Household Solar Funders Group

Africa Investment Exchange: Power & Renewables 2023
2023-11-01 - 2023-11-02 | Royal Society of Arts (RSA House), 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ, United Kingdom
AIX was set up in 2014 to establish an enduring dialogue for investors and energy industry professionals, with the aim of stimulating business engagement and long- term partnerships.
Alongside our usual lively mix of panel discussions, held, as ever under the Chatham House Rule, our 2023 programme also includes an afternoon of roundtables focused on Matching finance and projects.
We hope they prove to be a useful addition to the AIX format, which is known for its robust debate and knowledge-led approach.
Africa’s evolving power network also assumes a greater significance in this year’s programme with sessions focusing on linking power markets, the future of wheeling, financing decentralised energy and a data-led discussion on the growth potential of the C&I sector.

ESMAP webinar: Accelerating the Productive Use of Electricity
2023-10-30 09:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | virtual
ESMAP will organise a webinar where panelists will discuss the interconnection between energy and agri-food systems, focusing on how technology developments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, digitalization, and fintech solutions open new opportunities for more resilient productive use interventions.
ESMAP’s new publication highlights the importance of promoting the use of energy for income generation and enhanced productivity to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to accelerate development after communities gain access to electricity. It recommends an ecosystem approach to comprehensively stimulate productive use of electricity including five building blocks: planning, policy and regulations, technology and innovation, access to finance, and business development support.
You'll find the full report here.

webinar on 'Digitalisation & Optimisation'
2023-10-26 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Brussels) | virtual
The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) is organising the newest edition of its Innovation for Electrification (I4E) showcase webinar series on the topic of Digitalisation & Optimisation, with the support of Strategic Partnership Technology in Africa (SPTA).
Digital technologies have become integral to sustainable distributed renewable energy (DRE) business models. They find application in diverse areas such as demand mapping, optimising the integration of renewables into electricity systems, enhancing grid reliability, and developing consumer payment models.
In emerging markets, cutting-edge modular technologies, remote monitoring, control software, smart meters, AI, and real-time data collection and analysis platforms are facilitating the delivery of affordable and clean energy access for all.
In this regard, with the support of Strategic Partnership Technology in Africa (SPTA), ARE is organising this year's third edition of the I4E showcase webinar series to enable ARE Members to showcase their products and services.

HSFG working group PUE
2023-10-23 15:00 - 16:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Working group meeting of the Household Solar Funders Group.
This is a members-only meeting.
For more information, please contact HSFG coordinator Wim Jonker Klunne (click contact in menu)

The Business Case for Investing in Gender Diversity in Renewable Energy webinar
2023-10-19 16:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Nairobi) | virtual
As the renewable energy sector grows, women can play a key role in improving company competitiveness. There is strong evidence that gender diverse companies perform better as compared to their peers. Join us to learn more about the business case and how your company can invest in women as leaders and employees for enhanced corporate performance.
Event Agenda
11:00 – 11:05am Opening and introductions by Anne Kabugi – Africa Gender Lead, IFC
11:05 – 11:40am The Power of Gender Diversity to Enhance Business Competitiveness by Pamela Baldinger – President, Baldinger Consulting, and Corinne Hart – Senior Gender Advisor Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub USAID
11:40 - 11:55am Q&A by Ann Casanova – Energy2Equal Program Lead, IFC
11:55 – 12:00pm Energy2Equal Updates and Closing Remarks by Anne Kabugi – Africa Gender Lead, IFC

Demand-side Subsidies for Energy Access Webinar 2
2023-10-19 14:00 - 14:15 (Europe/Amsterdam) | virtual
Eligible Products & Subsidy Level
The End User Subsidy Lab (EUSL), a joint initiative among partners ESMAP/Lighting Global, GOGLA, Energising Development (EnDev), and the Clean Cook Alliance (CCA), is a platform for pooling knowledge, technical expertise, and funding for demand-side subsidies (DSS). This webinar series organized by the EUSL will guide us through the key elements of designing demand-side subsidies programmes to facilitate the implementation of overarching energy access strategies. Each webinar will be 75 minutes with the main objective to support in-depth dialogue and discussion around lessons learned, challenges, and ‘how to’.
The second webinar focuses on how to calculate a market-informed, responsible subsidy, and the specification and selection of eligible products. We will explore data sources and methodologies that can best support measuring affordability gap/ ability and willingness to pay, choosing products, and setting appropriate subsidy levels to avoid market distortion.
Key questions we will discuss include: What subsidy level is necessary to fulfil the intended objective of the DSS scheme? How does the subsidy level relate to the adopted subsidy targeting strategy? How can different business / pricing models be taken into account when calculating the subsidy to ensure a levelled playing field? This webinar, moderated by the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA), will engage in discussion around the benefits, pitfalls, guidance, and takeaways to subsidy design, and will showcase the experience of relevant practitioners.

ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) 2023
2023-10-12 00:00 - 2023-10-13 23:59 (Africa/Johannesburg) | National Assembly, Praia, Cape Verde
he ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) is proud to announce that it will be organizing the 8th edition of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) 2023, scheduled to take place in the city of Praia – Cabo Verde, on October 12 and 13, under the auspices of the office of the prime-minister of Cabo Verde.
During the last years, ESEF has established itself as the premier energy event in West Africa, attracting a wide range of stakeholders from around the world. This year's theme focuses on promoting sustainable energy in the region, and will bring together key stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and world-renowned experts to deliberate on pressing energy challenges and opportunities in the region. By fostering collaboration among these stakeholders, the Forum aims to ensure comprehensive and well-rounded discussions that lead to actionable outcomes.

Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA)
2023-10-04 00:00 - 2023-10-06 23:59 (Africa/Johannesburg) | Sarit Expo Center, Nairobi, Kenya
Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) is the new annual conference organized by AFSIA and SolarPower Europe to promote investment in renewables on the African continent. The event is supported by GET.invest, a European programme which aims to mobilise investment in decentralised renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Austria.
Building on the success of prior events, this new edition promises to bring even more experts together, address more topical discussions and allow for more unparalleled meeting opportunities in Nairobi from 4 till 6 October 2023 at the Sarit Expo Center. It will be THE place to meet for all renewable energy stakeholders of the African continent bringing under one roof institutional and private investors, project developers, policy makers, energy utilities, regulators, corporates and the most influential energy sector decision makers.

From dialogue to action? A non-technical discussion on the purpose, highlights, and outcomes of the Africa Climate Summit.
2023-10-03 14:00 - 15:00 (Africa/Nairobi) | virtual
2nd webinar in the Just Energy Transition in Africa series, where we discuss the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit (ACS). This webinar will explore the objectives, key takeaways, and potential outcomes of the ACS in the lead-up to COP28.
Panel includes Wale Shonibare, Irene Karani, and Lily Odarno.
Moderated by Murefu Barasa

Burundi Renewable Energy Access Days (BREAD)
2023-10-03 - 2023-10-05 | Donatus Conference Centre – DCC, Bujumbura, Burundi
As part of their efforts to stimulate the achievement of SDG 7 in Burundi, supported by GET.invest Burundi, the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and the Burundi Renewable Energy Association (BUREA), the European Union and the World Bank will jointly organise the 2nd edition of the Burundi Renewable Energy Access Days (BREAD), from 3 to 5 October 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The event will take place under the patronage of the Government of Burundi, the Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines (MHEM) and the Directorate-General for Energy.
The Burundi Renewable Energy Access Days is the main energy sector meeting in the country

assessing emerging considerations for Burundi's strategy on universal access to electricity coupled with the climate agenda and
providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking and showcasing of renewable energy products and services.

HSFG Working Group local companies
2023-09-25 15:00 - 16:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Meeting of the Household Solar Funders Group working group on local companies

Decarbonizing Agriculture: renewable energy and the sustainable future of food
2023-09-19 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | virtual
During Climate Week NYC 2023, Power for All is hosting a webinar with participation from IRENA, UN FAO, and others. This session will delve into the intersection of Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 7. We welcome you to join this enlightening discussion where we'll present our primary research findings. Discover how distributed renewable energy (DRE) can amplify agricultural productivity, contribute to the decarbonization of the food system, curtail greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate the worst impacts of global warming.
Session Outline
Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) is emerging as a pivotal solution for agriculture, ensuring consistent power and reducing carbon emissions. This global launch event brings together a diverse array of stakeholders - from international funders, ministries, and private companies to media and farming communities. Join us for a research-driven panel discussion led by experts including:

Dr. Rabia Ferroukhi, Director, Knowledge, Policy and Finance Center, International Renewable Energy Agency.
Nicole Iseppi, Director - Global Energy Innovation, Bezos Earth Fund
Brian Kawuma, Powering Agriculture Director, Power for All; Ugandan Horticultural Farmer
Dr. Michela Morese, Energy Team Leader, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Kristina Skierka, Founder and CEO, Power for All

The discussion will delve into:

Relevance of DRE: While countries work to further their agricultural development, the potential of DRE is often overlooked.
Applications and Opportunities: Finance and policy initiatives need to be strengthened to ensure DRE technology is available for smallholder farmers.
Initiatives in Action: We will highlight real-world examples that showcase the benefits of integrating renewable energy with agricultural methods.
Impact on Climate Change: DRE is not only essential for power generation but also plays a role in combating climate change. We will present data on how integrating it into agricultural strategies can combat the negative impacts of climate change on food systems, helping ensure food security.

UN General Assembly (UNGA) 2023
2023-09-19 - 2023-09-26 | United Nations, United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including:

appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council
electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council
approving the UN budget

The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions.
Sitting arrangements in the General Assembly Hall change for each session. During the 78th Session (2023-2024), North Macedonia will occupy the first seat in the Hall, including in the Main Committees (followed by all the other countries, in English alphabetical order).

HSFG plenary
2023-09-14 15:00 - 16:30 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Plenary meeting of the Household Solar Funders Group

Ensuring clean energy transition in Africa with DRE and impact on SDG7
2023-09-14 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Brussels) | virtual
Decentralised renewable energy (DRE) as a solution has been at the forefront of this PWCET series whereby ARE and GBE strongly advocate for the application and implementation of DRE technologies in order to bring access to power as well as enhance the existing grid in sub-Saharan Africa.
This ambition is on track to achieve a clean energy transition with a community-centric approach where the local citizens take interest and part in their energy demand and supply infrastructures.
For the final webinar of their renowned PWCET series, ARE and GBE will engage the DRE sector experts to discuss the status of SDG 7 today and how it is contributing to the overall energy transition, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Summary of the Renewables 2023 Global Status Report
2023-09-13 12:30 - 14:00 (Europe/Brussels) | virtual
REN21 and the Climate Action Network-International (CAN) are organising a webinar to discuss the findings of the Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) series in the current geopolitical context and the direction of travel needed to achieve the shift to a renewable-based system. They will delve into the political impact of G20 decisions on renewable energy discussions during COP and other policy moments.
The discussion will be led by REN21 Executive Director Rana Adib and moderated by CAN's Senior Climate Science and Global Energy Policy Advisor Stephan Singer. It will be followed by a panel discussion with key speakers (to be announced soon).

Demand-side Subsidies for Energy Access Webinar
2023-09-12 08:00 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | virtual
Targeting: Designing subsidies to prioritize the most vulnerable
The End User Subsidy Lab (EUSL), a joint initiative among partners ESMAP/Lighting Global, GOGLA, Energising Development (EnDev), and the Clean Cook Alliance (CCA), is a platform for pooling knowledge, technical expertise, and funding for demand-side subsidies (DSS). This webinar series organized by the EUSL will guide us through the key elements of designing demand-side subsidies programmes to facilitate the implementation of overarching energy access strategies. Each webinar will be 75 minutes with the main objective to support in-depth dialogue and discussion around lessons learned, challenges, and ‘how to’.
The first webinar focuses on how to identify people facing an affordability gap in order to effectively target subsidies for them. Key questions to be discussed include: How do we minimize the leakage of subsidies to people that can afford commercial prices? What are the best data sources for targeting DSS? What are the limitations of different targeting approaches? When is it okay to have untargeted subsidies? What are the risks of untargeted subsidies and how can they be mitigated? This webinar, moderated by ESMAP/Lighting Global, will provide an overview of different targeting approaches (economic, geographic, demographic, etc), and will showcase the experience of relevant practitioners. Guest speakers include:

EnDev, discussing experience in Malawi of leveraging the government’s social cash transfer system
Government of Nepal, represented by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AECP), discussing their decade of experience targeting energy subsidies, and in particular, targeting vulnerable demographics
UC Berkeley, presenting research and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify most vulnerable populations in Togo under a social assistance program implemented in partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Togo

Africa Climate Week (ACW 2023)
2023-09-04 - 2023-09-06 | KICC, Harambee Avenue Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
The Africa Climate Week (ACW 2023) is one of four Regional Climate Weeks held this year to build momentum ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 28 in Dubai and the conclusion of the first global stocktake, designed to chart the way for fulfilling the Paris Agreement's key goals.
Hosted by the government of Kenya, ACW 2023 will be organised in parallel with the African Climate Action Summit (4-6 September), also hosted by Kenya.
