Development Financing
Africa Power's off-grid rural power service model offers the opportunity for very large multipliers on development financing. It is a pro-poor business model, which can provide substantial environment & societal benefits.
This is a commercially viable model providing an enduring and self-sustaining outcome. On-going maintenance is baked into every power system, because if it is not functioning, we receive no income.
This overcomes the “rusting tractor in the field” syndrome common to development projects which concentrate of installing capital equipment rather than initiating sustainable for-profit companies who maintain a long-term relationship with the communities they serve.
This model is not new to the development community. The powerful success of the commercial cell phone industry was founded on development finances — a success record of which the relevant development entities should be proud.
Power to Facilitate the Development Community
Provision of power in Sub-Saharan Africa has relied on the 100 year-old model of a rigid national grid built and developed in the “developing world”. Penetration rates after 100 years of operations remain below 30% in many countries; the lack of power in rural areas, highly subsidised costs, poor maintenance and availability of plants and low reliability with frequent blackouts all point to a failed model. It is time to resource a new model which uses modern DC power, eliminating expensive and inefficient grids, inverters and transformers.
Sustainable Energy for All
Africa Power breaks down power requirements into much smaller affordable packages for off-grid rural communities. Based on a simple PAYG model with low or zero deposits, it is accessible by all. By supporting all segments of rural communities, end customers can grow their own power provision to meet their immediate needs on an affordable plan over time. Solar power coupled with batteries does not limit the power available High power appliances and full electrification provided by modern sustainable solar, together with new high-efficiency equipment and appliances provide a new low (zero) carbon pathway to economic growth. We support and indeed implement the ideals of the UN's “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative and programme.