Difference between revisions of "Crowd Funding for Energy Access"

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= Examples and Experiences =
 
= Examples and Experiences =
  
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== Crowd Investing Platform: Ecoligio ==
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== Crowd Investing Platform: ecoligo ==
  
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[[Ecoligo|ecoligo]] is a solar utility that provides low-cost solar energy to businesses in emerging markets. By financing the solar systems through a crowdinvesting platform, they close the finance gap that prevents these projects from being realised.<ref name="Patmore, Emma. ‘Crowdinvesting’. Ecoligo. Make Investments. Make Them Matter., 7 September 2016. https://www.ecoligo.com/crowdinvesting/.">Patmore, Emma. ‘Crowdinvesting’. Ecoligo. Make Investments. Make Them Matter., 7 September 2016. https://www.ecoligo.com/crowdinvesting/.</ref>
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ecoligo is leading the clean energy revolution in emerging markets with solar energy solutions that generate economic and environmental returns, all financed by crowdinvestors. By working in the world’s fastest growing economies, ecoligo stops harmful CO2 emissions from ever being released in countries that will be decisive in efforts to save the planet as we know it.
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*ecoligo presents opportunities to finance solar energy systems in emerging markets to the crowd, at an attractive interest rate.
 
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*Once financed, subcontractors and partners of ecoligo implement the project.
 
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*When the project is completed, the energy off-taker pays for the electricity they use, through business models such as a Power Purchase Agreement or lease contract. This gives them clean energy at a lower cost than the national grid.
 
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*The proceeds from the sale of electricity is used to repay the crowd, with interest.
 
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== Crowd Power: a programme by Energy4Impact ==
 
== Crowd Power: a programme by Energy4Impact ==

Latest revision as of 07:21, 21 September 2021

Overview

The off-grid energy sector is capital-intensive. Especially market players offering pay-as- you-go (PAYG) financing to their customers require high working capital. Often they do not have access to traditional, big investors.

Social enterprises, charities and other organisations raise capital for off-grid energy projects. They use donation, reward, debt and equity campaigns to fundraise for money to finance energy access projects. [1]

Currently, the crowdfunding market is predominantly a developed world phenomenon, but the potential exists for developing countries to capitalize on this new form of funding.[2]

Crowdfunding: Definition

“Crowdfunding is an Internet-enabled way for businesses or other organizations to raise money in the form of either donations or investments from multiple individuals.”[2]

There are 5 different business models:

  • Donation-based
  • Reward-based
  • Equity-based
  • Lending-based
  • Royalty-based

Read more about those different crowdfunding types.

History and Market Outlook of Crowdfunding for Energy Access

Crowdfunding emerged after the 2008 financial crisis in response to the difficulties faced by early-stage enterprises attempting to generate funding.[2]

So far, the market is very small. In 2015, only 3.4 million USD were raised.

  • 75% of all funds raised are debt campaigns, mainly micro-loans
  • It is expected, that the crowdfunding landscape will change significantly: equity and debt crowdfunding could grow in the short term because small projects might get crowdfunding (but no funding from traditional banks)
  • In the long term, crowdfunding will play a limited role as the relevant companies reach scale and are better suited with capital from other investors than the crowd.[1]

Impacts of Crowdfunding

[Impacts?]

Examples and Experiences

Crowd Investing Platform: ecoligo

ecoligo is leading the clean energy revolution in emerging markets with solar energy solutions that generate economic and environmental returns, all financed by crowdinvestors. By working in the world’s fastest growing economies, ecoligo stops harmful CO2 emissions from ever being released in countries that will be decisive in efforts to save the planet as we know it.

Crowd Power: a programme by Energy4Impact

A three-year programme to stimulate, develop and learn from crowdfunding of renewable energy enterprises in sub Saharan Africa and Asia. DFID has committed a total of £845,000. This is providing direct financial support to crowdfunding campaigns trialling approaches such as match-funding, guarantees (insurance) and/or “gift” vouchers. Energy 4 Impact is running the programme and producing in-depth research and analysis.

Conclusion

Crowdfunding offers several advantages for small energy projects and start-ups that might not have access to products of traditional finance institutions like banks.


Further Information



References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Davinia Cogan and Simon Collings, ‘Mapping the Market for Energy Access An Overview of the Crowdfunding for Energy Access Market to Date’ (GVEP International, 2016), https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/58da0abbe5274a06b300002a/Crowd_Power_-_Mapping_the_market_for_energy_access.pdf.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 info Dev , Finance and Private Sector Development Department. ‘Crowdfunding’s Potential for the Developing World.’ Washington, DC: World Bank, 2013. http://www.infodev.org/infodev-files/wb_crowdfundingreport-v12.pdf.
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