Harnessing the Power of Cross-Border Knowledge Exchange to Accelerate Rural Electrification in Africa and Asia
Manoj Sinha
TIME100 Climate | Co-Founder & CEO at Husk | Independent Board Member l Angel investor
Energy is the building block for economic development and improved quality of life in rural communities in Africa and Asia. Yet a general?lack of knowledge exchange between the two continents?is hindering more rapid progress in achieving SDG7 - universal electrification - and ending energy poverty.
As the only minigrid developer active in both Africa and Asia, we've seen the power of cross-learning in the Global South.
When we first entered Nigeria?four years ago, we quickly saw that our decade of work building and operating minigrids in India would be invaluable.?
Our teams were able to rapidly adapt the site selection algorithms, equipment designs, and operational best practices to the Nigerian context.
This knowledge transfer enabled our first 12 minigrids in Nasarawa state to achieve financial sustainability and high customer uptake in record time.
And the knowledge exchange goes both ways.?
To truly transform rural livelihoods, minigrids must actively spur productive use of energy and enable new economic opportunities.
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In Nigeria, we're piloting innovative solutions like electric mobility, agricultural processing, and integrated energy-telecom offerings to do just that. We're also partnering with state?distribution companies to build grid inter-connected minigrids. The learnings from these initiatives will in turn inform our approach to driving socio-economic impact in the communities we serve in India.
Cross-border knowledge exchange is essential to realizing the full potential of minigrids worldwide.
By demonstrating the replicability and commercial viability of our model in diverse geographies, we aim to mobilize the investment needed to scale the sector.
But even more importantly, the sharing of ideas and expertise between our teams in Asia and Africa is directly translating into tangible improvements in people's lives.
Minigrid developers and operators have a critical role to play in closing the energy access gap and building a green, inclusive future.?
Husk is committed to open collaboration with partners around the world to accelerate rural electrification and economic empowerment.
There is much work still to be done, but we're optimistic about what can be achieved through partnership and knowledge sharing across borders.
It's inspiring to see the emphasis on cross-learning in the Global South. The impact of sharing knowledge between teams can make such a difference in communities. What are some of the standout ideas you've seen exchanged between your teams?
Head Collections & Credit Control (AR)account receivable :-
6 个月Great
Insightful post on cross-border knowledge exchange Husk Power Systems ???? The positive impact of sharing expertise between Asia and Africa is undeniable - collaboration drives innovation and tangible benefits for communities ????
Bamboo Debt Capital Markets Platform
Scaling mentor at Harvard Innovation Labs, Judge for Harvard's President Innovation Challenge; Scaling Advisor and Mentor, Transformer Program, Fate Foundation; creator of scaling programs at Miller Center.
6 个月Insightful and timely. More people need to know how scaling into new markets and continents produces valuable learning. Husk is leading the way.