Working Together to Drive Growth in the PayGo Solar Energy Sector

Lessons Learned

The introduction of the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) model in the solar sector has ushered in transformative changes, offering valuable lessons that resonate across industries. This innovative approach, characterized by its flexible payment structure, has not only addressed financial barriers but has also redefined consumer relationships and business models.

Some key lessons learned in the PAYGO sector, it becomes evident that adaptability, customer-centricity, and technological integration are central to its success.

In addition the following have played a role in advancing the business model:

• Data collection for targeted sales;

• Partnerships with local organisations to leverage trust;

• Collaboration to understand regulatory frameworks and reduce tarif burden;

• structured financing mechanisms and patient investors for high risk launches;

• The gender-energy nexus and its role in paygo adoption, how to leverage women’s groups and women leaders.

Furthermore, it is clear that energy access can only be solved if all actors are on board. To effectively address SDG 7 and achieve energy access, Oolu and other OGE companies need three types of stakeholders to support their scale-up: investors, African governments, and partners.

Investors

The most critical support for OGE companies will come from investors including banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and public and private investors. They should:

• Provide well-structured debt, equity, and concessional finance

• Combine concessional capital with debt (first loss capital) 

• Grants should be available for companies to try new business models and appliance bundles in high-risk zones. 

• Support for fundraising by deploying designated capital raising teams with proven track records to support African companies on-ground. 

• Broaden financing mechanisms tailored to the bottom-of-the-pyramid population 

African governments

At the country level, it is imperative that African governments get more involved in the development of the off-grid energy sector. They can do this by:

•  Including subsidies for services and imports. 

•  They must waive import duties and taxes on sustainable industries like the off-grid energy sector.

• African banks and investment firms can develop and offer local currency investments like concessionary loans, tax credits, tax incentives, and subsidies. 

Partnerships and regulatory reform

Partnerships play a crucial role in Oolu’s success. By collaborating with governments, venture builders, NGOs, financial institutions, and other stakeholders, companies can unlock opportunities for market expansion.

Engaging with governments and aligning with national energy strategies is particularly important, as it allows Oolu to align efforts with the country's energy goals and leverage government support.

Conclusions

To seize the opportunities ahead, the industry sector must take action by embracing the proposed recommendations, promoting collaboration among stakeholders, advocating for supportive policies, and investing more flexible capital in innovative companies in the PayGo Sector.

By doing so, we can collectively advance the deployment of sustainable energy solutions, accelerate progress towards universal energy access, and unlock the full potential for OGE companies to drive positive change and create a brighter future for all.

The Affordability Challenge: How Oolu is mitigating the issue and how the industry can support even more

It is no secret that Oolu, and other off-grid energy companies, have the ability to reach millions of potential customers and play a significant role in closing the energy access gap. Of course, solutions always come with pain points and energy access is no exception.

Although demand for pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) products in Africa is high, many SMEs in the sector still need financial, regulatory, and partner support to sustainably achieve scale.

One of the hurdles they face is affordability issues.  Yes, off-grid solar has become cheaper, however, some bottom-of-pyramid income customers still cannot afford the service, and both regional and global events continue to heavily impact African markets.

Lack of consistent income

Some clients, especially those rurally based, struggle to consistently afford solar services. The inability to pay is due to various reasons such as cyclical and inconsistent incomes from seasonal farming, and increased costs of living.

Insufficient funding and financing

Though investments in the sector have continued to grow since 2023, there is still a lack of financing available. By 2030, climate financing needs over USD 2.4 trillion to achieve SDG7. More specifically, OGE companies still need better-structured equity, debt, and concessional finance for firms to be able to scale.

Amount Invested to Date in OGE = USD 2.3 billion cumulatively (BCG, 2022)

Amount Needed to solve Energy Access by 2030 = USD 2.4 trillion (IEA, 2022)

Structured capital to scale

For companies like Oolu to sustain rapid growth, two insights have become clear: 

1) The sector is not providing enough funding to grow OGE companies quickly enough; and 

2) The financing model needs to be structured differently than international companies expected (Hill et al., 2022).

There is a scarcity of equity available for investment. According to research, OGE companies need 3-5x more debt than equity. Additionally, local banks are reluctant to extend significant debt due to perceived risks (Hill et al., 2022).

To bridge affordability gaps, and reach more remote and low-income customers, companies must have access to blended finance with first loss capital (concessional capital and debt) to scale while taking into consideration relevant risks. Patient capital, or flexible capital is also needed for new test markets and to understand how to build new business models and/or launch and test new products.

Logistics and regulations

Operating in remote and off-grid areas can be challenging and costly, due to weak transportation networks and inadequate storage facilities. Therefore OGE companies require subsidies and government support to make their business viable.

When Oolu first launched, the company experienced a lack of government support and regulatory incentives from local and government off-grid energy initiatives built to promote the OGE industry. Now, in Mali and Burkina Faso, there is good support to provide tax exemptions and VAT is exempt in certain countries (Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria, and others), enabling the company to reduce costs for the end users. 

Political and economic instability

Political and economic instability still exists in all countries of operation, and although these risks can be mitigated to a certain extent, some level of risk is unavoidable. Currency fluctuations, local wars, and regional instability have prevented Oolu from working in some red zones. 

Operational challenges were further aggravated by the Russia-Ukraine war, which caused a surge in global oil prices significantly amplified shipping expenses, and affected global food prices as well as fertiliser and gas prices, affecting SHS customers’ ability to pay for energy. 

Climate change

The impact of climate change disproportionately impacts African countries (UNFCCC, 2020).

Climate change impact is seen when farmers have limited or no rain, erosion in their fields, pest invasions, extreme weather events, food scarcity, and water tensions, resulting in loss of income and thus inability to pay for energy services. Migration and instability are also higher in these regions due to climate change.

HOW OOLU IS ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES EFFECTIVELY

The company has implemented various strategies to effectively mitigate risks and ensure a secure operational environment.

Capital

• Accessing more public funding to reach remote and lower-income customers and to bridge the affordability gap

• Accessing concessional capital and government subsidies to lower monthly fees on OGE products

Sales

• Focusing on moving up-market to sell higher level PAYGO and solar products like televisions, larger scale inverters, etc.

• Customer education and awareness that solar energy is less expensive in the long term

• Sale stock and sale points in regional offices and remote areas

Financing

• Implementing more sophisticated credit scoring to understand risk profiles and vet clients

• Better-structured equity, debt, and concessional finance for firms to be able to scale

• Access to blended finance with first-loss capital 

Partnerships

• Integrate renewable energy solutions into planning solutions at the government level 

• Governments and policymakers engaged to create an enabling regulatory environment for the PAYG sector

• Supportive policies and regulations, if subsidies or tax incentives are implemented, end users pay less

Oolu and Instollar Technologies Announce Partnership To Deepen Off-Grid Energy Solutions In Africa

November 22nd, 2023

Oolu, a leading off-grid solar company in West and Central Africa focused on providing sustainable energy alternatives to people living off-grid, and Instollar Technologies, a company at the forefront of revolutionising the green energy workforce landscape, have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance the delivery of off-grid solar solutions across Africa.

The partnership will leverage the expertise and skilled workforce provided by both parties to deepen access to solar electricity.. This collaboration between Oolu and Instollar is founded on shared values of sustainability, innovation, and a commitment to driving positive change in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Through the partnership, Instollar will provide Oolu with access to a pool of skilled and trained professionals, ensuring efficient and high-quality installation and maintenance services. This will include joint initiatives for training and capacity building, contributing to the development of a skilled green energy workforce in the region.

In addition to its existing workforce, Oolu will leverage the workforce platform provided by Instollar to expedite its expansion plans, reaching more communities and providing more households and businesses with reliable off-grid solar solutions.

This collaboration will allow Oolu and Instollar the opportunity to explore technological integration to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience.

Chinwe Udo-Davis, co-founder and CEO at Instollar, said this is a milestone, hailing it as a way to further deepen renewable energy.

"Our collaboration with Oolu represents a significant milestone for us as a company. We are excited to contribute our expertise in building a skilled workforce to support Oolu’s mission. This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving the adoption of renewable energy solutions and creating a sustainable future for all. 

Monica Uduku, Head of Marketing, Partnership, and Corporate Communications at Oolu, said the partnership aligns with Oolu’s mission and vision. 

“This partnership is a natural extension of Oolu's commitment to making sustainable energy accessible. By collaborating with Instollar Technologies, we are enhancing our capacity to deliver reliable off-grid solar solutions, aligning perfectly with our mission to improve lives through innovative energy services. With Instollar Technologies providing us with a skilled workforce, we can expedite the installation and maintenance of our solar solutions, enabling us to expand into new regions efficiently, reaching more communities, and making a greater impact on energy access.”

Present at the official signing of the SLA were representatives from both Oolu and Instollar Technologies. The ceremony marked the beginning of a collaborative journey aimed at advancing the renewable energy landscape in West Africa.

For more information on this partnership, please contact media@oolusolar.com.

About Oolu

Founded in 2015, Oolu was established with the mission to provide off-grid rural households in West Africa with high-quality solar products at an affordable price.

Oolu’s vision extends far beyond its product offerings and geographic reach to become the leading financial services provider to rural households in West Africa. The Oolu model, developed with local communities, offers a wide range of solar products on an affordable financing plan. Oolu is committed to after-sales support, with replacement parts under warranty and customer service representatives who speak the local languages of their customers. Oolu’s headquarters is in Dakar, Senegal, and operates across six West African countries.

About Instollar Technologies

Instollar is the number 1 green energy talent marketplace that connects renewable energy companies in need of skills for project implementation across Africa with freelance green-collar talents with experience in off-grid solar energy projects. They provide on-site technicians like Solar Engineers and Technicians, Commissioning engineers, project managers, and Design Engineers. Companies can use their services on a freelancing basis. The advantage of the site for companies is access to a skill pool and a trained workforce everywhere including remote areas, urban and peri-urban areas.

Is it finally solar’s day in the sun? How cost, efficiency and recognition trends are creating a brighter future for distributed solar energy.

World-changing consumer technology tends to always follow a similar route on the way to widespread adoption: it starts off expensive and niche, and then ends up cheap and spreads to mass markets.

In each case, there is a tipping point when cost, efficiency and recognition come together and consequently propel the technology forward. It happened with computers when Apple released the PC. It happened with mobile telephones at the end of the 1990s. It’s now happening to on-grid and off-grid solar.

As technology advances, off-grid solar has become cheaper, more efficient and more widely appreciated for its benefits, propelling off-grid solar to the crest of a game-changing tech wave. Here’s why.

1. Solar energy is cheaper

From consumer goods and construction tools to vehicles and robotics, every industry is increasingly powered by lithium batteries. This ubiquity not only helps the market acclimatize to battery power but also generates cost-savings and technological improvements that help battery-powered products displace the previous technology.

Take electric vehicles, for example. Electric cars were built before internal combustion engines, but the latter’s simplicity (just add petrol to go further) outweighed its other disadvantages to become the dominant vehicle type. Now, with lithium batteries getting better (enhanced energy efficiency) and more cost-effective, electric cars are cheaper to manufacture, run and buy - leading to an upsurge in demand.

The same parallel is taking place with off-grid solar. For instance, a hybrid solar inverter with a lithium battery is now cheaper than a petrol or diesel generator and provides better performance, lower maintenance and better value for money (not to mention the environmental benefits). For low-grid or weak-grid countries like Nigeria, where long black-outs are a regular occurrence, off-grid solar is therefore more than just a viable backup to an unreliable grid - it’s a more cost-effective way for people to achieve energy access and independence.

2. Distributed solar is more efficient

The cost tipping point is very important for mass market uptake, but when combined with greater efficiency, it’s a game-changer. Everyday devices and home electronics are consuming drastically less energy while providing superior service to their users. Smartphones provide ever-increasing computing power in your hand for just 2-6 Watt consumption (replacing bulky desktop PCs consuming over 200 Watt or 50 Watt laptops). 5 Watt LED lights are now bright enough to light an entire room replacing less efficient and durable fluorescent (10 Watt) or incandescent (40 Watt) lights. Even larger appliances, such as fridges, TVs, and air-conditioning units are consuming much less energy while providing a superior level of service.

As ‘solar + battery’ gets increasingly cheaper and more efficient, appliances require less power and consumers can get by with smaller solar panels and smaller batteries to provide a comparable level of energy service, thus enhancing the affordability and attraction of off-grid solar for entry-level consumers. When the UN developed Sustainable Development Goal 7 (affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all), it wasn’t about energy for energy’s sake, but about what devices, innovation and dreams it could power. Thanks to the efficiency savings, these can be powered for less.

3. Distributed solar is more widely appreciated

Figure 1: An example of how our products have increased in capacity over time.

Featured here is the 43” high definition SolarTV and satellite decoder; a simple but efficient 40W solar panel powers two USB ports for mobile charging; six bright LED lights with switches for multiple brightness settings; and an inbuilt battery. This TV holds power for five hours when on full charge. It requires only five hours of grid charge or 12 hours of high intensity solar charge to operate.

The final piece of the puzzle is recognition. Over the last few years, distributed energy access (i.e. solar + battery) has finally been recognised by African governments and public bodies (i.e. the rural electrification agencies) as a reliable form of energy access. Previously, most attention in the energy access space centered on grid extensions or sometimes mini-grids, but public policymakers now see the advantages and the potential of distributed solar systems that can be installed quickly, maintained easily (that can also include remote monitoring) and offer a reliable and cost-effective solution for on-grid and off-grid energy access.

Similar to trusting mobile network coverage over-relying on landlines, decision-makers now appreciate the importance of distributed access. They understand its role in achieving their energy access goals as opposed to solely relying on centralized grids, which are expensive to build and maintain. This mentality shift could have a huge impact on the off-grid solar sector through greater policy support and funding priorities (i.e. subsidy programmes and tax breaks).

The crest of the wave

Recognised for its reliability. Ubiquitous in its use. More efficient and cost-effective than the alternatives. The combination of these three factors has pushed off-grid solar to the crest of the wave - now’s the time to press ahead and ride it.

Companies like Oolu have the capacity to bring off-grid and on-grid solar benefits to the mass market in West Africa. With more policy and financial support, such as removing VAT on off-grid solar products (like in Senegal and Mali) or providing subsidy programs for low-income customers, we can deliver a brighter solar-powered future.

For more insights into the off-grid solar industry in West Africa, check out our latest blogs.

Why off-grid solar is driving job growth in West Africa

West Africa has some of the highest solar potential in the world. It also has an ever-growing demand for energy and a constantly evolving off-grid solar sector, and a rapidly-growing working age population (the average age being 19). In other words, off-grid solar is the perfect vehicle to sustainably drive job growth and positively impact the economic future of West Africa.

However, in order to ensure this job growth, we must help the workforce develop the skills the sector needs.

Off-grid solar companies as leading employers

From mini-grids and commercial and industrial (C&I) to solar home systems (SHS) and solar generators, off-grid solar is supplying energy for West African households, businesses, hospitals and schools. But off-grid solar doesn’t just power buildings, it powers livelihoods too.

According to GOGLA, the off-grid solar sector directly supported 370,000 full-time jobs worldwide in 2019, as well as a range of entry-level to management jobs across the value chain. In particular, the growth of off-grid solar’s last-mile pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) delivery model is a huge driver of rural employment and empowerment, creating decent jobs where there are limited opportunities, especially for women and vulnerable persons. For example, 55% of off-grid solar jobs are in rural areas and 27% are held by women.

These jobs come in many shapes and sizes, with wages usually above the national average. GOGLA research found that the most common roles are:

• Sales and distribution (58%) - i.e. Field agents.

• Installation and technical maintenance (18%) - i.e. Solar installers.

• Management (11%) - i.e. Regional sales managers.

• Customer support (8%) - i.e. Call centre support.

• Acquisition, manufacturing and assembly (5%) - i.e. Factory workers.

Meanwhile, the West African off-grid solar industry also supports highly-skilled roles in areas such as marketing or accounting. At Oolu, we employ 216 people in West Africa in a wide range of roles, such as HR specialists, data analysts, solar engineers and operations managers.

However, as demand for solar products grows so does the demand for relevant skills, which are particularly hard to find in West Africa. So what steps or initiatives can be taken to upskill workers?

Upskilling workers is the key to success

A lack of appropriate high-level skills is a major obstacle to the continued growth of the off-grid sector in West Africa. For example, managerial or financial positions usually require university-level education, but just 9.4% of sub-Saharan Africa's population is enrolled in higher education. Meanwhile, only 2% of university graduates in Africa are engineers, which is a key skill set for the off-grid solar sector.

For off-grid solar, technical skills are the most difficult to find with few training schools providing the qualifications and experience required. Investing in human capital and helping the West African population upskill is essential. At Oolu, our way of supporting this type of growth is through our established regional training centres located in each of our countries of operation. These training centres help hundreds of previously unskilled rural agents and provide the necessary preparation for technical roles such as solar technicians and sales managers. In addition, we also hired and trained our in-house tech development team to create our proprietary Oolu Hub system for monitoring and reporting all our data.

Yet, despite some great success stories, here at Oolu - and the off-grid sector in general - we encounter a variety of hiring problems, especially with the length of time needed to find, hire, onboard, and train new staff.

What does the off-grid sector need?

More technical products require more technical roles. The development of the industry requires the development of the skills base. To make the most of this growing employment opportunity, support for relevant skills training is crucial.

West African governments have rightly made electrification a key priority for the next decade, so they should support this goal by helping prepare the workforce for off-grid solar jobs. At the secondary school level, this could be increased funding for technical skills or promoting the benefits of engineering. Governments could also provide support to adults that are eager to retrain for another role (but feel they don’t have the financial security to switch jobs) or partner with off-grid solar companies to create technical skills schools that can support the whole sector. Meanwhile, state employer agreements, such as financing 50% of new recruits’ salaries for the first two years for specific roles, would make a big difference.

From free evening skills classes to subsidised travel to training centres, there is a range of measures that can be employed to enhance relevant skills for both office-based and rural roles. The off-grid solar is already increasing job growth in West Africa, but it has the capacity to do so much more. It just needs a push in the right direction.

Overcoming the barriers to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in off-grid solar in West Africa

Spoiler alert!

Gender diversity and inclusivity in teams bring a range of benefits, including improved decision making, productivity, and greater profitability. Gender-inclusive teams not only have a greater capacity to understand the unique needs of female customers’, but they also boost product uptake and improve customer satisfaction, as well as create positive impact and empower women in the region. 

At Oolu, we have always focused and actively worked on overcoming the barriers to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in West Africa. So far, this is what we have learned. 

Barriers to overcome

Despite considerable advances in the last decade, women still only account for approximately 27% of employees in the OGS sector according to GOGLA. This is a direct result of social, workplace, economic and legal barriers. 

Let us break this down for you.

Lack of leadership and support for women in business in the sector:

• Female leaders may be inclined to leave the sector due to challenges of working in a male-dominated sector, amongst other reasons. There is also a lack of mentoring and training opportunities for women, even at the executive level. In some cases, external support is needed to provide management-level training for women in the workplace.

Workplace barriers :

• For office-based roles, women are adversely impacted if companies cannot provide flexible workplace policies around childcare. For agents working in the field, the issues may relate more to to travelling long distances from home, challenging physical conditions, and the threat of sexual harassment and violence. 

Non-existent policies or lack of adequate HR policies:

• Lack of adequate understanding around gender-related issues, harassment policies, and mental health support for women.

Economic barriers:

• African founders already face fundraising challenges in general, and then to add to that we see clear gender inequity between male and female-led businesses in the region, particularly regarding financing. Not only do women-led or owned businesses find it harder to take out loans, as they face higher borrowing costs and collateral demands, but male investors tend to prefer male-led businesses. For example, men are 60% more likely to receive funding than women who delivered identical funding pitches. 

Social barriers:

• West African women can often be associated with the traditional domestic roles of caring, cooking, cleaning and childbearing, especially in rural areas. This can deter women from continuing their education and gaining the necessary skills to enter the off-grid sector. For example, IFC research found that in 70% of sub-Saharan African countries studied, the average female secondary school enrollment was only 36%. Female leaders have also reported that they feel they are not being taken seriously by external Africa-based management when attending meetings on their own, without male counterparts.

So how can we overcome these barriers?

It will probably come as no surprise that all of these barriers are interlinked and a concerted effort is required at many levels. So what can individual OGS companies do? At Oolu, we have some ideas, as well as our own practices, to get started on improving gender diversity and inclusivity. 

• Prioritize collecting and understanding feedback from female employees

• In order to create impactful and sustainable policies, we need  to identify where the current barriers exist. Surveys committed to understanding the current situation from a woman’s perspective can help understand where improvements need to be made.

• Have clear policies about gender bias and discrimination

• This includes creating fair salary and promotion procedures that are transparent and equitable. Make sure all employees have a safe (anonymous if needed) and easy way to report inappropriate treatment in the workplace. Here at Oolu we have implemented an anonymous reporting system where an incident can be reported and it will go directly to the Head of HR.

• During the recruitment process, focus on gender diversity.

• When posting job opportunities and vacancies, use gender-inclusive language and create a gender-diverse candidate pipeline. At Oolu, we make sure our interview panels are diverse in terms of gender, background, age, ethnicity and ability and encourage women to apply in our job ads.

• Have required diversity and inclusion training programs for everyone. 

• And yes we mean everyone! From new hires to stakeholders. Tailor these training to your particular business and address potential biases and prejudices within your organization.

• Support women growing within the company to more senior roles.

• Focus more on promoting qualified women from within, through standardized and transparent procedures. At Oolu Nigeria, we offered female employees the opportunity to enroll in a Women’s Leadership Development Course  with USAID/ Power Africa, and we actively encouraged applying for roles internally.

• Create an inclusive company culture

• This means creating a safe space where everyone feels a sense of belonging, acceptance, and appreciation. Demonstrate that all voices are equal and valued. If and when microaggressions towards women occur, address them.

• Uniquely support women and offer training and development opportunities

• For example, provide better access to childcare and offer more flexible work arrangements. In every country that Oolu is present, we respect breastfeeding hours, and we have remote working policies, giving more opportunities to primary caregivers, which are often women. 

• And of course, evaluate your progress!

• Regularly check back on your targets, find out what worked and what didn’t, and then revise your plan accordingly. Get feedback from women at all levels and really listen to what they are saying and - bringing us back to our first bullet point - prioritize collecting and understanding feedback from female employees!.

Change from the top-down

In the Sub-Saharan Africa renewable energy sector, women account for around 27% of board positions, 30% of CEOs, 16% of directors and 26% of middle managers. Therefore it's very clear that there is still work to be done in terms of gender equality and representation at all levels in the workplace in SSA. There should be a particular focus on increasing females in executive roles as this would also positively impact the number of women in roles further down the professional pyramid. 

From establishing direct quotas and transparent promotion practices to launching mentoring programmes and specific training for female middle managers, companies should look at methods to accelerate gender diversity at the top to help overcome gender barriers at the bottom. 

Creating a gender diversity and inclusivity plan that is unique to your organization.

There is no one-size-fits all solution for improving gender equality and social inclusion in the off-grid solar sector. Every company that prioritizes and cares about improving gender diversity will need to create their own set of policies and practices that are unique and suitable to them

We are very proud that at Oolu, we have recently been working on a new and ambitious Gender Action Plan in Burkina Faso as part of the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) project. We hope to use this as a test case before rolling out the best practices across our other country markets. 

For more information about our work in gender diversity and inclusivity, please contact us at info@oolusolar.com or media@oolusolar.com.

How off-grid solar in West Africa strengthens gender equality

Off grid solar boosts female empowerment by providing rural West African women with greater economic opportunity, increased access to information and better health.

Author: Fatoumata, Director, Corporate Finance, Oolu

West Africa has some of the highest levels of energy poverty and gender inequality in the world; off-grid solar electrification is the perfect vehicle for addressing both. 

From providing rural women with greater economic opportunity to offering better access to information, deploying off-grid solar products in West Africa not only supports SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), but also helps achieve SDG5 (Gender Equality). 

Off-grid solar working for women

The livelihoods of women in off-grid West Africa are typically characterized by ‘traditional’ domestic and reproductive roles. Providing women with access to solar products empowers them in three principal ways. 

1. Greater economic opportunity 

From cooking and cleaning to washing and caring, women in off-grid areas tend to be responsible for the household’s energy needs and spend over four hours per day on unpaid care and domestic work (three times more than men). 

Solar energy can vastly reduce this time burden and give women more time to pursue economic activities. For example, solar home systems (SHS) provide at least four hours of additional light each day enabling women to produce goods for sale in the evenings. Solar generators can run appliances that minimize the time taken to produce and process food (i.e milling and grinding) and set up economic enterprises from home (i.e. using fridge-freezers to sell ice and cold beverages). Meanwhile, solar water pumps remove the need to spend hours fetching water. 

1. Greater access to information

Off-grid women’s livelihoods are hindered by a lack of access to information. When it comes to schooling, young boys are typically considered more of a priority than young girls, and women are less likely to travel long distances (i.e. to neighboring villages) than men. 

Solar brings education into the home. The extra hours of light enable young girls to study in the evenings and enable girls to spend more time at school as there is less time pressure on helping their mothers with domestic duties. Solar-powered TVs also provide women in remote communities with information from the outside world. Watching TV is generally restricted to men traveling to the nearest grid-connected village, but having a TV at home gives women increased access to information and entertainment. 

1. Greater health and safety

Be it smoke from kerosene lamps or pollution from wood-burning cookstoves, off-grid women are at higher risk of lung diseases than their male counterparts. They come into contact more regularly with toxic fuels like paraffin and charcoal, and spend more time in enclosed polluted spaces (i.e. the household). 

Solar’s clean energy vastly reduces women’s toxic exposure. Solar electrification also provides the power for rural health clinics to stock vaccines in fridges and provide greater ante-natal care. What’s more, with solar lighting, women can leave the lights on at night for greater security with no extra financial cost. 

Changing social norms

Enhanced economic autonomy, educational attainment and physical health all combine to change social attitudes towards women in off-grid West Africa. Increased female empowerment reorients the traditional household dynamic, providing women with more of a voice and greater bargaining power. In other words, making women more equal in the eyes of men. 

At Oolu, we know that women disproportionately benefit from solar energy, but rarely make the energy purchasing decisions. It’s why all our agents ensure that women understand the security, health and economical benefits of solar products during outreach demonstrations, as well as the costs and flexible payment structures (i.e. different ways to pay based on their incomes) to encourage greater uptake. 

Deploying solar in off-grid West Africa is not just about electrifying communities, but electrifying women’s futures too. 

Climate resilience and adaptation in rural West Africa: The vital role of standalone solar

Climate resilience and adaptation in rural West Africa:  The vital role of standalone solar

By simplifying access to funding, standalone solar can lead climate resilience and adaptation efforts in rural West Africa.  

COP27 voiced what those of us in West Africa have known for a long time: West Africa is suffering a climate injustice. As a region, West Africa produces just 2% of world emissions. West Africa’s per capita gas emissions are six times lower than the global average. Only 42% of West Africa’s population have access to electricity (dropping to just 8% in rural areas). Yet, rural West Africa is disproportionately feeling the effects of climate change it didn’t produce.   

For a region that is already difficult to live in, extreme heat and extreme rainfall will make living even harder and derail the socio-economic advances of recent years. However, rural West Africans can take control of the narrative by embracing standalone solar.

Standalone solar: building climate resilience

Closing the energy gap is key to boosting West Africa’s climate resilience. Since the introduction of mobile money-enabled pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) solar systems, off-grid solar energy has become increasingly accessible and affordable for rural West African households. Access to reliable, clean and modern electricity is no longer out of reach for remote villages and towns. 

Off-grid solar technology not only improves standard of living, but also builds resilience to climate change. Basic solar home systems provide energy for lighting and phone charging, with the greater connectivity enabling households to access climate-related information on the internet (i.e. through social media) and from their wider network. Solar TV kits enable households to access the news as well as videos on resilience measures and new agricultural techniques. Solar-powered fans give rural populations effective cooling in hotter temperatures and solar-powered fridges preserve food for longer. 

What’s more, off-grid solar generators have proven effective in powering rural health centres (i.e. lighting at night, fridges for vaccines and running diagnostic equipment) and solar water pumps are building resilience in agriculture, where changing weather patterns threaten output and food security. 

In short: climate change may be changing West Africans’ way of life, but standalone solar is changing climate readiness. 

Standalone solar: leading climate mitigation 

Standalone solar isn’t just about adapting to the effects of climate change in rural West Africa, but actively mitigating them too. By providing a direct replacement to kerosene lamps, single-use batteries and diesel generators, standalone solar is leading the clean energy transition in rural areas. In West Africa, the Sahel in particular, there is huge potential for solar energy in every country. According to GOGLA, the “one thing West Africa has in abundance is solar energy potential, averaging 4-6.5kW/m2, making this form of generation an obvious candidate for meeting the region’s growing appetite for affordable power.” 

However, solar still lags behind traditional biomass and oil-based fuels in rural regions. These dirty fuel sources are not only more costly than standalone solar, but are also subject to global price fluctuations with any slight price change felt even more in poorer rural areas.

In short: solar can mitigate the effects of climate change and save rural households money. 

Access to funding

During COP26, Anthony Nyong, Africa Director of the Global Center on Adaptation, said that “we abound with adaptation solutions; what we need is scale and speed.” Nyong is right. We have the technology, we have the customers and we have the need, but to maximise the region’s climate adaptation and resilience, we need to expand. 

Socially-driven off-grid solar companies have the in-country systems in place to serve rural populations: from resilient supply chains and last mile distribution to technical expertise and local agent networks. But these companies are also restrained by the inventory, transport and import costs for solar products. 

Most off-grid solar companies, like Oolu, want to serve lower income customers in harder-to-reach areas as this is where we can have the most impact, but to mitigate the economic risks, we need long-term support from public sector actors in the form of tax exonerations and easier access to grant funding (with less complicated application processes). 

In short: with greater public-private coordination in the region, we can solve West Africa’s climate injustice.