U.S. Goes 'Beyond the Grid' to Provide 20 Million African Connections

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--"Beyond the Grid," an initiative to increase energy access for underserved populations across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), was launched this week in Washington, D.C. The plan is part of President Obama's "Power Africa" initiative.

Over an initial five-year period, Beyond the Grid will leverage partnerships with 27 investors and practitioners to invest $1 billion in off-grid and small-scale solutions for the underserved market.

These private-sector commitments will help Power Africa meet and exceed its goal to provide 20 million new connections for households and commercial entities in SSA, using off-grid and small-scale energy solutions.

By partnering with investors, practitioners and donors, "Beyond the Grid" will mobilize new resources, technology and expertise to address electricity issues in SSA.

"Beyond the Grid will help to expand the work the U.S. government is already doing through Power Africa to bring electricity to citizens of SSA," U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. "With close to 600 million people without access to modern-day electricity, it is clear that centralized grid access is not a comprehensive solution for these countries in one of the world's least urban continents. But through solutions, including off-grid and small-scale energy projects, we can bring electricity to these rural areas."

Beyond the Grid will advance the policy and regulatory frameworks necessary to overcome recurring restraints. Its founding partners include Acumen Fund, Bamboo Finance, BBOXX, Capricorn Investment Group, CrossBoundary, d.light, Embark Energy, Energiya Global, Fenix International, Global Off-Grid Lighting Association, Gray Ghost Ventures, Invested Development, Khosia Impact, LGT Venture Philanthropy, Liberia Energy Network, Low Carbon Enterprise Fund, Mosaic, Off Grid Electric, Persistent Energy Partners, Powerhive, Schneider Electric, Shell Foundation, Solar Sister, SunFunder, Tony Elumnelu Foundation, United Nations Foundation and Virunga Power

The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) has teamed up with GE Africa, a subsidiary of General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut), and USAID to launch the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge. The challenge, which is open until June 20, will award $1.8 million in grant funding to African-managed and -owned enterprises with renewable energy solutions.

Power Africa already has helped close about 2,800 MW of transactions and has secured commitments for another 5,000 MW. To date, Power Africa has leveraged more than $15 billion from the private sector for new mini- and off-grid projects in SSA.

For related information, see September 6, 2013 - Africa's Decade' as IFC Reports Sub-Saharan Africa Eager for More Energy Project Investment.

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