In Distributing Solar, we speak to entrepreneurs and experts working in energy access and off-grid solar in emerging markets, bringing to life how distributed energy is changing lives around the world.Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com

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In this episode, we speak with six panellists working in energy access: Amaury Fastenakels: Chief Marketing Officer, BBOXX, Michael Sudarkasa: Chief Executive Officer, Africa Business Group, Karl Skare: Managing Director of Global Partnerships and Strategy, d.light, Raghav Sachdeva: Chief Investment Officer, Nithio, and Emily McAteer: Founder &amp; CEO, Odyssey Energy Solutions.We discuss options to finance energy access in emerging markets, ranging from equity, debt, special purpose vehicles, results based financing and much more.This episode was part of the Ross Energy Week event in 2021.

Financing Energy Access

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In this episode, we speak to Naomi Kioi from Greenlight Planet, one of the largest solar companies in Africa. Greenlight Planet is a social-mission, for profit company which has sold over 1.3m of their Sun King products since 2009 working in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria, expanding at a rate of over 65,000 new solar installations per month.We discuss:<ul><li>The growing influence of telecoms companies in off-grid energy</li><li>How energy access companies are partnering with telecoms companies to expand their customer reach</li><li>Greenlight Planet&#39;s goals and how to market solar energy to off-grid customers</li></ul> Show notes:<ul><li>(1:30) Introduction to Greenlight Planet and their focus on SDG 7; their vertically integrated business with manufacturing and distribution</li><li>(4:00) Intro to the role of telecoms in the energy access sector: focus on hard to reach areas where telcos have a physical presence; leveraging the data that telco markets have on customer information</li><li>(7:30) Greenlight Planet&#39;s partnerships with telcos - how they work</li><li>(11:00) Use of telco data to provide customer financing and alternative payment solutions</li><li>(13:50) The opportunity of energy access to help telcos diversify their revenue base and customer services</li><li>(23:00) The goals of Greenlight Planet and plans for the coming years</li><li>(27:00) The impact of COVID-19 on off-grid energy - increase of digital and mobile payments; more pre-purchase of energy</li><li>(30:00) Naomi&#39;s background and her work in Greenlight Planet - how to market solar to customers</li><li>(38:00) Partnerships as the way to accelerate the deployment of solar in off-grid energy</li></ul>

Telecoms companies in off-grid energy with Naomi Kioi (Greenlight Planet)

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We speak with Cameron Smith, Product Management Lead at ZOLA Electric, on the process and challenges of developing energy solutions for emerging markets.We discuss:<ul><li>The types of products ZOLA Electric has developed</li><li>Challenges of product management for energy solutions </li><li>Differences in customer needs and demands across various geographies.</li></ul> Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comVisit us at <a href="http://www.distributingsolar.com/" rel="nofollow">www.distributingsolar.com</a>Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>Show notes: <ul><li>(0:30) Introduction to ZOLA Electric </li><li>(3:00) Understanding the customer from off-grid to on-grid customer. Primary energy solutions: </li><li>ZOLA Flex - core product, DC infrastructure with solar and battery, with DC appliances</li><li>ZOLA Infinity - can be a off-grid/on-grid solution, for a customer with some access to grid electricity, able to work with an AC system; modular energy system</li><li>Flex Power - a new product to serve both AC and DC customers, that can work also within a distributed grid </li><li>(7:40) The product development and management process: collecting demographic data, user needs, comparing with existing market offering. Higher end markets with a greater focus on product differentiation to existing solutions. </li><li>(10:30) Expectations management: how to set / meet customers&#39; expectations with regards to electricity availability; limitations with regards to product lifespan, availability of electricity; shifting customers from a power focused mindset to an energy focused (taking into account storage also). </li><li>(13:00) Challenges of working with older appliances with higher energy consumption. The &#39;benefits&#39; of working with newer DC systems where you can also control the energy demand</li><li>(14:40) Challenges of developing products that can meet the variability of grid power quality; variable wiring or electrical systems</li><li>(16:00) How to manage the power challenges for product development - both operational and technical solutions</li><li>(17:00) How to think about hardware, software, firmware developments</li><li>(19:00) ZOLA&#39;S geographical coverage, moving towards a distributor model and its ability to help ZOLA expand globally</li><li>(20:50) Difference between customer demands by geography - e.g. greater need for air conditioning solutions for East Africa; differing penetration of smart phones</li><li>(21:40) Customers benchmarking against a Tesla Powerwall solution</li><li>(34:00) Challenges of working in West Africa, greater awareness of fraud, preference of financing solutions to ensure the product is working as expected; differing willingness to provide personal information to banks</li><li>(36:00) East Africa: more trusting environment, greater focus on building education and awareness of solar products and solutions</li><li>(37:00) Cameron&#39;s background and previous interest in global development; challenges of providing energy solutions that can meet customer needs </li><li>(42:00) The shifting focus towards peri-urban solutions, more people interested in global systems</li><li>(44:30) Customer facing brand changing to &#34;ZOLA&#34; Electric - that resonates across Africa, not just in East Africa and Swahili</li><li>(46:20) Future focus of ZOLA: greater focus on Infinity product, greater focus on microgrid systems and distributed grid solution - Infinite Grid product</li><li>(50:00) Recommended books: &#39;Territories of Differences&#39; by A. Escobar for greater awareness of cultural differences</li><li>(52:20) Advice: make sure you have a good understanding of the end user</li><li>(53:00) Predictions: Greater focus on microgrids, more focus on peri-urban customers</li></ul>

Product management for solar systems with Cameron Smith (ZOLA Electric)

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We speak with Tonya James and Piper Foster Wilder and from 60Hertz. 60 Hertz develops maintenance software for off-grid microgrids in remote locations, including solutions for areas where mobile and internet connectivity may be poor. They’re based in Alaska, which is home to 13% of the world’s microgrids, and are expanding their operations and working on projects around the world. We have a wide ranging conversation, discussing why good maintenance processes are critical for remote microgrids, the challenges of integrating renewables to microgrids, their efforts to make their user interface and graphics as international and self-explanatory as possible, and the importance of keeping mental health considerations in mind when working in remote communities, where there is often a higher incidence of trauma. We also speak about what it’s like for them as a team of three women first-time founders, and the challenges around fundraising and building a company in the off-grid energy sector. We discuss:<ul><li>Why an off-line maintenance solution is critical for remote minigrid operations </li><li>The challenges of integrating renewables to microgrids</li><li>Their efforts to make their user interface and graphics as international and self-explanatory as possible </li><li>The importance of keeping mental health considerations in mind when working in remote communities, where there is often a higher incidence of trauma. </li></ul>Show notes: <ul><li>(1:40) Introduction to 60Hertz: maintenance for remote energy systems; existing alternatives, e.g. primarily paper and pencil</li><li>(3:50) Why remote maintenance with off-line capability is important and the lack of good existing solutions, how 60Hertz&#39;s solution works</li><li>(7:45) Alaska&#39;s microgrids, in a remote location, the cost of electricity for some communities in Alaska</li><li>(10:00) Challenges for integrating renewables with diesel systems </li><li>(12:30) 60Hertz international projects; the similar problems faced by microgrid operators globally</li><li>(15:00) Their target markets, including military microgrids, and how Tonya&#39;s background helps with their work</li><li>(18:30) How Tonya and Piper started 60Hertz and how they came to the off-grid energy sector</li><li>(22:30) The largest challenges faced by Tonya and Piper: technical challenges, HR &amp; people management, and difficulty of raising money; operational &amp; change management, balancing personal life, family and work</li><li>(30:00) Their plans for coming years: increasing functionality, making their software accessible to users with low literacy abilities, focus on women maintenance providers, their product roadmap</li><li>(34:00) The challenges of mental health in some of their work; adverse childhood experience, workplace trauma, military trauma, which are more likely in remote microgrids</li><li>(37:00) Their fundraising background for 60Hertz</li><li>(40:30) Industry focus on starting projects, but not enough attention paid to the ongoing maintenance requirements and long-term efficacy of operations to achieve the goals; the opportunity for local buy-in when designing maintenance</li><li>(44:45) Where the name 60Hertz comes from </li><li>(45:45) Favourite books for 2020: Traction, Insight, Braver, Biography of Dolly Parton, Extreme Ownership, Drive, Reality-based leadership</li><li>(49:00) Advice: Timeline is different for off-grid energy; importance of relationships</li><li>(50:30) Predictions: Growth, rural areas teaching urban areas about energy management </li></ul> Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comVisit us at www.distributingsolar.comFollow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>

Minigrid maintenance with Tonya James and Piper Wilder (60Hertz)

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In this conversation, we speak with Brave Mhonie, General Manager of SunnyMoney in Malawi. SunnyMoney is the largest seller and distributor of solar lights in Africa, and is a social enterprise owned by SolarAid, an international UK-based charity.  We speak about their business model innovations to enable Sunny Money to grow sales in a sustainable and profitable way; how SolarAid and SunnyMoney work together to innovate entrepreneurship in rural, remote locations, and the importance of education and SunnyMoney’s partnership with schools, teachers and the Ministry of Eduction in Malawi. We also speak about how the solar industry has changed in the past decade and how the promise and potential for clean energy shifted Brave&#39;s aspirations to work as a medical doctor, to having now worked over 10 years in the solar industry. Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comVisit us at www.distributingsolar.comFollow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>Show notes:(1:00) Introduction to Sunny Money; SolarAid&#39;s founding by Jeremy Leggett, focusing on trade rather than aid(3:20) Sunny Money&#39;s approach to innovative business model and the evolution of go-to-market strategy; initial focus on pico solar and solar lights; how the industry has changed in the past 10 years enabling businesses to focus on distribution(5:00) Their focus on seeding solar businesses in local areas, receiving investment from local businessmen to expand their reach across Malawi, providing working capital for SunnyMoney who continues to manage the business; a financing innovation for local businesses(6:00) SolarAid&#39;s partial subsidy to provide a cushion for the costs to reach a remote customer; how to get a substantial presence in a rural community; operational expenses which are partially covered by SolarAid(12:00) Customer engagement model; an initial deposit paid by customer; sales representatives act as area agents to manage cash collections, after-sales services, payment management (14:00) Mobile money&#39;s role; supported business, however some areas where mobile money is not available. The continued need to manage debt; the difficulty of managing payments during seasons when customers focus on buying farming materials (16:00) Overview of the solar industry in Malawi over the past 10 years: growing customer awareness and interest in larger systems; government&#39;s role in supporting the sector, removing VAT and various taxes(17:00) The government&#39;s potential to help with consumer education, making consumers aware of other affordable energy solutions; the potential for government infrastructure development(19:00) Diesel genset, batteries as alternative energy sources; dry cell powered torches(21:00) Brave&#39;s route into Sunny Money, initially wanting to work as a medical doctor, and seeing the potential to improve health with solar power(24:00) Challenges of managing people, importing goods, financing assets; it&#39;s a new sector so there are many challenges(25:00) SolarAid support in funding; Developing financing business co-operatives with Global Distributor&#39;s Collective (27:00) Surprised by the government&#39;s interest in combating energy poverty (29:00) How they decide to expand: looking at income levels, population density, support and existing infrastructure and organisations that can help them(30:00) Their partnership with the Ministry of Education; using teachers&#39; development centers as distribution points(34:00) Working with SunnyMoney in other countries(36:00) Advice: Be patient and keep innovating! (37:00) Inspiring figures: Jeremy Leggett and the person who introduced him to solar in the first place(38:00) Recommended books: Blue Ocean Strategy(39:00) Predictions: the off-grid solar sector will grow very quickly, with growing demand for investments

Innovative solar business models with Brave Mhonie (SunnyMoney / SolarAid)

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In this episode, we speak with Maya Stewart, co-founder of Yellow Solar Power, a digital-first solar energy retailer in Malawi. Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comVisit us at www.distributingsolar.comFollow us on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/distrib_solar ) and LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/ ) Episode notes:(1:15) Introduction to Yellow Solar Power, Maya&#39;s background in marketing and her start in solar lighting technologies, growing demand for solar technologies and shift towards SHSs; the lack of initial interest for off-grid companies to work in Malawi (4:30) Concerns by solar companies working in Malawi due its low GDP; the beginning of Yellow working to provide electricity to 4m households; their use of PAYG / mobile money technologies and platforms(7:30) Their lean, bootstrapped approach to starting the company(8:30) Yellow&#39;s agent network: trying to minimise transportation costs; investments in providing news, branding, information and training of their agents; a local-focused approach in high population density areas; agents as the central point of contact for their customers for a 24 month relationship(13:30) Yellow&#39;s digital retail approach: a remote structure, all agents are online and on Whatsapp; applications are all digital(15:30) Progress of Yellow: Started in 2018 and their faster than expected growth; the importance of fundraising and selling 20k units by September and expecting 50k units by December 2020(18:30) Their agent scout approach, to bring on new agents(20:00) Their decision to focus on Malawi; the impact of deforestation in Malawi on the lake and hydropower, reducing the output and reliability of hydro electricity(23:00) The gender impact in energy(27:00) How lighting affects women: the need for women giving birth to provide lighting, to look after the sick, to support girl&#39;s education, providing security(29:30) Their approach for trying to encourage more women to join Yellow: the need to have a smart phone to be an employee; their Project Khumbo to encourage women to join; how women agents can relate well with customers and build a strong customer relationship (44:00) The impact of lack of education for girls in Malawi(47:00) Maya&#39;s background, growing up in Kenya and her decision to move back to Malawi after university(50:00) Where the name Yellow come from(51:30) Recommended book/movie: &#39;The boy who harnessed the wind&#39; - based in Malawi(52:50) Advice: Understand your customer and know what they want and need; how solar can help to solve other social problems, e.g. urban migration(56:00) Maya and her husband&#39;s love of travelling (58:00) Prediction: huge growth in off grid electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa, with huge opportunity

Household solar in Malawi with Maya Stewart  (Yellow Solar Power)

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Mini-grid data platform for emerging markets with Emily McAteer and Eitan Hochster (Odyssey Energy Solutions)

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We speak to Tobias Engelmeier from TFE Energy and VIDA about data and analytics in the off-grid energy access sector, focusing on digital planning. This is the shorter version of our conversation; full conversation also available. Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comVisit us at www.distributingsolar.comFollow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>VIDA website: https://www.villagedata.io/

(Short version) Data analytics and digitalisation in off-grid energy with Tobias Engelmeier (VIDA)

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We speak to Tobias Engelmeier from TFE Energy and VIDA about data and analytics in the off-grid energy access sector. Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comVisit us at www.distributingsolar.comFollow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>VIDA website: https://www.villagedata.io/ Show notes: (1:55) Tobias&#39; background and how he entered the energy sector(4:00) The reason they produced a report on digitalisation, and the limited progress and adoption thus far within the energy sector in frontier markets(7:00) The main reasons the industry is not on track to meet SDG7 by 2030 - why scale has not reached the energy sector yet(9:20) Introduction to digital payments, which is the most developed within the sector; introduction to scratch cards through to blockchain technologies. A lot of solutions deployed are not fully tech-enabled yet; the technology adoption story that is emerging(15:30) Village Data Analytics and their approach to digitalisation and what the need is for additional data to accelerate the pace of deployment; decisions currently made in data lean environments; VIDA&#39;s focus on off-grid areas(19:00) Intro to VIDA / Village Data Analytics; helping to make decisions on where to build minigrids, extend the grid, etc. (21:20) Focus on decision making rather than just information provision(22:30) VIDA&#39;s approach to obtaining new sources of data (e.g. from satellite imagery) and using Machine Learning methods to impute data that does not currently exist; specialists developing models with deep industry knowledge(24:45) Examples of customers: governments (e.g. working in Ethiopia, identifying villages, key characteristics, supporting decision making for governments prioritising which health centres should be electrified as a priority); corporates and companies (e.g. SHS companies and microgrid companies; identifying the best targets for expansion and for site selection, for example with PowerGen)(32:30) Which factors are the most important for siting mini-grids and new locations: looking at anchor loads, infrastructure information, average income, ability to pay, etc. Villages as their unit of analysis; the cultural boundaries to their analysis(35:20) The capabilities and analytics that VIDA can provide; the appeal to a broader customer base and other industries (e.g. agriculture, health care etc.) (38:50) Why a data-driven approach has not quite taken off as quickly as we would expect; the need to embed within business-as-usual processes(43:00) Their partnerships and relationship with other organisations, e.g. Odyssey Energy Solutions, Applied AI (48:00) The need to look out for biases that may be integrated in the analytics and models(49:45) Where the name Village Data Analytics comes from(51:30) Tobias&#39; book on Indian politics: Nation-Building and Foreign Policy in India(52:00) Advice: get hands-on experience in the industry; work with funders and financing providers(55:00) Prediction for next 5 years: Great optimism; lots of entrepreneurship and falling technology costs; improved regulations

(Full version) Data analytics and digitalisation in off-grid energy with Tobias Engelmeier (Village Data Analytics / VIDA)

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In this episode, we speak with Abhishek Jain from CEEW in India. We speak about Clean Cooking, and Abhishek shares his top 12 (not-so-obvious) findings about the Productive Energy Use industry. Visit us at www.distributingsolar.com Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comFollow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a> <a href="http://ceew.in/" rel="nofollow">CEEW</a>: company websiteAbhishek Jain&#39;s Nature article on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-0635-4?proof=t" rel="nofollow">LPG and clean cooking</a>Abhishek Jain: <a href="https://medium.com/energy-access-india/12-not-so-obvious-insights-about-distributed-renewables-for-productive-use-4d41fc22ca28" rel="nofollow">12 (not so) obvious insights about distributed renewables for productive use</a> Show notes: (2:00) What is the need for clean cooking and why solid fuels are an issue; the public health impact of solid cooking fuels(5:00) The clean cooking solutions that are available: Biogas, LPG, Electricity, Natural Gas (BLEN); the contentious research around improved cookstoves in contrast to clean cooking(7:30) India&#39;s focus on LPG to provide clean cooking solutions; LPG&#39;s history in India and its penetration to rural India (11:00) Affordability as the most significant barrier to widespread adoption to clean cooking; cultural and behavioural elements to changing behaviour; 50% of rural households are now using LPG(13:30) Four key recommendations: 1) Additional nudges and incentives are required 2) Community norms are very important 3) Households with cattle are less likely to transition 4) Household with irregular incomes are less likely to transition to LPG(19:00) Fuel stacking, and using multiple sources of energy (21:40) 12 (not so) obvious insights about distributed renewables for productive use (21:40) 1. The market opportunity is BIG(24:10) 2. But the market is hard-to-capture(26:00) 3. It’s a game of value, not volume(27:55) 4. Energy efficiency is the key(29:40) 5. End-user financing and service-oriented business models would be game-changing(31:30) 6. For manufacturers: It is hard to survive on a single product(33:00) 7. For deployers: Sustaining a single product portfolio would be unviable(33:00) 8. To survive on a single product — vertical integration is the way to go(33:00) 9. There are no big manufacturers for most productive use appliances(35:10) 10. Market signals are weak. Only the perseverant and networked can succeed(36:45) 11. Distribution channels are not apparent, but existing(38:30) 12. Keep in mind the big picture: A new rural economy(39:00) The impact of COVID-19, the potential to focus efforts on a rural economy; impact of disruption in value chains; the potential to innovate during COVID-19; the trauma of returning to rural areas during COVID-19 lockdown.

Clean Cooking and Productive Energy (Part 2) with Abhishek Jain (CEEW)

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We speak with Abhishek Jain from the Council for Energy Environment and Water in India. We discuss energy access, productive energy use, solar water pumps, and the electricity sector in India. Visit us at www.distributingsolar.com Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.comFollow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/distrib_solar" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/distributing-solar/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a> Show notes: (1:40) Introduction to CEEW, the Council on Energy Environment and Water - a not-for-profit think tank. Abhishek&#39;s focus on energy access, productive livelihoods, and food systems(6:00) Their work in international topics, outside of India(7:45) India&#39;s energy landscape and the significant progress in recent years: estimated 97% electrification rate in India; improving availability (~21 hours/day) and the ongoing need for reliability(10:45) Most electrification conducted by the national, government-led efforts; ~0.5% of population received electricity from decentralised energy solutions(12:45) Powering Livelihoods program, focused on productive energy use and solar powered solutions, in partnership with Villgro; working with existing enterprises to expand their deployment (focused on agribusiness and textiles); collecting data to provide evidence for the viability of the sector(16:30) The types of solutions they work with: solar water pumps, cold storage and biomass, drying machines, sorting machines, processing machines, expelling machines; spinning machines, solar looms etc. The pipeline of solar powered productive energy use appliances(21:00) Supporting the enterprises to adapt to a post-COVID environment; engaging with government agencies and financial players(23:30) The focus on gender within their work: ensuring greater gender inclusivity in their program(25:00) Existing limited irrigation in agriculture; the diversity in groundwater health across India - some areas are facing water stress, but other areas have the potential to improve their use of water resources(28:40) CEEW&#39;s tool to assess whether water pumps should be used in a specific areas, and what additional technologies should be deployed alongside water pumps(31:00) Dual electricity distribution network: one for agriculture and water pumps, one for household use(33:00) Water-as-a-Service solutions and business models

Productive Energy Use in India (Part 1) with Abhishek Jain (CEEW)

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We speak with Waringa Matindi, CEO of Village Energy, a Ugandan company providing custom solar installations for rural businesses, institutions &amp; agriculture that enable improved incomes, job creation, and access to services. We speak about Waringa’s experience as a new CEO, how gender equality interacts with energy access, the cultural differences between Kenya and Uganda, and even blockchain and cryptocurrency! Recorded in June 2020 Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com Show notes: (1:10) Waringa&#39;s background in the development sector, gender equality, and her desire to work in reducing poverty. The focus of Village Energy in increasing revenues and incomes(3:30) Village Energy&#39;s focus on customised installations for productive energy use; working mostly with businesses (schools, SMEs, health centers)(6:30) Most of their customers are off-grid, replacing diesel generators; some customers are looking for greater reliability(7:40) The use of remote monitoring to ensure the solar system is being used correctly, not being overused and reducing the quality of the battery; can provide alerts for upcoming payments(10:51) Village Energy&#39;s hub and spoke model: the need for local offices to build trust with customers, provide reliability and engagement with customers(14:20) Waringa&#39;s experience becoming a new CEO; the contrast of working in business vs. the development, non-profit sector. The social impact of Village Energy&#39;s work in changing the lives of their customers(18:20) Village Energy&#39;s business model as fully for-profit, however some customers find additional sources of funding from grant sources; schools and health centers which are able to provide better services due to access to electricity. The benefits of street lighting to provide greater safety(21:15) Their experience with Binance Foundation, installing solar for schools - working with cryptocurrency(25:15) The contrast between Kenyans and Ugandans: Kenyans being more straightforward and direct; Ugandans being very polite and kind(30:30) The interconnection between gender and development, and energy access: the importance of gender and equality, dirty cooking fuel&#39;s impact on women; the ability for energy access to provide additional income for women; the lack of DC productive use appliances that are focused on women&#39;s needs (37:00) Their goals for the coming years, to grow their current business; to install 1,200 systems(38:40) The impact of the solar off-grid sector(39:40) The need for patience in the solar sector(40:00) The need to make difficult decisions earlier(41:10) Recommended books: The Hard Thing about Hard Things, by Ben Horowitz; Building a Cash Cow in Kenya by Nat Robinson; How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen (43:30) Their excitement about Li-ion technology that will enable the solar sector to change and improve their business model

Customized Solar in Uganda with Waringa Matindi (Village Energy)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/7/2/3/289572b0-c19d-476d-a76f-1ca99c6332d1_ilumexico_final_version__july_2020.m4a

In this episode, we speak with Manuel Wiechers from Iluméxico about last mile electrification in Mexico. We discuss the challenges of providing energy access to remote communities in Mexico and Latin America, the regulatory setting for energy in Mexico, the challenges for the off-grid sector in portfolio management, and their shifting business model to a servicing and PAYG model. Recorded in June 2020 Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com Show notes: (1:30) How Manuel got into the energy and solar sector; how he started Iluméxico after working at GE&#39;s wind division(5:00) Energy access and electricity sector in Latin America, how the market differs from the energy needs in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia(7:15) Iluméxico&#39;s business model and product offerings: Tier 3 &amp; Tier 4 solar home systems for households, large energy systems that can be upgradable Last-mile service company, with a utility business model PAYG payment options in remote regions without connectivity requirementsRemote monitoring capabilities for energy systems(13:10) Their decision to develop their own hardware and software solutions, or to partner with other providers; the development of their new product, El Colibri (18:00) Their progress to date, and the impact on customers and communities; their rapid scale in the past two years, installing over 24,000 systems; their partnership with government to reach last-mile customers; productive energy use and benefits of electricity(23:00) The benefits and drawbacks of working with government agencies: the ability to reach customers more quickly, subsidising the cost of solar systems, the emphasis on development but poorer payment rates. The actions of recent government policy changes in the energy sector, and the impact on Iluméxico (29:00) The progress towards 100% electrification in Mexico by 2025 (30:45) About rural, remote communities in Mexico; low income, primarily indigenous communities; their current reliance on diesel and candles (33:40) Their experience in the Colombia; their work in Colombia with higher energy users (36:20) The need to build trust with rural communities; not taking any payments until devices are installed; avoiding affiliations with political entities(39:10) The biggest challenges within the off-grid energy sector (there are many!); the need to focus on portfolio management, ensuring high repayments from customers(43:30) Financing for Ilumexico, between debt, equity and grants; the unsuitability of VC funding in many contexts; the need for grants and subsidies to reach some of the most remote customers(47:00) How to ensure higher customer repayments; looking at data (but with limited results); customer segmentation and ensuring high quality customers; focus on service provision; the need for flexible payments(51:30) Their work around productive energy use: providing refrigeration services; agri-processing; connectivity; schools and health clinics(53:40) Their goals for the coming years: looking to expand to other countries in Latin America, other last-mile electrification opportunities even in the USA(56:50) Where the name Iluméxico comes from(59:15) What Manuel does when he&#39;s not working(1:03:00) Nancy Wimmer&#39;s Green Energy for a Billion Poor(1:04:00) Advice for an entrepreneur or investor(1:05:00) Predictions for the next 3-5 years: the significant impact of failure in the off-grid sector, the challenge of proving the off-grid business model; the potential for the future through partnerships

Last Mile Electrification and Energy Access in Mexico with Manuel Wiechers (Iluméxico)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/9/28/9/9f9c6542-bf54-4209-b4dd-167a28f97c11_henry_louie_final__short_version_.mp3

We speak with Henry Louie, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Seattle, and author of &#39;Off-Grid Electrical Systems in Developing Countries&#39;. We discuss the technical considerations for off-grid electrical systems, common pitfalls or misunderstandings in off-grid energy systems, his work with the non-for-profit organisation &#39;KiloWatts for Humanity&#39;, and the importance of considering the potential negative impacts of well-meaning efforts.  This is the shorter version of our conversation; full conversation available also. Recorded in May 2020 Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com

(Short version) Technical training for off-grid energy with Henry Louie (KWH / Seattle University)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/6/14/5/f94d5573-a2fc-425e-b1ef-eb8631936345_henry_louie_final.m4a

We speak with Henry Louie, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Seattle, and author of &#39;Off-Grid Electrical Systems in Developing Countries&#39;. We discuss the technical considerations for off-grid electrical systems, common pitfalls or misunderstandings in off-grid energy systems, his work with the non-for-profit organisation &#39;KiloWatts for Humanity&#39;, and the importance of considering the potential negative impacts of well-meaning efforts.  Recorded in May 2020 Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com Show notes(1:30) Henry Louie&#39;s background, how he started working in the off-grid energy industry(6:00) Background to the textbook: intended audience, why he wrote the textbook, and the need for a single textbook to pull together the key technologies and concepts for off-grid energy sector(11:00) Typical sources of training for people working in the sector(14:30) Other types of training events that Henry Louie has provided, and what he typically covers(16:40) Factors to consider when selecting the generation source for off-grid systems (considering wind, diesel, solar etc.)(22:50) Common misconceptions or misunderstandings encountered in the sector (over-engineering systems, over-reliance on surveys to estimate electricity load) (29:20) His work with Kilowatts for Humanity (KWH); reasons they separated the non-profit from the university and the importance of ensuring long-term commitment to off-grid energy projects; the importance of using local installers; how to ensure sustainability of off-grid systems (37:50) Quick introductions to some electrical concepts: AC-DC coupling Load factorGrid tied invertersBypass diodes(41:40) Process of writing the textbook(44:50) Other considerations for off-grid energy systems, e.g. use of donated equipment, ensuring the use of local installer companies and the need for capacity building, the potential unintended consequences of good intentions. (52:40) The choice of &#39;developing countries&#39; for the title of his textbook(55:30) How to access a copy of the textbook(56:20) Where the name KWH came from(57:15) Recommended books: Out of Poverty by Paul Polak; The Impact of Electricity: Development, Desires and Dilemmas by Tanja Winter(59:15) Hopes for the off-grid sector in the next 5 years: the need to discuss e-waste; the ethics of switching off systems when payments are delayed.

(Full version) Technical training for off-grid energy with Henry Louie (KiloWatts for Humanity / Seattle University)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/6/2/3/2aa2326f-67fc-43a6-a02b-414b25717ac4_trine_andreaslehner_final_june2020.m4a

We speak with Andreas Lehner, co-founder of Trine. Trine is a crowdfunding platform that enables retail and institutional investors to invest in off-grid solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. They provide debt financing for energy projects, and have raised over EUR36 million to date. We discuss debt finance to provide working capital for companies working in growing and emerging markets, the trends towards sustainable and impact investing, and why the global financial investment landscape needs to change. Recorded in May 2020 Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com Show notes: (1:35) Andreas Lehner&#39;s background and how he came to start Trine(4:25) Trine: how does it work and what do they do(6:30) Alternatives to debt financing for solar in emerging markets: primarily high-interest inflexible funding from local banks, or philanthropy and donations(8:55) Trine&#39;s flexible financing approach, e.g. just-in-time financing, with more efficient deployment of capital (10:30) Offering match funding, co-funding with institutional investors, first-loss and guarantees to investors(15:45) Trine&#39;s early days and their plans for their coming years: how impact investing will become the new normal(18:40) Social and environmental impact of Trine&#39;s borrowers, in particular for BBOXX in the Solar Home System (SHS) space(21:30) Trine&#39;s partners, e.g. BBOXX, Greenlight Planet, Yellow Solar, Kingo, Daystar Power. How their partners work with Trine and the due diligence process (usually 2-3 months from start to finish)(26:30) How it works for retail investors(30:15) Trine&#39;s growth: balancing between both sides of the marketplace of borrowers and lenders(32:00) Their customers, repeated customers and investing behaviour(33:40) Geographical focus and countries they&#39;ve invested in; their interest in the mini-grid sector and West Africa(35:40) Learnings as a founder and a company(39:45) Merging commercial and retail investors; expanding to commercial and institutional funders to increase their impact(43:45) Trine&#39;s equity fundraising for themselves as a company(45:20) Trine&#39;s longer-term vision and plans(47:00) Andreas&#39; perspective on the sustainable and impact investment landscape; the need for a new way of investing (50:10) The impact of COVID-19 to date (as of May 2020) (53:00) Where Trine&#39;s name came from(53:45) Advice to an entrepreneur: focus on your customer; reach out if you want to learn something(56:40) Predictions for the next 5 years: consolidation in the off-grid sector; growth of the mini-grid sector; C&amp;I sector; productive use of energy.

Debt finance and impact investing with Andreas Lehner (Trine)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/5/26/3/529d28e7-1528-457f-89ee-4038ee4ec272_richard_harrison__spm_final_may252020.m4a

We speak with Richard Harrison, CEO of Smart Power Myanmar, a non-profit organization working to accelerate the adoption of decentralised renewable energy in Myanmar by providing data and evidence, convening key stakeholders, and offering financing solutions. We discuss the current energy landscape in Myanmar, the need for an integrated approach to electrification, the importance of offering financing solutions alongside electrification efforts, and the benefits of productive energy use.Recorded in May 2020Visit us at <a href="https://www.distributingsolar.com/podcast/smart-power-myanmar" rel="nofollow">www.distributingsolar.com/podcast/smart-power-myanmar</a>Contact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com Show notes: (0:55) Richard&#39;s background and prior work in Myanmar(2:30) Introduction to Myanmar, its geographical, economic, and political background(8:05) Myanmar&#39;s electricity sector, progress in recent years, and electrification targets(11:40) Smart Power Myanmar&#39;s approach to accelerating electrification in Myanmar(13:55) Smart Power Myanmar&#39;s strategic focus and identified barriers to electrification (18:12) Approaches to providing commercial and consumer financing adopted by Smart Power Myanmar - equipment financing facility and the Energy Impact Fund(21:35) The origins of Smart Power Myanmar, and how the organisation came about(26:30) Overview of the Decentralised Energy Report for Myanmar(32:10) Minigrid operators, ESCOs, funding and subsidies for minigrids in Myanmar, and progress to date(35:45) Hydro minigrids in Myanmar (37:45) The integration potential between private minigrids and the public national grid(40:30) Productive Energy Use in minigrids, and the need for consumer financing solutions to support Productive Energy Use(44:50) Examples of productive energy users who have benefited from Energy Impact Funds(48:05) The impact of COVID-19 in Myanmar and for the energy sector(49:20) Recommended books: Hariri&#39;s Homo Deus, Richard Rhodes&#39; Energy: A Human History, Gretchen Bakke&#39;s The Grid(51:00) Goals and hopes for electrification the next 5 years

Supporting electrification projects in Myanmar with Richard Harrison (Smart Power Myanmar)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/4/11/15/8b7b9183-980a-4485-8976-b6f3ddb8427f_leslielabruto_acumen_april2020.m4a

We speak with Leslie Labruto, Head of Energy Access at Acumen, about the equity investment landscape in off-grid solar. We discuss Solar Home Systems (SHSs), minigrids, impact investment, successful business models, challenges and opportunities in the sector, and what makes a great investment for Acumen. Recorded in 2019Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com Show notes:(0:55) Introduction to Leslie Labruto and how she got into the clean energy sector(2:20) Introduction to Acumen, their higher risk approach to investments, and commitment to the poor(3:30) Overview of the off-grid solar sector: pico appliances, solar home systems (SHSs), mini-grids -- the ongoing challenges around mini-grid business model(6:20) Discussion of the investment landscape in the off-grid solar sector, contrasting Mobisol, d.lights and positive signs from new funds (e.g. KawiSafi and Sunfunder); the need for more early stage investments(9:20) Acumen&#39;s approach to patient capital, investments, 1x returns -- what they look for in an investment(12:35) Acumen&#39;s energy investments to date; the challenge and need for solutions around clean cooking (14:30) Productive Energy Use: the opportunities and need for solutions that can support income growth; their focus on Pioneer Energy Investment Initiative (PEII) (17:30) The commercial viability of the off-grid solar sector, the need for operational excellence, strong unit economics for successful companies(19:11) Considerations around exits in the sector: the need for secondary sales to support the growth of the investment sector, the catalytic effect of secondary sales; the role of strategics (e.g. Shell, Total, Engie) in the sector(22:20) The intentions and interests of strategic, corporate investors in the energy access sector(23:50) The challenges for the mini-grid sector in particular; the ability for mini-grid sector to target poverty alleviation; the need for subsidies in the mini-grid sector and reframing of mini-grids as a public good(27:00) Results-Based Financing: demand from investors for RBFs(29:15) Lean Data, 60 Decibels, and focus on customers to determine the social and environmental impact of products and services; the use of Lean Data for due diligence purposes(32:50) Geographical areas of focus for Acumen(35:10) Predictions for the energy access sector: the need for reliability and developments in some geographical areas

Equity Investments in Off Grid Solar with Leslie Labruto (Acumen)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/4/20/1/0447cab9-f181-4467-a5a4-5c9d195af8e5_lib_solar_april_2020.m4a

We speak with Nicholai Lidow from LIB Solar about community solar in Liberia. We discuss the challenges of energy access and doing business in one of the poorest countries in the world, the trade-off between social and environmental impact, how rebel groups inspires his work (!), the challenges for equity finance in off-grid solar, and the potential for productive energy use.Recorded in 2019Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com We discuss:Nicholai&#39;s background and why he entered the solar intdustryLIB Solar&#39;s business model and community-driven approach to solarLiberia&#39;s energy infrastructure and economic challengesThe opportunity in serving hard-to-reach markets and the importance of a community dynamicTheir deployment of minigrids and standalone SHSsLIB Solar&#39;s approach to productive energy use and the structural challenges that remainThe tension between social and environmental impact when serving rural off-grid populations with solar energy solutionsTheir approach to funding, focusing on debt and grants - rather than an equity, VC funding model Show notes: (0:35) Nicholai Lidow&#39;s background and how he started working in the solar sector (via rebel group research!) (1:25) LIB Solar business and go-to-market approach(2:45) Background on Liberia, the energy infrastructure, and the potential for solar energy(6:30) LIB&#39;s business model: focus on particularly rural areas; &#34;an African company using tech to scale&#34;(9:30) The cost of a solar system to a customer, a longer payback period, and the benefit of using the US dollar in Liberia(11:55) LIB Solar&#39;s shift from a mini-grid approach to a solar home system approach; the downside of a community-based approach when some customers can&#39;t afford to pay(16:30) LIB Solar&#39;s payment collection approach(18:40) Productive Energy Use: the benefits of solar and lighting, but the less-discussed limitations of using solar to significantly approve the long-term livelihoods of rural communities(23:50) The tension between environmental impact and social/poverty impact for off-grid solar (27:30) LIB&#39;s focus on debt financing rather than equity financing; Why off-grid solar companies are not tech companies(32:30) Their plans for growth in Liberia, growing geographically and across other product lines(37:30) Books on rebel groups, and the lessons from rebel group structures that can be applied to off-grid solar(41:00) Advice for new entrepreneurs: good opportunities for local entrepreneurs and niche markets, amid industry consolidation; why there are so many foreign entrepreneurs in the African solar industry(42:50) Predictions for the sector: Basic solar lighting will grow more quickly than we expect, and the need to shift from pure solar, to financing and distribution of other products

Community Solar in Liberia with Nicholai Lidow (LIB Solar)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/5/7/1/287edc34-c213-4d37-910b-02ce0c1df17e_jay_patel_enlight_instutite_final.m4a

We speak to Jay Patel from Enlight Institute about setting up a solar academy in Uganda. We discuss the need for training and development programs to develop technical and soft skills, the solar landscape in Uganda, and the broader demand for training services across other sectors.Recorded in April 2020 Visit us at www.distributingsolar.comContact us at podcast@distributingsolar.com We discuss: Uganda&#39;s energy and solar landscapeEnlight Institute&#39;s training provision and its growing focus on soft skills trainingThe human capital challenges faced by many solar companiesEnlight&#39;s business model and social mission Enlight&#39;s approach to coaching as a form for employee training and development Show notes:  (0:55) Jay Patel&#39;s background and how he came to work in Uganda and solar industry, following his time at Google&#39;s sales team(3:05) Introduction to Enlight, the need for human capital, and Enlight&#39;s development of a solar academy(5:08) Overview of Uganda, and the energy and solar industry in Uganda(11:40) The transition of the off-grid sector from impact and philanthropy, to commercial and private sector; the challenges and dilemmas for the sector in reaching the poorest in society(15:35) Enlight&#39;s evolution from focusing on technical skills to soft skills and on-the-job training; the need for human capital in the solar industry, and the social cost of the lack of training (20:50) The shift in go-to-market strategy from individual youths, to working directly with companies and training their team(24:55) Enlight based in Uganda, but looking further afield(26:00) Technical training overview(28:13) Enlight&#39;s business model, their use of grant funding and longer-term aim of profitable job coaching(30:40) The challenges around high staff turnover in the sector, due to lack of training, or cultural issues(31:55) Enlight&#39;s team and recruitment approach, from Acumen&#39;s fellows etc. (34:20) Vertical integration vs. value chain fragmentation within the solar sector (36:05) Challenges of financing in the solar sector(39:13) Growing Enlight&#39;s business and using data to prove the value of on-the-job coaching(41:00) Jay&#39;s recommended books and sources: Green Energy for a Billion Poor; Sun Connect News; Next Billion(42:00) Advice for new entrepreneurs looking to enter the space: start engaging with the community and think about where you can add value(44:15) Prediction for the next 5 years: the distinction between on-grid and off-grid will start to breakdown

Coaching and staff training in Uganda with Jay Patel (Enlight Institute)

Interviewing off-grid solar and energy access experts around the world

In Distributing Solar, we speak to entrepreneurs and experts working in energy access and off-grid solar in emerging markets, bringing to life how distributed energy is changing lives around the world.