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Exit Strategy: How Cashing Out Can Move Us Closer to Universal Energy Access
You might think that a lack of investment is the biggest problem facing off-grid energy companies. But as Leslie Labruto and Sarah Bieber at Acumen point out, in an industry that's seen over $1.4 billion invested since 2012, with only $50 million returned to investors, the lack of exits is an equally serious challenge. They discuss a new Acumen report that demonstrates how the shortage of exits is holding the sector back, and what can be done to address it.
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What Rural Solar Energy Enterprises Can Learn from Mobisol’s Hard-Earned Lesson
Energy access pioneer Mobisol’s insolvency, announced last spring, sparked questions about the industry’s health. But according to Rob Goodier, managing editor at Engineering for Change, subsequent analyses suggest that many of the company's problems were internal, not a reflection of the industry as a whole. He explores what the rural energy sector can learn from Mobisol’s struggles, based on interviews with industry insiders and two people close to the company.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
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France, Netherlands, Uk Commit US$350m to Emerging Solar and Storage
A handful of European states have moved to bankroll various World Bank clean energy initiatives, with US$100 million of French and Dutch money set to back PV in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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The Sales Mistakes That Are Holding Back Africa’s Solar Enterprises – And How to Fix Them
Selling solar energy products is challenging, so you'd expect solar enterprises to focus on making their sales departments as effective as possible. But in fact, as Whitten & Roy Partnership CEO Scott Roy points out, most solar companies are underemphasizing sales, harming not only their businesses but the broader industry's growth. He shares essential tips for how they can create truly effective sales teams.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
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The Next Big Thing for Energy Access in India? Service-Based Models for Productive-Use Appliances in Agriculture
The global off-grid solar industry has grown exponentially, driven largely by sales or leasing of small appliances enabled by the pay-as-you-go business model. But according to Lanvin Concessao at Oorja Development Solutions, the market is now shifting towards larger income-generating appliances used in small businesses and farms. He explores the impact these appliances can have in India, and how they can drive the irrigation and cold storage sectors' transition to solar energy.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
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Global Renewable Energy Initiative Aims to Bring a Billion People in From the Dark
Worldwide commission aims to end energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia by driving investment in new technology.
- Categories
- Energy
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Lifting the Lid on Mexico’s Off-Grid Opportunity
The company manages around 2.5 megawatts of off-grid solar capacity on behalf of customers who earn an average of just 2,450 pesos (around $125) a month and who in 90 percent of cases don’t have a grid connection for at least a kilometer.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Latin America
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In People and Dollars, Energy Access Is Growing by Billions: GTM’s Off-Grid Energy Access Forum Explores Why
Previously ignored off-grid populations are quickly becoming a fundamental piece of the energy transition puzzle: 2018 was a banner year for energy access investing, and 2019 is already on pace to surpass it. But as the sector continues to mature, some key issues demand attention, writes Benjamin Attia at Wood Mackenzie. Many of those critical themes will be on the agenda at Greentech Media’s Off Grid Energy Access Forum, taking place Oct. 2 in London.
- Categories
- Energy