Theme: Off Grid Utilities

CrossBoundary Energy Access open source its mini-grid financing approach

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CrossBoundary Energy Access (CBEA), the blended finance facility for mini-grids, has open sourced their approach to investing infrastructure capital across Africa. Shell Foundation supported the establishment of CBEA in 2018 alongside Rockefeller Foundation and with co-funding from UK Aid. CBEA invests blended capital directly into mini-grid projects serving rural African households and businesses. The business…

VentureBuilder makes first investment in local-run company in Mali

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SF partner VentureBuilder recently led an investment round that enabled an off-grid solar company to secure financing of more than US$1 million in Mali. The investment represents VentureBuilder’s first investment since being established, with funding from SF, USAID and DOEN Foundation, to support locally-owned and managed energy enterprises with early-stage equity financing and enterprise development…

AMDA: Benchmarking Africa’s mini-grids

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The African Mini-Grid Developers Association, co-created by SF in 2018, has released its first major publication, ‘Benchmarking Africa’s Mini-Grids’, which uses coordinated sector data to provide a detailed overview of the sector in Africa. “With this report, we’re opening the door to a new era in the mini-grid sector,” said Aaron Leopold, AMDA’s CEO. “Transparency…

The continued investment case for mobility start-ups

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The mobility service sector has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 crisis, with extended lockdowns preventing businesses providing transport of people and goods. A new article published on The City Fix website however, demonstrates the opportunities contained within mobility start-ups’ business pivots and highlights the increased understanding of the value of more resilient, cleaner,…

Looking beyond SDG7: wider socioeconomic benefits of off-grid solar

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840 million people worldwide still lack access to energy, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Off-grid solar is playing a key role in helping to lower this number — by end 2019, 280 million people had enjoyed an improved electricity access thanks to an off-grid solar source.[1] To do this, we commissioned Altai…

Digitizing & unlocking climate finance for the off-grid Sector

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Achieving energy access (SDG7) while tackling climate change (SDG13): Learnings and next steps post a proof-of-concept implementation It is a global responsibility to end energy poverty through access to clean, affordable and sustainable energy, whilst tackling climate change. Energy access acts as a catalyst for the growth of developing societies and economies. Yet, clean energy…

Odyssey – providing data platform for Covid-19 relief efforts

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Data and sector coordination is vital as we seek to maintain essential energy services to low income consumers across Africa and Asia. Shell Foundation partner Odyssey, who we have supported since 2017 with co-funding from the UK government and USAID, have been working to utilise their online platform to provide the mini-grid sector with project…

SF alumni Redavia offering six months’ free business solar

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Redavia’s Covid-19 Resilience Lease is providing free solar to businesses in Ghana and Kenya. Reliable, cost-effective, and clean solar power remains a vital necessity for businesses, especially during this difficult time of economic uncertainty. Redavia, who we supported between 2014-2019 with co-funding from the UK government, designs, manufactures, deploys and maintains mobile solar farms, enabling…

GOGLA’s five point Covid-19 plan

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Koen Peters, executive director of the Global Off-grid Lighting Association (GOGLA) has written a blog on the GOGLA website detailing how they are addressing the Covid-19 pandemic for its 180+ members. “We concentrated first on understanding the size and nature of the impact, and what kind of help is needed,” said Koen. “Companies are seriously…

EPD advocates for off-grid ‘essential service’ recognition

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In these testing times, it will require a coordinated effort to ensure energy services continue to reach the low-income consumers who need it most. SF partner Energy Private Developers (EPD), who we have supported since 2016 with co-funding from the UK Government and USAID, to address local market barriers to energy access in Rwanda, have…