Page 11 - AfrElec Week 07

AfrElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AfrElec
to meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG7) for universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030.
“The off-grid solar industry is instrumental for achieving universal electricity access,” said Riccardo Puliti, Global Director, Energy and Extractive Industries and Regional Director, Infrastructure, Africa, at the World Bank.
“We are scaling up our support to client countries by helping them leverage this potential through innovative and financially sustainable solutions,” he added.
The sector would need an additional boost of up to $11bn in financing. More specifically, the sector would need to grow at an accelerated rate of 13%, with up to $7.7bn in external investment to companies and
up to $3.4bn of public funding to bridge the affordability gap.
“Only by crowding in commercial finance at scale can we reach the target of achieving universal access by 2030,” said Paulo de Bolle, Senior Director, Global Financial Institutions Group for IFC. “We are eager to work with our local bank partners in the more mature off-grid markets where commercial debt can drive the next stage of market growth.”
“This report is another confirmation of the significant impact off-grid solar has already achieved, and the massive opportunity that remains going forward,” said Koen Peters, Executive Director of GOGLA. “The Market Trends Report shares details on where we
stand, and where we should be heading next.”
WORLD BANK
OFF-GRID
ENGIE makes off-grid progress
ENGIE Africa has posted satisfactory growth in its African off-grid business since the launch of its Access to Energy (A2E) strategy in 2018.
ENGIE has achieved this through the development of its three A2E off-grid energy solution companies: Fenix International, ENGIE Mobisol, and ENGIE PowerCorner.
These three companies have so far connected 4n people in nine countries (Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mozambique).
Fenix, which was acquired by ENGIE in 2018, expanded its operations significantly
in 2019. It has sold more than 700,000 solar home systems that power 3.5mn people in rural communities across six countries. Fenix launched sales in Mozambique in June 2019.
In the last month, the company has reached milestones in multiple markets, with 150,000 solar home systems sold in Zambia, 50,000 sold in Benin, and 20,000 sold in Côte d’Ivoire.
ENGIE acquired Mobisol in October 2019. The higher capacity (40–200W) of ENGIE Mobisol’s products offers consumers access
to modern energy services and appliances to establish solar-powered small businesses.
ENGIE Mobisol has operations in Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, and has installed more than 150,000 solar home systems.
Mini-grid developer and operator ENGIE PowerCorner now has 13 mini-grids in operation across two countries (Tanzania and Zambia), serving 15,000 industrial users.
It is constructing new mini-grids in Uganda (in joint venture with Equatorial Power), Benin and Nigeria, with the aim to triple its number of customers this year.
ENGIE PowerCorner focuses on powering income-generating activities and productive usages, thus contributing to the increase of the economicwelfare of its rural customers.
Yoven Moorooven, CEO of ENGIE
Africa, says: “We strongly believe in the huge potential of the off-grid electrification sector and that it will be instrumental in rapidly and cost-effectively bridging energy gaps across Africa. ENGIE has an important role to play in industrialising and scaling up the off-
grid solar business. We are keen to offer the lowest cost and best quality Access to Energy solution that addresses our customers’ needs.” ENGIE
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