New Energy Access Frontiers Emerging in Oft-Ignored Countries

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is ranked 184 out of 190 on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index and 175 on ease of getting electricity. By comparison, Kenya, a favorite of the donor community when it comes to energy access, ranks 92 and 106 respectively. The World Bank recently credited Kenya $150 million to provide solar to under-served communities.
Kenya, a favorite of the donor community when it comes to energy access, ranks 92 and 106 respectively…
https://www.powerforall.org/insights/africa/new-energy-access-frontiers-emerging-oft-ignored-countries

The Kenya Clean Energy Cycling Caravan

The Tour de France might still be one week away, but in Kenya young people are currently cycling across the country to connect with people who do not have access to energy. During the trip the cyclists are meeting with local communities and government officials to promote renewable energy as a clean solution to lack of energy access, ahead of the Kenyan elections that are taking place on the 8 August. This is part of the Big Shift campaign supported by the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access (ACSEA), the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Kenya Youth Climate Network and Christian Aid.
Kenya young people are currently cycling across the country to connect with people who do not have access to energy…
https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/events/kenya-clean-energy-cycling-caravan

Frontier Markets: Islands, Eagles, States

The buzz around decentralized renewable energy has so far mostly been in East Africa and South Asia, i.e. high-flying Kenya and massive India and Bangladesh. 2017 will see growth of decentralized energy into new frontiers. And thanks to Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), we now have a clearer picture of where the biggest opportunities for renewable energy to close the access gap are. The SEforAll “Heat Maps” identify the countries where the electricity deficit is highest, as well as the countries of high-impact for renewables penetration. If you overlay those, factor in which national governments are embracing decentralized renewables, then account for countries where finance and businesses are ready to scale, we have a pretty solid idea of what’s coming in terms of potential “new wins” for the sector in 2017, including:
high-flying Kenya and massive India and Bangladesh…
https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/frontier-markets-islands-eagles-states

Guest Post: 5 Lessons from Kenya’s Energy Access Boom

Kenya’s market for decentralized renewables is the fastest moving in Africa. Already 15-20 percent of Kenyan households use solar lighting and the country is home to a pioneering green mini-grids program, thousands of biodigesters and 3,000MW of micro-hydro systems. I was recently invited to share Kenya’s experiences on this rapid expansion with policy-makers in Zimbabwe, as both our countries work to achieve universal energy access by 2030.
Kenyan Embassy in Harare Kenya’s market for decentralized renewables is the fastest moving in Africa…
https://www.powerforall.org/countries/kenya/guest-post-5-lessons-kenyas-energy-access-boom

Kenya's 2020 Target Fires up Market

Kenya’s recently issued target of universal energy access by 2020 has galvanized the decentralized energy market, with companies looking to capitalize on Kenya’s rapid growth. The latest entrant is Berlin-based company Mobisol, who announced plans to open in the East African hub, along with an influx of new equity financing to fuel the expansion.
Kenya’s recently issued target of universal energy access by 2020 has galvanized the decentralized energy market, with companies looking to capitalize on Kenya’s rapid growth…
https://www.powerforall.org/countries/kenya/kenyas-2020-target-fires-market

Campaign Updates: October 2022

We continued to disseminate and facilitate discussions on the findings and recommendations of the 2022 Powering Jobs census. We launched Powering Jobs census country reports for Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya and took part in the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo held in Kigali, Rwanda.
https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/campaign-updates/campaign-updates-october-2022

DRE Sector at the Centre of Job Creation

The ‘Powering Jobs Census 2022: The Energy Access Workforce’ report, which compiles employment data from a comprehensive survey conducted across Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda, explores the potential of decentralized renewable energy to help achieve both United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 8. The report was well received and stirred debate on how best to encourage growth and inclusion in the distributed renewable energy sector.
https://mailchi.mp/powerforall.org/state-of-renewable-energy-jobs-in-africa-and-india?e=[UNIQID]

Africa’s Leading Mini-Grid Initiative Reports Key Findings

The leading mini-grid program in Africa today released its first findings after nearly two years of deployment in Kenya.
The paper, Powering Productivity, investigates various factors that can make or break the value of a mini-grid including recruiting the appropriate customer base, generating revenue, balancing supply and demand and creating social impact…
https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/africas-leading-mini-grid-initiative-reports-key-findings

Regulatory Obstacles and Financing Challenges Throttle Renewable Energy Access in Sub-Saharan Africa

As deputy director for Africa for the World Resources Institute in Kenya, Rebekah Shirley works with local clean energy companies that demonstrate to the world that Africa is invested in fighting climate change, she said in a TED Talk.
https://www.powerforall.org/insights/finance/regulatory-obstacles-and-financing-challenges-throttle-renewable-energy-access-sub-saharan-africa

Harvesting Hope: How Distributed Renewable Energy Can Reshape Agriculture for Communities and the Planet

More than 800,000 Kenyan dairy farmers have no electricity to refrigerate their milk, which means that about 60% of milk in Kenya spoils. Farmers don’t have access to electricity, and they can’t afford diesel generators, which are expensive to operate.
https://www.powerforall.org/insights/impact/harvesting-hope-how-distributed-renewable-energy-can-reshape-agriculture-communities-and-planet