Energy Access, Financial Inclusion, and Improved Livelihoods: PayGo’s Triple Win
“Africa is simply tired of being in the dark. It is time to take decisive action and turn around this narrative: to light up and power Africa – and accelerate the pace of economic transformation, unlock the potential of businesses, and drive much-needed industrialization to create jobs,” This was said by Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, in his speech at the Africa Union Summit held in January 2016 while outlining the bank’s five development priority areas for Africa’s transformation including Light up and Power Africa initiative.
India’s Decentralized Renewable Energy Enterprises Show Resilience Amid COVID -19 Pandemic
Clean Network has recently published the State of the Sector report, and it shows that the Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) sector in India, with policy and financing support, is poised to bounce back from the sluggish growth of the past year.
Women in Power: Celebrating Inspiring Women Leaders in Clean Energy Access
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.’ It recognizes the contribution of women and girls worldwide in addressing climate change for a sustainable future. To mark the day, Power for All pays tribute to some of the most accomplished women in the renewable energy sector as they share their passion and stories in a male-dominated field.
Blockchain is in the spotlight this month and you will get to know of its potential in the battle against energy poverty. Blockchain can be a game-changer in accelerating the scaling of innovations to increase energy access to the millions of people rural communities living in Africa and Asia living without access to reliable power.
Neither centralized nor decentralized energy is purpose-built to end energy poverty at scale, alone. Integrated energy approach through public private partnerships can accelerate energy access, through faster and lower-cost electrification, and advance productive use of energy. However, regulatory and finance interventions are needed to transform national energy systems into robust networks that deliver reliable, affordable, universal access for all.
African healthcare officials describe the urgent need for much greater support for electrifying rural healthcare facilities, calling the situation an emergency because of COVID-19.
Commercial and industrial (C&I) off-takers can become the main driver for the energy transition in Africa and elsewhere. This is in-line with a global trend that is seeing C&I businesses integrating renewable energy solutions to power on-site operations. Renewables address three issues: greening energy supply, reducing cost and making power more reliable.
SELCO has been working with community women in rural India to be on-the-ground business associates for DRE products.
On February 1, 2022, India’s Finance Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, tabled the 2022-23 Union Budget in Parliament. Climate action and Productivity were among the four pillars shaping this year’s budget. This article highlights some of the provisions in the budget that present opportunities to strengthen climate action alongside rural development and productivity.
Power for All reviews the need for increased financial investments in the Global South in this decade of action, to ensure energy access goals are achieved.
Power for All looks into the role India needs to play in ending energy poverty by increasing investments in decentralised renewable energy sector.
To be successful, the energy transition will require a generational transition as well. New ideas, new leadership, and new opportunities depend on putting young people at the center of shaping the future of energy systems in Africa and Asia. The time for business-as-usual approaches is ending, as we take the first steps toward the next energy generation and a new legacy.