Shape the solar energy future of sub-Saharan Africa
Investment Risks & Opportunities | Disruptive Technologies | Public-Private Partnerships
The 5th edition of Unlocking Solar Capital (USC) Africa is empowered by the joint forces of Solarplaza and GOGLA, and organized together with the local industry associations leading the charge. It fosters collaboration between the investment space – DFIs, impact and climate-aligned investors, venture & commercial capital – and the project development segment – IPPs, project developers, service & product providers. This crucial solar industry platform covers all the industry segments and their synergies – from off-grid, to mini-grid, to utility-scale solar – and highlights new innovations in technology and business models.
With over $20 billion already invested in solar over the past decade and projections of a doubling of energy investments by 2030, now’s the time to take action and make a real impact on universal energy access (SDG-7) – providing electricity to the nearly 600mln people in Sub-Saharan Africa that still lack access – and climate goals (SDG-13). To expand the growth of renewables, challenges such as the flexibility and reliability of the grid, as well as end-user affordability, will have to be faced head-on. Investors need to be aware of the latest innovations in technologies and business models. Therefore, sharing knowledge and building networks is more critical than ever. Join a gathering of high-level local and international stakeholders in Uganda on 31 May & 1 June and help shape the region’s solar future.
Please visit the event website to see the program set-up; the first confirmed speakers & partners and the attendee list.
The Industry Advisory Board empowering the event
Our advisory board members are representatives of industry associations that represent the e-mobility, mini grids, off-grid solar, productive use, last mile distribution and C&I markets.
We are working together to bring a large number of companies and investors from across these segments to the event. The advisory board members bring a combined wealth of knowledge and years of experience to help shape our program and enhance our event.
Some Pre-event Resources:
Webinar: Discuss the latest investment trends
The GOGLA Investment Database is part of our data collection work, ensuring market intelligence is available to inform the off-grid solar sector on trends we should not miss. The database captures the investment trends over the period 2012 – 2022.
Our upcoming webinar on 19 April 2023 discussed the latest investment trends in the off-grid solar sector and the total allocation of grant, debt, and equity investments for seed, start-up, and scale-up companies in the year. Watch the webinar recording.
GOGLA’s Investment Database finds that in 2022, 58 companies received total investment commitments amounting to $746m, $289m higher than in 2021. This represents a 63% growth in investment, largely driven by the success of some companies in their scale-up phase, and notably by the $330m investment in Sun King.
GOGLA Investment Database uses historic investment volumes to classify off-grid solar companies1: seed ($0 – $3m), start-up ($3 – $100m), and scale-up (above $100m). Read the blog.
Download our paper: Turning 2022 Lessons into 2023 Action
At the end of last year, the off-grid solar sector came together at the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum 2022 (GOGSFE) to discuss critical industry issues. Performance and investment were top of the agenda. Sessions were held on profitability, consumer protection, early-stage equity, public funding and climate finance. We realised that many people in, or interested in, the off-grid industry missed out on these insights. So, we took the lessons learned from our expert panellists and turned them into a short report, with powerful recommendations for action in the year ahead. Find it below and share the Turning 2022 Lessons into 2023 Action report with all those who missed out! Download the paper.
If you are ready to take your solar business to the next level, reach out to Mandisa Sibanda at m.sibanda@gogla.org for partnership inquiries and Laura Fortes at l.fortes@gogla.org for questions about the program and content of the event.
GOGLA members benefit from an additional 15% discount on ticket prices. Keep an eye on the weekly member briefings for your discount code.