-
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.
-
The Clock is Ticking on Energy Access: Exploring Factor[e] Ventures’ Big Bet on Mini-Grids
Since 2010, the number of people without energy access has decreased from almost 1.2 billion to 840 million. But while that's encouraging, the world is not on track to meet SDG7’s goal of universal electrification. What's more, as Amanda DelCore at Factor[e] Ventures points out, more connections may not always equal more access. In light of these realities, she explores why Factor[e] has built its energy access thesis around mini-grids.
-
Making Subsidies Smarter: How to Create More ‘Bang for the Buck’ in Blended Finance
Blended finance can be a powerful approach to closing the SDG financing gap – and as Bjoern Struewer at Roots of Impact argues, it inevitably involves subsidies. But for those subsidies to be worthwhile, they must be provided in return for tangible development impact – and not eaten up by the cost of maintaining complex financial structures. Struewer explores how subsidies should be leveraged to maximize the impact of blended finance.
- Categories
- Investing
-
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
-
Press Release: World’s First $10 Million Sanitation Development Impact Bond Launches
A groundbreaking initiative to bring safe sanitation to some of the poorest and most vulnerable households in Cambodia launches today. The Cambodia Rural Sanitation DIB is the world’s first Development Impact Bond for sanitation and aims to eradicate the high rates of open defecation in the country and accelerate the Cambodian government’s efforts to reach universal sanitation.
- Categories
- WASH
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
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
-
With So Many Financial Instruments Out There – When and How to do Results-Based Financing
The field of results-based financing has taken root, and several new mechanisms have sprouted – from humanitarian impact bonds to outcomes funds. But while development impact bonds and their many variations are getting attention, too many organizations are working backwards to fit them into a particular program or context, write Kate Sturla and Ellen Anderson at IDinsight. They suggest three questions foundations, investors and intermediaries should ask to first diagnose their objectives, then select the right instruments to meet them.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Investors With US$2 Billion Urge Donors to Ramp up Support for Mini-Grids in Africa
Specifically, the 12 investors, which have more than US$2 billion under management, said that the missing catalyst for scaling mini-grids was an effective results-based financing (RBF) mechanism.
Subscribe to Our 'Business in Global Development' Newsletter!
Our new weekly LinkedIn newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with curated news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage of impact-focused business in emerging markets.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.