Although cash sales and PAYGo models have provided Tier 1 electricity access across rural sub-Saharan Africa, they remain unaffordable to, and are not reaching, the poorest and most remote communities. Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) presents an alternative approach by spreading costs over a longer time period and guaranteeing sustained energy access for customers. While EaaS is a well-established business model in developed markets and in commercial and industrial applications, its use as a service delivery model for first-time household electrification is still relatively nascent. This webinar series will present findings from an independent evaluation of EaaS for first-time rural electrification, commissioned by Energy Saving Trust and delivered by Greencroft Economics, and explore how the model can be scaled to reach underserved populations.
Webinar 1: Learning from SolarAid’s Light a Village Pilot in Malawi
28 January 2026 9AM Eastern Time | 4PM Malawi Time Register
The first webinar will introduce the EaaS model and draw on lessons from SolarAid’s Light a Village pilot in Malawi, which delivered universal, first-time electricity access to rural households in an area where 97% of population had no prior electricity access. In this pilot, SolarAid is responsible for installation, maintenance, and customer service, while households and schools pay a nominal daily fee to activate their system. The pilot has been funded through several phases by a range of partners, including through the national Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund. The session will present key findings from the pilot, drawing on operational lessons and customer usage / payment data. It will also delve into insights around affordability, utilisation and sustainability, based on the research report’s analysis of how EaaS can be designed to maximise cost-effectiveness and impact.
Speakers:
- Laura Fortes, GOGLA
- Jakub Vrba, Energy Saving Trust
- Ed Day, Greencroft Economics
- Daphne Pit, Greencroft Economics
- Brave Mhonie, SolarAid
- Austin Theu, Government of Malawi
- Mfumu Kuseni, GIZ / EnDev Malawi
Webinar 2: Scaling EaaS Across the Off-Grid Solar Sector
18 February 2026 9AM Eastern Time | 4PM Malawi Time Register
The second webinar will focus on the enabling conditions required to scale EaaS across the off-grid solar sector. It will explore how to structure public and blended finance to support EaaS, and how to define performance metrics that align with government, donor, and private finance objectives and ensure accountability. The session will feature insights from interviews with over 20 sector experts and their perspectives on operational delivery structures, and risk mitigation strategies. It will also present recommendations for policymakers, donors, and companies seeking to pilot or expand EaaS initiatives, and consider how EaaS can complement existing electrification strategies.