INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
British expertise boosts
innovative solar technologies
across Africa
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• Scaling up its support to the Energise
Africa impact investment platform,
to help 1,500 new UK small investors
provide the critical finance needed to
connect 125,000 more African people to
affordable, reliable and clean solar energy
“Africa’s solar industry is vibrant and exciting,
full of potential to transform the lives of
millions of people who are still living off the
grid,” said Baldwin.
“By sharing British expertise, we’re allowing
this industry to flourish, helping the poorest
to access clean, sustainable energy, while
also opening up opportunities for UK
business and investment. This is a win for
African countries and a win for the UK.”
U
K aid is supporting the growth
of innovative solar technology
companies which are providing
clean energy to off-grid households in Africa.
The Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin,
announced the news as she accompanied the
Prime Minister on a visit to Nigeria. This will
improve the lives of over 11 million people
while boosting UK business opportunities.
Around two-thirds of the population across
sub-Saharan Africa have no access to
electricity. Innovative off-grid technology,
such as pay-as-you-go household solar
systems, can provide this much-needed
modern energy.
This technology empowers women by
reducing their need to travel for energy,
helps children study in the evening, boosts
small businesses which can operate more
efficiently with reliable power, and reduces
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the need to use dangerous, polluting fuel
sources such as kerosene.
To boost opportunities for businesses in
this growing market, UK aid, through the
Department for International Development, is:
• Supporting early stage businesses in
Africa to design innovative household
solar technologies and break into new
markets through the Africa Enterprise
Challenge Fund. This programme will
help up to 1.5 million poor people in sub-
Saharan Africa access clean, affordable
modern energy by 2022, with a focus on
women and children
• Using British expertise to help governments
break down barriers to the growth of
solar companies in Africa and lay the
groundwork in 14 partner sub-Saharan
African countries for innovative solar
companies to grow, increasing access to
modern, clean energy for 10 million people
The innovative solar sector is vibrant and
booming in some areas of Africa, but the
growth of companies is often restricted by
market barriers such as a lack of access to
finance and business support, high tariffs on
essential components, lack of infrastructure
for mobile payments, and lack of appropriate
disposal facilities.
Enabling these companies to grow is
not only benefiting some of the poorest
households with life-changing access to
energy but creating jobs and boosting local
economies to trigger long-term sustainable
economic development.
Strengthening the solar market in Africa
is providing opportunities for the UK’s
own pioneering solar industry to access
the untapped potential offered by African
markets. Examples include Sollatek, a
Slough-based firm which, working in
partnership in Africa and with investment
via Energise Africa, has become one of the
leading providers of specialist solar electronic
equipment in East Africa. n
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