In People, Dollars, Energy Access is Growing by Billions: GTM’s Off-Grid Energy Access Forum Explores Why.

As energy access markets evolve and scale, off-grid energy provision will have increasingly significant impacts on power demand, grid extension and modernization investments, the siting of new generation sources, and future carbon emissions reduction pathways. Off-grid energy technologies and business models are also, in many ways, on the cutting edge of low-cost solar technology, advanced metering, remote demand-side management, energy efficiency, and other trends shaping advanced electricity markets. As a result, previously ignored off-grid populations are quickly becoming a fundamental piece of the energy transition puzzle.

2018 was a banner year for energy access investing. According to new data from Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, the sector saw deployments of over?USD 511M equivalent?across all types of corporate-level investment and relevant off-grid technologies, the highest annual total ever.

But 2019 is already on pace to surpass last year’s total, with over?USD 304M equivalent?invested in the first half of the year alone, over 50% of which was equity.

And in recent weeks, recent deals such as?Azuri’s $26M cash infusion led by Marubeni,?BBOXX’s $50M Series D led by Mitsubishi, and?Engie’s acquisition of Mobisol?have continued to demonstrate the crystal-clear value proposition in becoming a utility of the future to last-mile customers,” who lack access to much more than energy.

Energy poverty has serious knock-on effects for economic growth, health and education outcomes, and more, but the potential to evolve the utility business model again to go beyond source-to-sink electricity service provision with the next billion customers has the potential to upend these outcomes cost-effectively – and is highly attractive to strategic investors.

As the energy access sector and its complementary technology markets continue to mature and evolve, some key thematic trends and issues demand attention, which will be explored at Greentech Media’s?Off-Grid Energy Access Forum, taking place in London on 2 October:

• A Focus on Sustainable Growth and Economic Viability:?While the other industry events tend to limit to investment trends in the space, this event has a big emphasis on PAYG business models and the factors impacting long-term growth in the sector
• Value Stacking:?Strategically, off-grid energy access represents the opportunity to own the next billion customers, as nearly all off-grid households still lack access to far more than just electricity – from insurance to water or fast-moving consumer products
• Expanding Beyond East Africa:?East Africa is still the biggest market for the sector, and it will be covered prominently in the program, but the sessions will also feature off-grid energy access players from Southeast Asia and Latin America
• Customer Energy Management:?While other conferences ignore the technology side of the story, this conference will cover perspectives on how software and data analytics can enhance results-based finance and demand management for mini-grids

These themes will define the utility of the future business models that scale energy access solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The event’s?data-driven agenda?will dive deep into a key market, investment, and technology trends impacting the sector and will bring together key stakeholders in this space, including strategic investors, energy majors, key European utilities and IPPs, and other financial stakeholders, as well as leading solar home system and mini-grid installers.

Renewables in Africa?is a proud partner of this must-attend industry event.?Join us?with GTM using our exclusive discount code RIA15 for 15% off your conference registration!

Author:?Benjamin Attia, Research Analyst, Wood Mackenzie

Renewables in Africa (RiA) is a Clean Energy Company raising Awareness about Renewable Energy in Africa and across the globe. To find out more about our Awareness Programme, do click here: