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Angola Receives US $250 Million From World Bank to Enhance Electricity Access
The government of Angola has received US$250 million from the World Bank to improve the operational performance of the electricity sector utilities and increase electricity access in selected cities of Angola.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- energy access
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India Needs Over $900 Billion in Climate Finance by 2030: This Roadmap Can Mobilize Private Sector Investment
India is committed to lowering its greenhouse gas emissions, but its goals under the Paris Agreement are not ambitious enough. Simmi Sareen at GreenFunder and Shravan Shankar at the BIG Green Collaborative argue that the country must focus on increasing energy storage and efficiency, decreasing agriculture and manufacturing emissions, and adapting to a more hostile climate. They explore how innovative and scalable technology can address these priorities by 2030 — and how strengthening India’s climate financing structures can help generate the $100 billion in yearly private investment this will require.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Investing
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An Overlooked Engine of Economic Growth: Delivering Products – and Enabling Livelihoods – in Refugee Communities
The Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps in Kenya are home to nearly 200,000 people from 22 countries. Contrary to the stereotype of refugee settlements, these are thriving communities with around 2,500 businesses and over $56 million in economic activity per year. But as Sasha Kapadia at Mastercard points out, their economic growth is stifled by a lack of reliable electricity. She discusses a public-private partnership co-chaired by Mastercard and USAID, which is training people in these communities as sales agents for solar energy products, to spur entrepreneurship and boost access to energy and other essential products.
- Categories
- Energy
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Kenyan Energy Startup, SunCulture Obtains $11 Million for Its Solar-Powered Irrigation Expansion Across Africa
SunCulture, a solar irrigation startup headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has received an $11 million line of credit to expand its operations across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Minigrids and Cold Storage Are a Match Made in Sustainable Development Heaven – So What’s Keeping Them Apart?
The minigrid sector faces a dilemma: Most rural customers need electricity in the evenings, yet most minigrids generate their power during the day. This requires them to store unused power in expensive batteries, complement their solar power with diesel generators, or reduce production. As Seth Silverman and Tom Chaplin at Factor[e] Ventures explain, cold storage providers could offer minigrids reliable demand for their surplus power – yet these partnerships aren't happening. They explore the obstacles, and some potential solutions.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
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Press Release: New Report Shows Promising Improvements in off-Grid Appliance Energy Efficiency
The 2021 Appliance Data Trends report finds near-to-market products are significantly more energy efficient and affordable than they were five years ago. Televisions are 48% more efficient and 44% cheaper than 2016 models, despite increases in screen size. Similarly, fans are 49% more efficient than models assessed two years ago, with some models 2-3 times more efficient than conventional models sold in Europe.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: African Edtech Startup uLesson Secures $7.5 Million Series A Funding
Owl Ventures leads round with TLcom Capital, Founder Collective and LocalGlobe to scale digital access to education to millions across Africa
- Source
- Wimbart
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- edtech, energy access, startups
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The Public Option: How Smart Tariff Subsidies Can Boost Minigrids and Solve Africa’s Rural Energy Access Dilemma
The World Bank estimates that minigrids can provide electricity for up to 500 million people by 2030, and that the cost of minigrid electricity per kilowatt hour will decrease by two thirds in the same period. But as Daniel Kitwa at the Africa Minigrid Developers Association points out, these goals can only be realized through effective public policy, scale and innovation. He explains why a smartly designed subsidy program to reduce the cost of minigrid power for rural customers is the critical missing piece in these efforts.
- Categories
- Energy
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