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A New Kind of Irrigation Could Boost African Farming—and It’s Powered by the Sun
Pioneered in Israel, drip irrigation saves water and fertilizer by delivering droplets of water to the base of plants. But off-the-grid farmers aren't able to use the technology without expensive diesel generators.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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How Africa Is Hacking Its Energy Crisis
At a small dispensary in a village just outside Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I stared in disbelief as I watched health care provider, Recho Mengo, expertly balance a cell phone in her mouth so that she could free her hands to measure a pregnant woman's belly. The phone's flashlight was providing the only source of light in a facility that has no power. I couldn't help but think back to my own pregnancy less than two years prior; the situations were like night and day.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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INTASAVE Energy: Empowering Half a Million Africans to Improve Their Health, Education and Economy Starts with $1
A global not-for-profit organisation called INTASAVE Energy is fulfilling its vision for every person on the planet to have access to clean power through the launch of its innovative Solar Nano Grids (SONGs) project, which kick-starts in November. The first grid in Africa will be installed in Lemolo B in Kenya, a community of about 250 people, and the project will subsequently expand to over 500 communities across Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique, transforming the lives of 500,000 people within three years.
- Categories
- Energy, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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Investors’ Circle Starts New $3M Funder for Impact Investments
Durham-based Investors’ Circle has closed $1 million of its latest $3 million funder, aimed at fueling a particular breed of startup.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Tags
- impact investing, solar
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Street Lamp Targets Dengue Fever
Researchers at a Malaysian university have built an LED street lamp with a mosquito trap, both powered by wind and solar energy.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Health Care
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- infectious diseases, solar
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These Solar-Powered Machines Help Farmers Dry Their Food Instead of Letting It Rot
A lot of food grown in developing countries never makes it to the people's bellies. Because of a lack of refrigeration, it rots during transport or when farmers fail to sell it immediately at markets. Every year, 1.3 billion tons of food (with a value of more than $1 trillion) is wasted in this way, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
- Tags
- solar
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Green Energy for the Poor
An innovative business model combining solar power and cellphones is electrifying parts of rural Africa that are far from the grid.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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West Africa Off-Grid Solar Venture Gets $3.4 Million Investment Boost
Ghana-based pay-as-you-go solar firm PEG has raised GHS13.2 million (US$3.4 million) to expand its presence in the West African country.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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