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SolarAid Wins Charity Awards International Aid & Development Category
SolarAid took the top prize in the International Aid & Development category at the 2024 Charity Awards this week, winning for its Light a Village project in Malawi.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vietnam Renewable Energy Firms to Benefit From Direct Purchase Agreements
Analysts with broker Saigon Securities (SSI) say that the DPPA mechanism can encourage more investment in domestic renewable energy projects.
- Region
- South Asia
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Why Private Businesses — Not Non-Profits and NGOs — Present the Only Scalable Solution for Last-Mile Electrification in Africa
In the pursuit of last-mile electrification in Africa, both businesses and NGOs/non-profits are pursuing different pathways to scale. In a recent NextBillion article, Aneri Pradhan at New Energy Nexus argued that market-led approaches are ill-suited for remote communities, and that philanthropy should focus more on scalable non-profit models. But according to Yariv Cohen at Ignite Power, when it comes to serving these communities at scale, businesses offer advantages that non-profits and NGOs cannot match. He explores why the private sector’s role is critical for addressing energy poverty across Africa.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
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Scalable Mini-Grid Design Requires Expandable Systems: Why Modular Technology and Finance are Key to the Sector’s Growth and Sustainability
Mini-grids offer a proven, low-cost solution to bring energy access to hard-to-reach communities. But as Nathan Sermonis and Liam Murphy at Vittoria Technology argue, mini-grid projects need to start small and grow alongside customer demand for optimal sustainability. They explore why smart mini-grid design requires expandable, right-sized systems with “modular” finance and technology, and discuss how recent innovations in batteries and other solar technologies can enable this change in the sector’s approach to system design.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
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Off-Grid Energy Leader ENGIE Energy Access Launches 15 Solar Mini-Grids in Zambia, Targets 60 by 2025
ENGIE Energy Access will provide reliable electricity to underserved families and small businesses, creating economic growth and increasing socio-economic welfare in local communities.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Orange Energies Opens Digital Platform for Energy Companies
According to the business, the IOT platform addresses the profitability difficulties that African energy producers confront by lowering the risk of non-payment.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Rethinking Credit Scoring: A Pay-As-You-Go Pioneer Explores Innovative Solutions in Africa
The ability to make life-changing purchases — from buying a home to setting up a business — usually relies upon acquiring credit. But as Mansoor Hamayun at Bboxx explains, in many emerging markets, it’s incredibly difficult for the average citizen to obtain a credit score. He explores the obstacles to credit scoring in Africa, and discusses how Pay-As-You-Go financing of solar products — combined with innovative approaches to consumer subsidies — can be leveraged to boost access to credit scores and essential financial services in underserved communities.
- Categories
- Finance
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Sefa Finances $8 Million for Productive Use of Off-Grid Solar in Ethiopia
The funding will support a pilot project “to test the commercial viability and effectiveness of a business model integrating mini-grids with agro-industrial operations at nine sites in Ethiopia”, says the AfDB.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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