…ogether demonstrating that we have met our objective to create a self-sustaining market. The Future of Lighting Global Within this ecosystem, IFC will now wind down its market development support activities under Lighting Global this June, as planned. The World Bank, under the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), will continue supporting our Lighting Global activities, as we evolve to the next stage, with increased emphasis on sc…
…ines the fee. Eligibility is based on a strong history of success in maintaining compliance with the Quality Standards. This fee covers: Sampling for follow up AVM testing ($500). This fee assumes random sampling from the manufacturer warehouse is used for AVM-follow up testing and that shipping to the lab is paid by the manufacturer. If market sampling for AVM-follow up testing is required, additional fees will be charged for procurement and ship…
…nown reliable estimates for the number of kerosene lanterns belching smoke into the atmosphere every night; nor the number of candles burnt every night in search of a flickering light. Unmistakably, the number of lanterns and candles pressed into duty every night will run into millions at a time that even upscale shopping malls conspicuously display candles and kerosene lanterns among their ware. This energy situation in Nigeria both poses a chall…
…so saw a drop in equity financing and the continued concentration of funds into a small number of players. Yet despite this, total investor commitments in the first part of the year remained strong; with leading financiers reporting positive support for the sector’s impact and potential. The slowdown is not unexpected given the supply chain disruptions, national lock-downs and income losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the knock…
…x of capital have transformed what was once a handful of scrappy start-ups into a crowded and rapidly maturing global industry. But this expansion has also raised important questions about the ability of the PAYGo industry to balance growth with sustainability, as companies must manage growing portfolios of customers in ever more challenging markets. As the PAYGo solar sector continues its transition from start-up to maturity, new tools and approa…
…supports increased profitability at various phases including launching, refining, or pivoting. P2P is also ideal for investors and donors looking to better understand and assess unit economic performance of prospective or current portfolio companies. BACKGROUND AND RESPONSE The off-grid solar industry has entered a new stage of development that requires substantial investment to progress to the next level. To access this working capital, firm-leve…
…Lighting Global Project Team, Shenzhen Municipal Administration of Market Supervision and Shenzhen Technology University was held. The event was part of the “Shenzhen Quality Month” series of activities. Russell Sturm, Global Head of Energy Access at World Bank Group’s IFC and “Father of Lighting Global”, Li Zhong, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Director of the Shenzhen Municipal Administration of Market Supervision, and Ruan S…
…extreme weather and the economic impact of COVID-19 plunging many Kenyans into darkness, alternative energy sources are increasingly important – even for families connected to the grid, said Pamela Mukami Njeru, a community health volunteer in the central Mt. Kenya region. One in four Kenyans – mostly in rural areas – do not have access to electricity. Those who do face high costs and frequent blackouts due to an unreliable supply. As cases of th…
…d quality-assurance program, IEC 62257-9-8 and IEC 62257-9-5 are the two main pillars to the Quality Assurance Framework. “IEC 62257-9-5 provides the detailed instructions for carrying out product sampling and testing while IEC 62257-9-8 specifies the minimum criteria that a quality product must meet,” he said. IEC 62257-9-8 is applicable to both pico-photovoltaic products, which include small, portable devices such as lanterns and flashlights, as…
…’s humanitarian and emergency response system. Our support has included: Joining the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE), a consortium that brings together humanitarian agencies and energy experts to share knowledge and ideas; Drafting key off-grid solar suggestions for the Global Plan of Action (GPA) – a framework recommending accelerated progress toward the vision of safe access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services…