‘Going Off Grid’
“Going Off Grid” explores new business models, investment strategies and public-private partnerships to bring services to the “energy poor.”
-
Guest Articles
Tuesday
July 7
2015Our Newest E-Book, ‘Going Off Grid’: Leaders building a grid-free future with limitless potential
In many countries, the once inflexible electrical grid is being reshaped and retooled in a creatively destructive process that offers access and returns on investment with less risk. The “Going Off Grid” series, which we are proud to present to you here in e-book form, explored new technologies, new business models and new forms of investing and participation in the developing market of energy infrastructure.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
-
Monday
September 29
2014NexThought Monday – Solving the Energy Access Problem: In-house distribution + in-house product design
Patrick Walsh founded Greenlight Planet to offer rural, low-income families a clean, affordable, and safe alternative to traditional kerosene lamps. But he and his team quickly discovered that producing a great product got them only halfway home. Walsh says bringing Greenlight’s distribution chain in house, along with its product design, has made all the difference for the for-profit firm.
- Categories
- Energy
- Tags
- distribution, solar, supply chains
-
Tuesday
July 29
2014Decisions, Decisions: How do enterprises choose their markets for clean energy products and services in India?
The off-grid electricity market in India is huge, with over 300 million people living without access to electricity. With such a large market, how do enterprises decide which geographical area to target? Should they focus on a small niche market, or diversify from day one? Sanjoy Sanyal and Pamli Deka of New Ventures India discuss the options and provide advice.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
-
Monday
July 21
2014NexThought Monday – Clean Energy Mini-grids for Rural Customers are Here to Stay: How to ensure power flows for long-term – Going Off Grid (pt 6)
In recent weeks we’ve seen big global development players drum up much-needed attention for renewable energy in Southeast Asia. Despite the headlines and events, for those who look at the statistics, it has never been a secret that Southeast Asia holds massive potential for renewable energy growth, particularly in the form of decentralized solutions.
- Categories
- Energy
-
Saturday
July 12
2014Weekly Roundup 7-11-14: ‘Going Off Grid’ is going mainstream
If the U.S. Congress and the president can agree on that investment in off-grid energy technology across the developing world that must mean it has broad appeal. Indeed, public/private investing in off-grid energy has caught on in a major way. This week we hosted a five-part series, Going Off Grid, which explored new technologies, new business models, and new forms of investing and participation in the developing market of energy infrastructure.
- Categories
- Energy
- Tags
- off-grid energy, solar
-
Friday
July 11
2014Selling Entrepreneurship, Not Solar Lamps: Going Off Grid Series (Part 5)
In the same way that mobile phones took the lead over capital-intensive land lines to revolutionize communication in the developing world, Meaghan Cassidy at at KARIBU Solar Power believes that pay-as-you-go will revolutionize energy.
- Categories
- Energy
- Tags
- off-grid energy, solar
-
Thursday
July 10
2014In Malawi, Turning the Wheel for Affordable Micro-Hydropower: Going Off Grid Series (Part 4)
MEGA is Malawi’s first independent power producing company, a mini-grid system that uses hydropower to bring power to remote areas. MEGA is based on 10 planned micro-hydro schemes on the fast-moving rivers of Mount Mulanje. But the main thing that sets it apart is its enterprise model. Rather than public or community ownership, MEGA is run as an enterprise that employs a clustered approach to mini-grid management.
- Categories
- Energy
- Tags
- off-grid energy
-
Wednesday
July 9
2014Why U.S. Companies Are Investing in Lighting Africa – the View from OPIC: Going Off Grid Series (Pt 3)
Recent history shows that powering Africa is not only possible, it has become a major business opportunity for U.S. companies, that are achieving success through innovative projects in a number of African nations.
- Categories
- Energy
-
Tuesday
July 8
2014Positive (and Negative) Charges – Which Business Models Are Surging: Going Off Grid Series (pt 2)
What’s the best business model for distributed energy solutions? Jack Bird with Santa Clara State University says the answer is entirely dependent on the technology, the target market and the resources of the enterprise. No one model is the silver bullet for providing the 1.3 billion people suffering from energy poverty with clean, reliable and affordable energy. There are, however, a few takeaways from the exhaustive Energy Map.
- Categories
- Education, Energy, Health Care
-
Monday
July 7
2014Lessons Learned from Over 60 Distributed Energy Enterprises : ‘Going Off Grid’ Series (pt 1)
Today NextBillion is launching a new series: Going Off Grid, which explores new business models, investment strategies and public-private partnerships to bring services to the ‘energy poor.’ In 2011, Santa Clara University launched the Energy Map to share the findings that grew out of the work with over 60 distributed energy enterprises working across the world, including Africa, India, South East Asia and Latin America.
