powered institution able to introduce night preps for learners resident within the vicinity of the school and that helps us compete with sister schools in the region. The ability to power equipment for typesetting, printing and photocopying has improved our operations considerably.

Healthcare is of course a vital corollary of education when it comes to ensuring the wellbeing of children in poor rural communities. By installing solar PV systems at health clinics in weak- or off-grid regions, Project Jua has also enabled the usage of equipment such as centrifuges, oxygen machines, microscopes and fridges for storing vaccines. The improvement in treatment outcomes demonstrates the indispensability of energy access to modern healthcare.

Caroline Silke, Head of OVO Foundation, said:

Despite this year’s challenges, we are delighted that our partnership with Energy 4 Impact has enabled clean and affordable energy across a further 300 schools and health clinics. Project Jua is more relevant and necessary than ever. As well as environmental benefits, the additional study time during hours of darkness and improved resources will help children and young people returning to education after a disruptive period of schools being closed. A greater range of health equipment will also create a safer environment for hard-to-reach rural communities. We are thrilled that 300,000 people will benefit from the project over the next three years, whilst helping to progress three of the Sustainable Development Goals, and supporting the Kenyan government’s national electrification project.

Project Jua is now entering a long-term sustainability phase until 2023 to ensure such life-changing education and health benefits persist into the future. Access to clean energy should therefore have a lasting impact on the lives of young people in some of the poorest communities in Kenya.

17 December 2020: A new online platform was launched today to provide practical information and enable peer-to-peer networking for innovators developing technologies and business models to help end energy poverty. The new Energy Catalyst Community is the latest addition to the Energy Catalyst, a UK government-funded programme designed to accelerate access to sustainable energy in sub-Saharan Africa and South and South East Asia through grant funding, business acceleration support and brokerage activity.

Despite progress in recent years, the global community is significantly behind in meeting the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) of ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. For example, four billion people around the world still lack access to clean, efficient, convenient, safe, reliable, and affordable cooking energy.[1]

Without sustained efforts, 620 million people will be left without access to electricity in 2030 and   85 percent of them will be in sub-Saharan Africa.[2] Cooperation is central to an expedited solution. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), international collaboration can increase effectiveness and maximise the impact of energy technology innovation.[3]

To address this need, Energy Catalyst is designed to benefit the wider energy access ecosystem by creating partnerships, promoting learning, and funding the testing and demonstration of innovations that can accelerate energy access sector progress.

Through the new Energy Catalyst Community, a range of open-access reports, tools and guides are now available to help innovators solve challenges faster and deliver impact. In addition, companies who have received grant support through the Energy Catalyst will be able to access a member-only area that will be launched in early 2021, to facilitate collaboration with other grantees and encourage knowledge exchange to develop and commercialise solutions.

Dr Nicola Lazenby, Innovation Lead, Energy Catalyst, at Innovate UK said:

“Through Energy Catalyst, Innovate UK provides funding to pioneers who are developing solutions that will help to close the energy access gap for millions of people. We have supported over 150 projects across nearly 30 countries based on a wide range of technologies including clean cooking stoves, energy storage, distributed solar, biomass and mini-grids. With the launch of the new Energy Catalyst Community platform, we want to harness the full benefit of the knowledge gathered over the past five years and make this and ongoing lessons learnt accessible to help educate, inform and build capacity in the wider market.”

The Energy Catalyst Community platform has been developed as part of the Energy Catalyst Accelerator, which provides commercialisation support to Energy Catalyst grantees and a range of learning exchange and educational activities for wider energy access stakeholders. It is funded by Innovate UK and delivered in cooperation with partners including the Carbon Trust, Energy 4 Impact, Power for All, Intellecap and Open Capital Advisors.

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About Energy Catalyst: Energy Catalyst, an Innovate UK programme, helps early- to late-stage innovators develop market-based technologies and business models that accelerate access to clean, modern and affordable energy in Africa and Asia. For more information, visit https://energycatalyst.ukri.org/.

The Energy Catalyst is run by Innovate UK and is co-funded by partners including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Global Challenges Research Fund.

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

About UK Research and Innovation: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of over £8bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.

We operate across the whole country and work with our many partners in higher education, research organisations businesses, government, and charities.

Our vision is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally and internationally.

Our mission is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.

• Bboxx, EDF, and SunCulture team up with Togo Government to accelerate access to sustainable solar-powered farming

17 December 2020: Bboxx, a next generation utility, EDF, a global leader in low-carbon energies, are expanding access to solar-powered irrigation systems for thousands of farmers. With the launch of this new business line, Bboxx and EDF are stepping up the pace of their cooperation launched in 2018 with the creation of a joint-venture Bboxx EDF Togo. The latter is committed is making sustainable irrigation more accessible for underserved communities in Togo, increasing agricultural productivity, generating additional income, and improving economic opportunities.

As part of the partnership, the Government of the country is providing a 50% subsidy to halve the cost of irrigation systems for 5,000 farmers. This is alongside tax exemptions on import duties and VAT on the water pumps, making the product more affordable for the end user – smallholder farmers in Togo. This builds on the “CIZO cheque” subsidy launched in 2019 by the Togo Government, which made solar energy more affordable to help overcome energy poverty.

Supplied by solar irrigation provider SunCulture, EDF’s partner and affiliate in Kenya, Bboxx EDF Togo will be deploying the water pumps and arranging financing for customers. The Togolese market will benefit from SunCulture’s experience from having rolled out this solution at a large scale in East Africa. EDF brings its hands-on expertise in the sale and installation of off-grid solutions in Central and West African markets. The irrigation systems to be deployed in Togo will also benefit from EDF’s technical R&D expertise in the off-grid sector, where EDF will oversee design choices and help enhance product performance.

The water pumps will be integrated with Bboxx Pulse®, Bboxx’s comprehensive management platform using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, allowing for remote management and monitoring. The services will be provided on the same pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model used by Bboxx’s Solar Home Systems (SHSs).

This deal will improve farmers’ economic opportunities by increasing productivity by up to five times, while removing the need to travel long distances to bring back water. It will enable farmers to secure a harvest even during the dry season, with the possibility to grow higher value crops. It will also create additional irrigation by increasing the area cultivated. This contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 – decent work and economic growth.

As market leaders in Togo and joint venture partners since 2018, this latest announcement comes as Bboxx and EDF double down on scaling their operations. Working as part of the Togo Government’s national electrification “CIZO” programme, Bboxx EDF Togo already has a substantial footprint and network in the country. They have positively impacted over 120,000 citizens’ lives thanks to domestic off-grid solar kits offering access to clean, reliable and affordable energy. Both partners are now committing to expanding energy to an even larger part of Togo’s population, while also moving into other much-needed services, like sustainable agriculture.

Mansoor Hamayun, CEO and Co-Founder of Bboxx, commented: “Strengthening our partnership with EDF in Togo by expanding our energy services and moving into sustainable agriculture, is an exciting milestone in our joint venture. For farmers in rural Togo, this latest deal will be life-changing, improving productivity, household income and quality of life, while fostering economic development at scale and contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“The Togo Government’s subsidy is vital to accelerate this programme to thousands of farmers and make sustainable agriculture affordable for all. We are passionate about leveraging our pioneering technology to contribute to the green economic recovery. We are making energy and other vital services more accessible as we continue on our mission to unlock potential and transform lives.”

Xavier Rouland, EDF’s Off-Grid Department Director, commented: “After two years of growth in Togo in the field of solar kits, this new step is crucial for us since it will help boost the rural economy, offering farmers tools that increase their incomes while using more environmentally friendly solutions. We are very proud, with our partner Bboxx, and thanks to the political will of the Togolese authorities, to bring forward the solar powered irrigation know-how of SunCulture, EDF’s Kenyan partner, as well as our experience of the off-grid market in West Africa.

“This operation is the embodiment of our ambition in the off-grid business: to create synergies between our various partners and companies in our different countries of operation, for the benefit of rural populations and the improvement of their economic and living conditions.”

Samir Ibrahim, CEO & Co-Founder of SunCulture, commented: “We are in a global food crisis, and this subsidy program is an important showcase of how innovating financing can play a leading role in addressing food insecurity across Africa. This partnership will be catalytic in promoting off-season and higher-value agriculture across Togo, and we’re certain that it will pave the way for other sub-Saharan African countries to mobilize resources to address food crises, improve livelihoods, and spur economic development.

“We are thrilled to be a contributing partner in Africa’s largest public/private partnership utilizing smart solar irrigation subsidies, and in doing so, ensuring that sustainable agriculture is both affordable and accessible to those who stand to gain the most.”

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

So far, Bboxx has deployed more than 350,000 solar home systems. Bboxx has over 800 staff across nine offices including in Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Togo, with its head office in the UK and its manufacturing operations in China. In 2019, Bboxx was the winner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Energy category – testament to the way the company is making a meaningful difference to people’s lives around the world.

About EDF: A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed a diversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 38.9 million customers(1), 28.8 million of which are in France. It generated consolidated sales of €71 billion in 2019. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

(1)The customers were counted at the end of 2019 per delivery site; a customer can have two delivery points: one for electricity and another for gas.

About SunCulture: SunCulture develops and commercializes life-changing technology that solves the biggest daily challenges for the world’s 570 million smallholder farming households. The company is a market leader in solar-powered water pumps and irrigation systems, serving customers in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Togo, and Cote D’Ivoire. SunCulture’s investors and partners include EDF, EAV, ARAF, DPI, Shell Foundation, USAID, Microsoft Corporation, and MIT. The company is recognized as a Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer and a Financial Times Transformational Business, and was named to the London Stock Exchange’s “Companies to Inspire Africa” index.

14 December 2020: Oolu, a leading solar distributor in West Africa, has closed a $8.5 million Series B investment round led by independent renewable energy developer RP Global. Additional participating investors included Persistent Energy Capital, Shell-seeded impact investor All On, Gaia Impact Fund, and DPI Energy Ventures.

Oolu’s mission is to provide affordable energy access to rural and peri-urban customers in West Africa. Since its inception in 2015, the company has sold over 60,000 solar home systems to customers in the region. In addition to a large distribution and service network, Oolu employs over 250 full-time employees and is run by a Dakar-based management team of whom 50% are women. With this investment, Oolu will expand its core product offering to meet the needs of its current and future customers and further develop its operations in West Africa.

Dan Rosa, CEO and co-founder of Oolu, said: “The strength of our business and industry during a challenging global pandemic has demonstrated the value that customers see in our products and service. RP Global’s financial expertise and experience in managing renewable energy businesses will enable us to accelerate our growth. All On’s unparalleled knowledge of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria will help us to further adapt our business to meet customers’ needs. In addition, we are excited to continue our successful collaboration with current investors especially Persistent.”

Leo Schiefermueller, Director of RP Global Africa, comments: “We are looking forward to working with the most promising solar home systems provider in West Africa. Having found a partner with such an efficient structure and excellent management, makes us optimistic that this will be our greatest venture in Africa to date. The fantastic team at Oolu is prepared to lead the company towards a whole new level of success and growth in all areas of one of Africa’s most important challenges - ‘access to energy’.”

All On Investment Manager, Afolabi Akinrogunde added: “Oolu Solar’s operational expertise, geographical spread in West Africa, flexibility and efficiency has earned the company a leadership position in solar home systems distribution. Their success across the region and Nigeria gives All On the confidence that this investment will further enhance our commitment to enabling the deployment of affordable off- grid power solutions in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.”

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About Oolu: Oolu is a for-profit, social impact company operating in five West African countries: Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. After the company was founded in 2015 by Nilmi Senaratna and Daniel Rosa and went through from Y Combinator’s Summer 2015 batch, it has sold over 60,000 solar home systems and built a proprietary management platform and distribution network. Oolu’s solar systems guarantee modern and affordable energy access to households and businesses located in areas with unreliable grid or completely off-grid. For more information visit: https://oolusolar.com/.

About All On: All On, an impact investing company, was seeded with funding from Shell, and works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for unserved and underserved off-grid energy markets in Nigeria, with a special focus on the Niger Delta. All On invests in off-grid energy solutions spanning solar, wind, hydro, biomass and gas technologies deployed by both foreign and local access-to-energy companies that complement available grid power across Nigeria and help bridge the country’s significant energy gap. For more information visit: www.all-on.com.

About RP Global: RP Global is a developer and independent power producer that draws its expertise from over 30 years of experience in the renewable energy sector. As a developer, investor and operator, RP Global’s focus is on hydro, wind and solar PV projects. The company has had many successful partnerships and cooperations with investors and lenders such as the IFC/World Bank, the EBRD, Mirova/Natixis, the Marguerite Fund and the Bank of Georgia. 

RP Global’s international team is active in Europe, South America, and Africa: Austria, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, France, Poland, Peru, Argentina, Tanzania and Nigeria. For more information visit: http://www.rp-global.com.

14 December 2020: The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has launched a US$ 8.5 million grant facility to support adoption and diversification of renewable energy solutions in the Somalia and Somaliland. This is a component of the REACT Sub Saharan programme, that seeks to reduce poverty through a transformational increase in the use of renewable energy by off-grid households.

“The Somali market presents a unique opportunity for us and other development partners to change the narrative on reliance of diesel-powered mini-grids as we facilitate a switch to renewable energy sources.  To achieve this stimulation of market growth and engagement of private sector in renewable energy value chains is pivotal,” said Victoria Sabula, Chief Executive Officer of AECF.

According to the World Bank SDG tracking report, it is estimated that 11 Million Somalis lack access to electricity services with only 3% having access to clean cooking, this lack of electricity and use of poor-quality cooking fuels continues to hamper development for low-income households of the people of Somalia.

“For this call, we are looking to work with businesses at different developmental stages particularly those at early stage. In addition to the funding, we will provide technical support, business linkages and investment facilitation,” said the AECF CEO.

The programme targets private sector companies and microfinance institutions that are commercially active. These businesses are expected to be delivering low cost, clean energy products and services that benefit the poor in rural and peri-urban Somalia as well as Internally Displaced Persons, especially women and youth. This programme aims to enable 300,000 people access clean energy and create jobs for both youth and women.

The deadline for the applications is 22nd January 2021.

For more information visit: www.aecfafrica.org/react-ssa-somalia.

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About AECF: The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) is a leading development finance organisation that supports businesses to innovate, create jobs and leverage investments in order to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalised communities in Africa. Launched in 2008, AECF has invested in 292 businesses across more than 40 value chains and 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We focus specifically on agribusiness, renewable energy and climate technologies, while also addressing the cross-cutting themes of gender, youth and fragile contexts. In just over a decade, we have impacted more than 27.7 million lives, created close to 24,000 jobs, and leveraged over US $740 million in matching funds. AECF is headquartered in Kenya, with offices in Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania.

12 December 2020: Samansco Industries officially launched the Phocos Any-Grid Hybrid Inverter at an event hosted at Zimbabwe’s premier dining and events venue, Amanzi Restaurant. Samansco Industries is the local Premium Partner of Phocos, a leading German solar equipment and component supplier. The launch event was attended by German Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Thorsten Hutter, along with the local solar installer community.

Speaking at the gala event, Samansco CEO Nyasha Bamhare stated “The Phocos Any-Grid Hybrid Inverter is the fastest selling product the company has launched in its entire 37-year history. When we first saw the Any-Grid Inverter in Munich during the Intersolar Conference in May 2019, it took my business partner and I less than five minutes to decide this was a product that could transform the market for solar inverters in Africa. From its sleek, industrial design to unparalleled technical capacity, we had never seen a product with this capacity and price point that had the potential to be a mass market game changer.” Nayasha continued, “In a region suffering from acute power shortages, the Phocos Any-Grid – a true hybrid solar inverter – has the capacity to provide electricity when needed and also to save the consumer money through its smart hybrid technology. The fact that this can be done at a price point that is unmatched for this level of technology and quality is a testament to German engineering.”

German Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr. Thorsten Hutter stated, “Climate change underlines the importance of solar energy as one source of energy that will help reduce CO2 emissions. Germany is committed to renewable energy in all its forms, be it biodegradable, hydro, wind, or solar. We strongly believe that every country needs to find its own best renewable energy source. Germany’s commitment to solar energy has led to broad-based support for the solar industry in Germany and the production of truly innovative products in solar energy. German companies are amongst the most innovative companies in the world. German engineering is world famous, but what is truly outstanding is our strong combination of research and development. This has made German companies world leaders in solar energy. The energy crisis in Zimbabwe highlights the importance of solar energy. It is tried and tested technology that will support economic growth in Zimbabwe.”

Phocos Regional Director of Sales for Africa and the Middle East Alex Hofmeyr commended Samansco for the tremendous effort they have made in establishing the Phocos Any-Grid Hybrid Inverter as the solar inverter of choice in the short time since the product became available on the world market. “In just six short months, it’s amazing to see the enthusiasm for the Phocos product here in Zimbabwe. This is truly a testament to the leading position Samansco has in the market. They have earned the trust and confidence of 500 plus local installers and retailers. Phocos is immensely proud to have Samansco as our exclusive distribution partner in Zimbabwe.” In conclusion, he added, “We are committed to helping the country meet their energy needs with what we believe to be the most advanced, true hybrid solar inverter available on the market with the Phocos Any-Grid Hybrid Inverter.”

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About Phocos AG: Phocos Group is a global company that designs, manufactures, and supplies world-class solutions for energy production, storage and conservation to enable universal access to reliable energy. Our international team of highly experienced, passionate professionals is based on five continents. This dynamic group leverages over a hundred years of market expertise to ensure the reliable and cost effective deployment of power supply solutions exceed our customer’s expectations. Our goal is to make reliable energy access possible anywhere, anytime, and for any income level. We are headquartered in Ulm, Germany, with three fully owned subsidiaries and sales offices located in the U.S., China, and India.

About Samansco: Samansco is one of Africa’s leading solar energy distributors and systems integrator with an installed user base of over 55,000 systems in 17 countries across Africa since 1982. As a leading wholesale distributor for the global leaders in renewable energy, it’s products are distributed across Southern and Central Africa by more than 1,200 solar installers and retailers. For more information, contact Samantha John (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

11 December 2020: The Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), funded by the UK Government’s International Climate Finance, has invested £1 million into a renewables-powered battery rental company that provides affordable energy access to off-grid communities in West Africa.

UK-based Mobile Power was set up in 2013 to serve the needs of end-users that are underserved by existing rural electrification models in the region. Currently, the company has operations in Sierra Leone and Liberia, two of the poorest countries in the world where most of the population live on less than US$1.25 a day.

Following this week’s completion of a £2 million Series A funding round led by REPP’s equity investment, Mobile Power is now set for rapid expansion, with plans to enter the Nigerian market next year whilst supporting various existing partnership projects in Uganda, Zambia and Gambia.

Through Mobile Power’s innovative rental model, customers are able to rent smart 50Wh lithium-ion batteries at a low cost and in 24-hour increments. Customers can make payments either in cash or using mobile money, making the service inclusive to those without mobile money or areas with weak phone signal. And unlike many other electrification solutions, the product requires no consumer debt or long-term commitment.

The batteries are suitable for lighting, phone charging, fans, TVs and radios and are charged at solar-powered “MOPO Hubs”, providing a lower carbon option to other local alternatives, which include diesel generator-powered charging stations and battery-powered torches.

Geoff Sinclair, Managing Director of REPP’s investment manager, Camco Clean Energy, said: “Providing affordable energy access to some of the world’s poorest communities is a huge challenge for developers, but one that must be overcome if we are to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

“Mobile Power’s novel business model provides a scalable solution that, with the support of REPP and the other Series A investors, has great potential for rapid growth and delivering far-reaching impact.”

Prior to the funding round, Mobile Power had raised approximately £1.1m in equity from early-stage investors, and a further £1.7m during 2019 in the form of innovation grants and loans.

Chris Longbottom, CEO of Mobile Power, said: “The completion of this Series A fundraise represents a vote of confidence for Mobile Power’s unique approach to energy access, particularly in those markets where traditional approaches are less viable. We look forward to scaling up and reaching many more off-grid customers.”

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About the UK’s International Climate Finance: International Climate Finance is the UK Government’s commitment to support developing countries to respond to climate change. At the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in September 2019 the UK announced a doubling of its International Climate Finance from £5.8bn over the period 2016-2020 to £11.6bn over the period 2021-2025. This places the UK amongst the world’s leading providers of climate finance. Programmes are focused on:

• Building the resilience of the poorest people and communities
• Building sustainable cities and transport systems
• Unlocking clean and affordable energy for all
• Halting deforestation and preventing irreversible biodiversity loss

Since 2011, UK ICF investments have helped over 66 million people to cope with the effects of climate change; reduced or avoided 31 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and mobilised £4.1 billion of public and £2.2 billion of private finance for climate change purposes in developing countries.

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).

To date, REPP has agreed contracts with 27 renewable energy projects across 13 countries, employing five different technologies (solar home systems, solar PV mini-grids, grid-connected solar PV, run-of-river hydro, and onshore wind).

About Camco Clean Energy: Camco Clean Energy (Camco) is an investment manager that specialises in climate finance and meaningful sustainable development impact in emerging markets. Its long-established position within Africa’s renewable energy sector enables the company to provide project developers and sponsors with a trusted combination of global access and local presence, enabling them to source the right financing solutions to develop and build projects.

Camco was formed in Nairobi over 30 years ago and, since then, has provided creative finance solutions to 180 projects worth US$15 billion.

About Mobile Power: Founded in 2013, Mobile Power believes that batteries are the key unlocking energy distribution in Africa. Through the company’s smart battery hardware and Battery-as-a-Service rental platform (MOPO), Mobile Power has reached some of the poorest households in Sub-Saharan Africa with a profitable and scalable last mile business which requires no up-front payments or consumer debt, and can operate in cash based markets with little mobile money penetration.

Mobile Power is now scaling up operations across Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as launching in Nigeria whilst continuing to support partnership projects in Uganda, Zambia and The Gambia. Mobile Power is also preparing to launch battery swap systems for e-mobility applications in 2021.