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In 2 years, Indian government electrified 13,523 villages; only 8% were completely electrified
As of May 25, 2017, 13,523 villages have been electrified, but 100% household connectivity has been achieved in only 1,089 villages, according to data in the power ministry’s Grameen Vidyutikaran (GARV) dashboard.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Region
- South Asia
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Investors and Entrepreneurs in Africa Take Note: Price of Solar’s Dropping While Demand’s Increasing
A number of factors are combining to create a favorable environment for decentralized clean-energy systems – and strong investment opportunities – in emerging markets, according to Ankit Mishra of Premise Data. Most noteworthy, energy use in non-OECD countries is expected to rise by 71 percent through 2040, and the cost of renewable energy is projected to decline rapidly.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Investing, Technology
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More Than Lighting: Women Entrepreneurs Turn Solar Technology Into Opportunity
The entrepreneurs at Solar Sister, a social enterprise that uses networks of local women to directly sell solar lanterns in remote areas, aren't just lighting homes, they're transforming what rural Tanzanians do at home when it’s dark. Among the benefits they bring to communities they serve are more time for education, reduced health risks, increased productivity and larger household incomes.
- Categories
- Energy, Entrepreneurship
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d.light partners with microfinance institution Musoni for off-grid solar in Kenya
D.light’s managing director for Africa, Jacob Okoth, said that the partnership made perfect sense for the two companies, as they target the same customer segment. Musoni works to expand financial outreach in rural areas and d.light’s mission is to continue to work towards rural electrification.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How Oil, Coal and Wal-Mart Became Part of ‘Socially Responsible’ ETFs
As demand for do-gooder investing increases, particularly among women and millennials, fund managers are retooling their lineups to include diversified funds that appeal to a wider audience.
- Region
- North America
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Nigeria Seeks $5.2 Billion From World Bank for Electricity
Africa’s most populous nation produces about 4,000 megawatts of power compared with a average peak generation of about 35,000 megawatts in South Africa, with a population that’s less than a third of the size of Nigeria’s 180 million people. The lack of supply increases production costs for many businesses forced to provide their own electricity, mostly using diesel-run generators.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Solar power: A shot in the arm for India’s health centers
Nearly 35 million people in rural India relied on un-electrified primary health centers as of 2015, according to government data. One in every two primary health centers has no electricity or suffers from power outages, putting baby deliveries, paediatric emergencies and cold storage of vaccines at risk, among other vital health services. Renewable energy sources like solar power provide an opportunity to work around the challenges that accompany a lack of electricity.
- Categories
- Energy, Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- health care, India, renewable energy, vaccines
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There is Such a Thing as Too Much, Too Fast: Avoiding ‘Mismatched Expectations’ in Off-Grid Energy Investing
A recent post by impact investing firm Ceniarth on the "Energy Access Hype Cycle" has generated considerable discussion, prompting critical responses from fellow impact investors Persistent Energy Capital and the off-grid lighting trade organization GOGLA. With this post, writers at the IFC join the discussion, analyzing the effect of rapid growth rates, high levels of consumer financing and operational efficiency on the liquidity of solar home system providers.
- Categories
- Energy, Investing, Technology
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