Renewable Energy Market Study highlights the unique value of EEP

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As part of preparations for EEP Phase III the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in association with the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) have commissioned and published a market landscape study on renewable energy, covering the current 13 EEP S&EA countries as well as Malawi and Zimbabwe. The report highlight’s EEP’s unique value in a combination of flexibility, much needed early stage financing, knowledge exchange and investor networking.

The study reviews the current status of energy access in the EEP S&EA region and analyses the sector’s challenges and opportunities related to institutional framework, technology and stakeholders, particularly reflecting on the needs of private sector actors in the off-grid markets. The report reveals that there is a great need for mechanisms such as EEP due to the substantial funding gap for mini-grid and off-grid technologies as well as for clean cooking technology. To support this, a clear message from the EEP project developers is that the greatest obstacle they face is access to finance.

Fast growth rates of solar market particularly in East Africa demonstrate that major opportunities in renewable energy business exist. In terms of different sectors and technologies, the potential of biogas and small-scale wind farms is particularly highlighted in the report. The report also calls for more serious recognition of energy efficiency issues and upscaling of quality cookstove manufacturing in order to effectively improve the access to clean cooking.

The importance of introducing renewable sources in the energy mix is commonly acknowledged as the rural electrification rates across Africa remain very low. However, the sparse population with limited purchase power causes reluctance from companies with market-based approach to expand to rural areas and anchor loads or subsidies to households are needed until the critical mass is reached.

Please find here the three components of the study: Volume I) Full Report of the Market Landscape Study; Volume II) Country Profiles and Stakeholder Maps for the 15 Southern and East African countries included in the study; and Volume III) Energy Sector Donor Mapping. Feel free to distribute this report with your relevant contacts and please share your thoughts about these topics on our social media channels.

Save the date for KEF Kampala and apply for Project of the Year 2017

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The 6th EEP Knowledge Exchange Forum will take place in Kampala, Uganda on the 11th of October. Winner of the EEP Project of the Year Award will get an opportunity to participate in the world’s leading startup event Slush, Helsinki.

All project developers and other actors in the renewable energy sector are invited to join the 6th KEF event in Kampala. More information on the venue and detailed agenda will be published soon.

EEP Project of the Year 2017 will be selected and announced during KEF Uganda. Since 2014 ECO has nominated one outstanding project as the EEP Project of the Year.  Previously, the EEP Project of the Year title has been awarded to Devergy, Eco-Fuel Africa and iSmart Kenya.  Application for this year’s award is now open and three shortlisted finalists will be invited to present their projects at KEF Uganda where the winner will be announced.

The Project of the Year 2017 will be awarded an exclusive opportunity to join Slush Helsinki! EEP will fund travel, accommodation and associated costs for one representative of the winning project to participate in the world’s leading startup event.

If you are EEP project developer with excellent performance and interested in showcasing your innovation to the top global audience, including a full range of investors, take part of the EEP Project of the Year 2017 competition. Read the instructions in the invitation, fill out the application form and submit it by 15 September.

What is Slush?

Slush is a unique start-up event founded in Helsinki that has grown to be the leading one in Europe and spread globally to Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore. The very core of Slush is to facilitate founder and investor meetings, and to build a world-wide startup community with extraordinary energy and enthusiasm. Slush has remained a student-driven, non-profit movement that aims high at bringing together the leading actors of the global tech startup scene and change attitudes toward entrepreneurship.

In 2016 Slush Helsinki attracted 17,500 people including 2,300 startups, 1,100 investors and 600 media representatives from over 120 countries. Emerging markets are also present at Slush as every year a group of impact-driven startup entrepreneurs from emerging countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America is selected through local pitching competitions to participate in a boot camp with Slush Global Impact Accelerator.

Read more about the Slush phenomenon and get ready to apply for the EEP Project of the Year award!

 

EEP encourages projects to join Slush Singapore

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Slush Singapore is the East Asian sister of the world’s leading startup event Slush Helsinki. Aligning with the goals of EEP, one of this year’s five themes at Slush Singapore is “Redefining Gaia – Building a Sustainable Planet” which invites innovative and effective startups to deliver long-term solutions for the environment.

If you are an EEP project developer interested in meeting around 200 startup investors and celebrating entrepreneurship, you should join Slush Singapore. EEP offers 20% discount to our project developers in collaboration with Slush Singapore . If you are interested in joining please contact EEP for the promotional code. Get your ticket now, as the applications for highly popular Demo Booths are still open. The Demo Area offers a fantastic platform for 80 startups to showcase to over 3,000 attendees including investors and the media!

Feel the Slush vibes through this video and find out more about Slush Singapore here >>