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Covid-19 to Wreck Economics of New Solar, Wind Projects
While the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the renewable energy market is still not clear, Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy says that new solar and wind projects will grind to a halt in 2020, creating a ripple effect in the years to come, as currencies throughout the world continue to slide against the US dollar.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy
- Tags
- renewable energy
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From the Fringe to the Center: Assessing the State of the Off-Grid Appliance Market in 2020
Energy access is about much more than connecting households to the grid, or getting them a rooftop solar panel. People also need access to life-changing appliances. But as Jenny Corry Smith at CLASP and Michael Tsan at Dalberg Advisors explain, these appliances still aren't reaching many households in rural sub-Saharan Africa. They share key insights from the new State of the Off-grid Appliance Market Report on how the sector can address this growing priority.
- Categories
- Energy
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Report: Global Renewables Expansion in 2020 Will Be ‘Wiped out’ by COVID-19
A Norwegian analyst group calculates growth in newly commissioned renewables projects will now be “wiped out” for 2020 and cut by a further 10% next year, reversing its pre-Covid-19 expectation of some 140GW of PV and 75GW of wind capacity being added this year.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy
- Tags
- renewable energy
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Unlocking Off-Grid Energy Finance: What Options Are Available for the Last Mile?
Extending the power grid to underserved communities is often prohibitively expensive. That's why decentralized renewable energy (DRE) is increasingly recognized as an essential approach. However, investments remain focused on grid-connected electricity, with only 1.2% directed towards DRE solutions in 2017. Surabhi Rajagopal and Eco Matser at Hivos explore challenges and solutions in financing energy access through DRE.
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Umeme Kicks Off a Global Partnership Pilot to Identify New Approaches to Clean Energy Access in Uganda
Umeme Limited, Makerere University, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Power for All – a global charity dedicated to accelerating the end of energy poverty – and a coalition of energy companies launched an integrated energy pilot to test new ways of accelerating energy access, stimulating customer demand and improving grid performance in Uganda that will primarily benefit poor and rural areas.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Africa Grapples with Clean Energy Conundrum
Africa is both the world's least electrified continent and the most vulnerable to climate change - the conundrum is how to meet the demand for energy without making the climate situation worse.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Waiting Game: Where is All the Investment in Solar-Powered Productive Use Appliances?
The solar industry has helped over 360 million people in off-grid communities gain access to basic electricity – and the sector is moving beyond just lighting. Many companies now offer household appliances and, increasingly, “productive-use” appliances that support income-generating activities. However, investment in companies deploying these technologies remains minimal. Leslie Labruto at Acumen and Jeff Stottlemyer at CLASP explore the problem, and some potential solutions.
- Categories
- Energy
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What Is Preventing the Adoption of Renewable Energy in Rural India, and How to Fix It?
In the hinterland, poor power quality continues to affect service delivery organisations in the health, education, and livelihood sectors.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- South Asia
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