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5 African Cleantech Startups You Need To Watch
African entrepreneurs and technologists are coming up with solutions to solve their own energy problems.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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A Solar Power-Charging Backpack Made From Recycled Plastic
Fledgling social enterprise Rethaka sells backpacks for school kids that do a few things at once: Made from recycled plastic bags, they first of all address the plague of waste from that material. And with a charger powered by solar energy, they provide light for children who lack electricity at home, while also reducing the use of kerosene, which causes a great many accidents and illnesses. Its CEO, 22-year-old Thato Kgatlhanye, founded the company and developed the product, called Repurpose Schoolbags, while attending a university in Johannessburg, South Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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The $7 trillion solar tsunami in our midst
Solar power costs just keep on falling, and with $7 trillion of investment piling into the sector, the momentum is now unstoppable.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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The Financial Power of the Group: How demand aggregation can enable consumer financing for renewable energy products
Salt farmers in Northern India use diesel pumps to help them harvest salt from sea water. They run these pumps for over 16 hours a day, which means up to 60 percent of their income is spent on fuel costs. Solar pumps could substantially increase their income, so Dalberg explored financing options that could make these pumps accessible. They discuss demand aggregation, one particularly promising solution.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
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Scatec Solar to Build First Large Scale Solar Plant in West Africa
A historic agreement to Build-Own-and Operate West Africa’s first utility-scale solar power plant has been signed by Norwegian company Scatec Solar and its partners, the Malian Ministry of Energy and Water and Electricité du Mali (EDM), the electricity utility of Mali. To be located near the ancient city of Segou in South-East Mali, 240 kms from Bamako, the 33 MW solar project is being developed in partnership with IFC InfraVentures and the local developer Africa Power 1.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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South Africa: Rural Maubane Receives Solar Powered Health Centre
The North West Department of Health together with Samsung Electronics South Africa have launched a Solar Powered Health Centre (SPHC), which officials says will improve access to specialised healthcare for Maubane residents.
- Categories
- Energy, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, solar
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Our Newest E-Book, ‘Going Off Grid’: Leaders building a grid-free future with limitless potential
In many countries, the once inflexible electrical grid is being reshaped and retooled in a creatively destructive process that offers access and returns on investment with less risk. The “Going Off Grid” series, which we are proud to present to you here in e-book form, explored new technologies, new business models and new forms of investing and participation in the developing market of energy infrastructure.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
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Botswana’s Hearing Aid Pioneers Are Betting on Solar Power to Go Global
Six years after developing the prototype of a solar-powered hearing aid, Deaftronics, a Botswana-based company, is readying to take its technology global.
- Categories
- Energy, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa