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Ending the Vicious Circle in PAYGo Solar: How Companies and Investors Can Move the Sector Toward ‘PAYGo 2.0’
The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) solar industry is facing decreases in both sales and investment capital, as rising customer default rates are driving a vicious circle of worsened unit economics and higher product prices. However, as Dan Murphy and Willem Nolens at PAYGo Lab explain, some companies are thriving by implementing systems to improve customer selection, education and support — an approach often referred to as "PAYGo 2.0." They analyze the industry’s challenges and share key lessons and best practices that can enhance its operational efficiency, financial resilience and sustainable growth.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Finance, Investing
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Power Plays: China’s Changing Energy Financing in Africa
Loans to Africa have been driven by China’s policy banks in support for coal and hydropower, but a more diverse cast of creditors could steer support towards greener ventures.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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New Fund Sabou Capital to Invest up to $1.5 Million in 25 African SMEs
The fund expects a modest 2-3x return on investment—closer to the 3- 5x range typical of private equity—compared to the high-risk 10x expectations of venture capital.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Data Centres Will Use Twice as Much Energy by 2030 — Driven by AI
Data centres accounted for roughly 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2024.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Global
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New Report Highlights How the Energy and Agriculture Sectors Working Together Will Enhance Food Security Across Africa
The report Beyond Silos: Strengthening Nexus Collaboration to Power Food Systems with Off-Grid Solar addresses the intertwined nature of energy use, efficiency, sustainability, and productivity of food systems in Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kamoa Copper and Crossboundary Energy Sign Agreement for a Groundbreaking Baseload Renewable Energy System in the DRC
This solar project is the first of its kind in Africa and will include a 222 MWp solar PV system and a 123 MVA/526 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- mining, renewable energy, solar
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Fueling Change: The Multiple Impacts of Increasing Liquefied Petroleum Gas Usage in Rural India
To address the negative impacts of cooking with biomass fuel, the Indian government launched a program in 2018 that offers free access to a clean gas cookstove and a refillable cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). But as Shobhit Mishra and Vaishaly Shrimall at MSC explain, the program faced logistical challenges that limited uptake among rural households. They explore the barriers that hinder the adoption of gas cooking in rural India, and discuss the impact of an MSC program that leverages self-help groups to boost LPG uptake while creating entrepreneurship opportunities for local women.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Finance
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Pioneer Facility to Fundraise $6 Million for Climate Enterprises in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh
Fund Manager Nexus for Development has 15 years of experience in financing climate entrepreneurs, leveraging expertise in debt finance and carbon finance to create lasting change.
- Region
- Global
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