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Press Release: U.S. Government’s Power Madagascar to Bring Electricity to 5,200 Rural Homes and Businesses
The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Power Africa initiative, has awarded three companies in Madagascar a combined $1.2 million in grant funding to develop mini-grids that will bring electricity to more than 5,200 rural homes and businesses. These grants are part of the U.S. Government’s $3 million effort to increase energy production and electricity access in Madagascar.
- Categories
- Energy, Investing, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- energy access, solar
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1.9 Megawatt Solar-Plus-Storage Project for Nhimbe Fresh, Zimbabwe
Following the close of a $4 million Series A funding round in June, momentum continues with Sun Exchange's expansion into sub-Saharan Africa and a landmark solar-plus-storage project. This multiphase project will power Nhimbe Fresh, an agriculture leader in Marondera, Zimbabwe.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Emerging Markets Ripe for Climate Deals, but Come With Social Costs, Risks
There is huge need for financing climate-related projects in emerging markets, but the social costs and the lack of return are acting as deterrents to global lenders.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
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Press Release: First-Ever Peace REC (P-REC) Transaction Drives Renewable Energy Development in Africa
The first-ever Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) transaction has been executed by Microsoft with Energy Peace Partners (EPP) and project developer Nuru. In the agreement, Microsoft is purchasing P-RECs issued by EPP from a new solar project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which will directly finance the installation of streetlights in a recently electrified neighborhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The streetlights are connected to the same solar-plus-storage system which generates the electricity associated with the P-RECs. The transaction was facilitated by renewable energy, transportation decarbonization, and climate solutions specialist 3Degrees.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Six Key Trends Driving Affordable, Low-Carbon Growth in the Rural E-Mobility Sector
In the last five years, a vast array of e-mobility startups have sprung up across sub-Saharan Africa, focused largely on electric bikes, scooters and three-wheelers. As Richa Goyal at Energy Saving Trust points out, these businesses are accelerating Africa's shift toward low-carbon transportation, while also boosting local manufacturing, skill development and job creation. She outlines six key trends and business model features in this emerging sector.
- Categories
- Energy, Transportation
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Press Release: CrossBoundary Energy Fully Exits First Fund at 15% Net Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Raises $40 Million To Continue To Scale Financed Solar for Businesses in Africa
CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) today announced the exit of its first fund at a 15% net IRR to investors. ARCH Emerging Markets Partners’ Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARCH ARPF) is providing $40M in new equity funding to exit initial investors and support CrossBoundary Energy to continue to develop, construct and operate distributed commercial & industrial (C&I) solar projects that will provide businesses across Africa with access to cheaper, cleaner power.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Reversal of Fortune: Five Ways Biden’s Win Will Boost Impact Investing in Emerging Markets
In the aftermath of the U.S. election, there's been considerable discussion of how Biden’s victory will impact different industries. According to Josh Knauer at JumpScale, one particular sector that will benefit is impact investing. He explains how the work of impact investors had become more difficult during the Trump years, and why there's reason to believe that the incoming administration will give the sector’s efforts in emerging markets a significant boost.
- Categories
- Energy, Finance, Investing, Technology, Transportation
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Solar Fridges and Powdered Vaccines: How To Get a COVID-19 Vaccine To the Developing World
UNICEF is building a global network of fridges and cold rooms—the cold chain—to make sure a vaccine stays effective as it’s transported to rural communities off the grid.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- supply chains, vaccines
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