Pay-as-you-go solar pioneer Azuri Technologies and the Electrification Financing Initiative (ElectriFI) will feature at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) this week to showcase how innovative financing in the off-grid solar sector is helping millions across Africa access affordable, renewable, clean energy.

 

Azuri announced earlier this year an innovative US$20m off-balance-sheet multi-phase debt financing programme to provide working capital for the expansion of off-grid energy and service provision in East Africa. The first phase of US$4m comprises investment from the EU programme ‘ElectriFI’ and is currently being rolled out in Kenya.

 

Powerful off-grid enabler

 

“Support from ElectriFI has been a key enabler for the African off-grid sector, providing both essential debt finance and a framework that is now being followed by commercial investors,” said Azuri CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth.  

 

Dominiek Deconinck, Fund Manager ElectriFI added: “A major barrier to investments in access to energy in developing countries is the lack of working capital finance. ElectriFI is delighted to be supporting the off-grid energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa and providing catalytic finance that will help improve the conditions for mainstream investment in this underfunded sector.”

 

The Azuri financing programme allows commercial debt to be raised and secured against the future revenues of Azuri customers. ElectriFI was pivotal in the creation of this receivables financing scheme, investing alongside other commercial lenders. 

 

Swift growth of ‘pay-as-you-go-solar’

 

Over 600 million people in Africa have no access to electricity. Azuri, with the help of its financing partners, is tackling this crisis head-on through award-winning solar innovation that is delivering reliable, renewable and distributed power on an affordable pay-as-you-go basis. 

 

Azuri has been a leading provider of pay-as-you-go-solar home solutions in Kenya since 2012.  

 

The pay-as-you-go sector is growing rapidly, and its continued expansion will require access to substantial levels of commercial debt capital, such as that initiated by ElectriFI.