Persistent Energy Partners has acquired Impact Energies Ghana to help bring solar to Ghanaian families existing on incomes of $1 – $6 a day.
We’ve written extensively on the energy challenge for millions of impoverished households in developing countries. Many use dangerous and polluting fossil fuels such as kerosene for lighting. While these fuels are more expensive than solar over time; the initial up-front cost of solar is a major obstacle.
The two companies will operate under the name Persistent Energy Ghana (PEG) and will focus on providing basic solar energy services capable of powering lighting, mobile phone charging, radios and TVs. While initially targeting those in Ghana, PEG will expand to other West African markets as it develops.
The equipment will be provided on a pay-as-you-go system and the cost will be cheaper than what Ghanaians would be paying for kerosene. Part of the initiative includes a Solar Associate program; which will create jobs in target communities.
Persistent Energy Ghana plans to reach 5,000 households by 2015 and over 25,000 households by 2016. Reaching this goal shouldn’t be a problem given Impact Energies’ track record. Before it was acquired, Impact Energies had been selling and leasing solar home systems through micro-finance banks in West Africa since 2011 and reached 30,000 low-income customers in just over 2 years.
Launched in November 2012, Persistent Energy Partners manages a portfolio of more than 30 clean energy investments, including a clean cook stove businesses in Ghana, Mali and Togo and affordable electricity services in Tanzania and Ghana.
“At Persistent Energy, we firmly believe that the way to electrify off-grid Africa is through installation and operation of solar micro grids and other systems that deliver energy services for a fee, rather than selling solar home products directly to rural households and businesses,” says the company’s web site.
