-
When ‘Patient Capital’ isn’t Patient Enough: How Mismatched Funder Timelines in PAYGo Solar are Holding Back Energy Access in Africa
The energy access conversation in Africa is usually framed around deployment, with success defined by connection targets, cost reduction and rural reach. But Kolawole Osinowo at the FATE Institute argues that these goals don't address a binding constraint for companies working at the last mile: the time it takes for households to repay the solar assets they bought via PAYGo financing. As he explains, the PAYGo model spreads out payments for the benefit of the consumer, but it adds the cost of waiting to the provider’s balance sheet — and that cost later spreads to the company’s investors. And though much of the capital that supports energy access presents itself as patient, willing to wait for these PAYGo assets to be repaid, in practice, these investors often behave otherwise. He discusses the impacts of this mismatch, and explores how capital can be structured for better alignment with PAYGo timelines.
-
Analysis: Wind and Solar Power Overtake Fossil Fuels in Germany for First Time Ever
Solar and onshore wind have grown rapidly under Germany’s “Energiewende” strategy over the past two decades, as the nation transitions away from both coal and nuclear power.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
- Tags
- decarbonization, renewable energy, solar, wind
-
ADB and Partners Power Timor-Leste’s Energy Future with Landmark Investment in Solar and Battery Storage
The landmark investment—which is also Timor-Leste’s first independent power producer project —will be operated by Manatuto Renewables Power and will help to transform the country’s energy landscape by reducing reliance on imported diesel.
- Region
- South Asia
-
OPEC Fund Provides $50 Million Loan to Vietnam’s SeABank for Small Business and Climate Financing
In a statement on Monday, SeABank said the loan can help it increase lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which account for around half of employment in Vietnam but continue to face a significant financing gap.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
-
19 Firms Get $1.5 Million Grant to Boost Solar-Powered Businesses in Africa
The programme which aims to deploy 3,800 productive use appliances, including solar-powered water pumps, refrigerators and milling machines, while creating over 3,000 green jobs across the three countries.Eight Nigerian companies were among the beneficiaries selected for the initiative.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Philippines Leads the World in Rush to Solar as Power Prices Soar
The rooftop solar rush has resulted in $407 million in panel imports in the three months through May, a 145% increase from a year earlier, according to trade data from China, which accounts for most global supply.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- South Asia
-
China and the West Are Taking Opposite Paths on EV Battery Recycling
China has 85% of the world’s recycling capacity and a mandate to shred old packs. The U.S. has another plan: use them to save the power grid first.
- Categories
- Technology, WASH
- Region
- Global
- Tags
- e-mobility, recycling, renewable energy, solar, waste
-
D.light Takes PAYGo Solar From Impact Funds to the London Stock Exchange
The listing brings d.light’s cumulative PAYGo receivables purchasing capacity to $1 billion — a milestone that few in the off-grid energy sector thought achievable when the company pioneered the first-ever PAYGo securitisation back in 2020.
- Categories
- Energy, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.