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Farming Under Solar: How Agriphotovoltaics Can Transform Rural Livelihoods in India
As India scales up solar energy, a critical question has emerged: Can this transition deliver clean power without displacing farmers from their land? According to Laxmi Sharma, Bidisha Banerjee, Subhodeep Basu and Ashok Gulati at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, the country's renewable energy expansion has been led by large, ground-mounted solar projects, often located on agricultural land. But while this model has been effective in scaling solar capacity, it has also created a disconnect between the energy and agriculture sectors, while limiting participation among farmers. They explore how agriphotovoltaics (Agri-PV) can address these issues by enabling the cultivation of crops beneath or between panel arrays, and discuss the pros and cons of different Agri-PV operating models.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
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Switzerland and Malawi Authorise the First Article 6.2 Activity in Malawi: Malawi Dairy Biogas Program
The greenhouse gas mitigation activity is authorised under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, marking the first authorisation of its kind under the bilateral climate agreement between Malawi and Switzerland. It was developed in close partnership with Sistema.bio, EcoGen, ACT Group, and the KliK Foundation.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Trade-offs in African Energy Access are Real: Why Electrification Efforts Must Prioritise Industrial Use over Household Connections
In the face of stagnating progress, a debate has emerged about whether energy access efforts in Africa should prioritize household or industrial and commercial electrification. Taiwo Odugbemi, a power sector regulation specialist and economist, pushes back on the argument that household access should take precedence over industrial uses — and the assertion that Africa can pursue both goals simultaneously. He explains why maintaining a dual focus may not be realistic, given the continent’s grid limitations and constrained public resources, and argues that African electricity policies must evolve to prioritize productive use, particularly in industrial and agro-processing hubs.
- Categories
- Energy
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Analysis: Solar Brings Long-Awaited Water to Ethiopian Farmers
In 2024, WRI and DanChurchAid (DCA) conducted an extensive feasibility study in Berbere. The goal was to identify solutions that could boost agricultural productivity, farmer incomes and food security simultaneously.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, WASH
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Productive Use Has Challenges: What’s Holding the Sector Back — And How Companies and Investors Should Respond
Productive use of renewable energy (PURE) technologies such as solar irrigation, cold storage and agro-processing can have a transformative impact in Africa and other emerging markets. But though the potential of these technologies is undeniable, the scale isn’t. As Daniel Waldron, Chris Emmott and Kristi Chon at Acumen, and Duda Slawek at Open Capital explain, few agricultural companies are delivering PURE solutions, and fewer still are growing fast enough to meet the scope of the problems they are trying to solve. They share new research and analysis that illuminate the challenges that are holding the sector back, and propose three ways forward.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Investing, Technology
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Rockefeller, World Bank Fund Solar Projects Across Six African Countries to Boost Agriculture
The initiative will support the rollout of solar-powered cold storage facilities, refrigerators, water pumps and grain mills in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Agros Secures USD 2 Million from EDFI ElectriFI to Expand Solar-Powered Irrigation for Farmers in Southeast Asia
The financing will support Agros’ expansion in Indonesia and Cambodia and scale its “Pay-after-Harvest” model, enabling farmers to invest in high-quality solar water pump systems with flexible payment terms.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Solar-Powered Cold Storage Empowers Smallholder Farmers in India
In Andhra Pradesh and beyond, farmers are adopting solar-powered cold storage systems to help prevent post-harvest losses, reduce transportation costs through on-site storage, and improve incomes.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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