NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - MicroEnergy Credits Corporation: Catalyzing Clean Energy for the BoP - Comments

Follow-up

Grace Augustine — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:28:54 -0500

Nopp, I agree with your comment about the importance of ongoing maintenance with these projects. This can be built into the financing through insurance (which would have to mean that the financier and the company providing the technology have a trusting relationship) or a maintenance/service contract with the supplier. It is certainly an area that could use some innovative partnerships, especially when loans are being financed for the project. You don't want someone to default on a loan because of product failure. Then everybody loses.

Jon, I'm glad that you are looking into this area in a bit more depth. I have sent a request to a few people to get in touch with you regarding private sector clean energy investments in China. From the little that I know, there has been top-down pressure (from the centralized government) for sustainability in general, but there have not been many grassroots initiatives. If you don't hear from them, feel free to send me an email at gaugust@bus.umich.edu. Good luck with your research!

Congrats! Anyone know more?

Jkalan — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:59:05 -0500

Congrats to MEC for such an innovative and integrated approach to developing the clean energy sector of the BOP. Also, thanks to Grace for her fantastic reporting and keeping us informed on all the developments! I am a University of California student recently returning from studying development in New Delhi, and working for ITDG in Kathmandu. I am currently researching BOP investment strategies and success in poverty alleviation through the renewable energy and micro finance sectors in India and China. I was wondering if anyone knows of schemes such as this, or renewable energy development investment by the private sector in China, as I have had a very difficult time finding information! This site has been an invaluable resource for me, and I thank everyone who contributes and everyone who is working so hard innovating unique solutions to improve the conditions of those in poverty. Best, Jon jonathan_kalan@umail.ucsb.edu

Long-term commitment ensure long-term success

Nopp — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:03:48 -0500

Clean energy is a very good source for local poor, but the problem is (according to my conversation with local people) the providers of such energy abadoned the clean energy projects after few or several years leaving local people to take care of maintenance etc. Local people could do it only if everything goes well, otherwise they also abandon the projects. My suggestion is clean energy providers should have a long-term plan for helping them, do not assume they can do the job after some years. Probably, they know how, but they can not do.

welcome to the space mec

angela atchison — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:01:28 -0500

the momentum building around clean energy enterprise in emerging markets is truly exciting, and the opportunities are vast. welcome to MicroEnergy Credit Co and congratulations on winning the GSVC, from E+Co www.eandco.net. although E+Co operates on the larger side of SME development, providing seed capital ranging from $25K-$200K, we do similar work to that of both MEC and Green Microfinance. E+Co has been in operation for 14+ years, and served to date 4+ million people in the developing world clean energy services. we believe in building an empowering relationship with our entrepreneurs, providing business development services and ongoing assistance as they provide energy access to their communities. E+Co offsets 3.3 million tons of carbon annually through the operations of our 173 enterprises worldwide. we recently launched Energy Cures www.energycures.org to promote awareness of the linkages between energy and poverty. check out the video here http://www.energycures.org/theissue.php

Green Microfinance - Energizing Microfinance

Elizabeth Israel — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:06:08 -0500

We at Green Microfinance would like to add to the discussion: Green Microfinance (GMf) [a leading pioneer in promoting clean energy for the BOP] was formed in 2002 specifically to assist microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing clean lending products for financing clean energy technologies. We believe that sustainable energy practices by microenterprises and microfinance institutions contribute to sustainable global economic development and reduce the impacts of climate change on the poor. Our team consists of climate change experts, microfinance specialists, and energy engineers, who are experts on on micro energy systems. We advise on solar, micro-hydro, micro-wind, and village-scale biofuel systems, linking with clean energy technology providers. We advocate biofuel systems that use biomass, which is not produced on productive forests, grassland or cropland. We foster links between the clean energy technology providers and microfinance institutions (e.g., creating partnerships between solar distributors and MFIs.) Regarding the Clean Development Mechanism, our team provides assistance, application, and investor identification of CDM in the developing world. Please visit our website to learn more of Energizing Microfinance - India and Haiti. Our team of seven has just completed our five year plan and our goal is to reach 15 MFIs in the next 5 years, impacting 170,000 beneficiaries. We welcome your comments and inquires. Thanks and congratulations to MEC! info@greenmicrofinance.org www.greenmicrofinance.org

Congratulations

Francisco Noguera — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:15:48 -0500

This is true innovation and one of the most exciting posts I have read in a while. Congratulations to the team and I look forward to following the lead of your work! Only one question comes to mind after reading this piece. Does the business plan include specific low-cost technology suppliers in developing countries? If so, will MicroEnergy's role include providing the link between those suppliers and local MFIs?

All the best,

Francisco

MicroEnergy Credits Wins

Rob Katz — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:02:05 -0500

Ditto Roxanne - congratulations to the MicroEnergy Credits team! I received an e-mail from James and April this morning (1:30 AM eastern time) with the good news, and wanted to share a link to the competition's web site in case people would like to learn more:

http://socialvc.net/

Congratulations to

Roxanne Miller — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:52:20 -0500

Congratulations to MicroEnergy Credits for winning this year's Global Social Venture Competition last week at the Haas School of Business! We believe in you guys!

Litroenergy - New light source material

Paul Rigterink — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:10:50 -0500

The microenergy community may want to investigate the use of Litroenergy for use by rural personnel at the BOP who lack electricity. Litroenergy is a patent pending designed light source material that emits light for 12 plus years without electricity or sun exposure. It is designed to give almost any color of light desired. Currently it emits the equivalent of a 20-Watt intensity of light that could be used as a supplemental light source; in the future it is hoped that it will emit a 40-Watt luminencent type of brightness. The material also has applications in growing crops of food stocks. The ability to have 24/7 light on plant material can double the growth. More information can be found in the April 2008 issue of NASA Tech Briefs or at yID=567... or at www.glowpaint.com

MicroEnergy Credits Corporation: Catalyzing Clean Energy for the BoP

Grace Augustine — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:38:33 -0500

It is impossible to argue against the need for reliable energy at the BoP. Energy drives every facet of society, from nourishment to communication. According to the UNDP, at least 1.2 billion people suffer from energy poverty, which has profound impact on health, education, and livelihoods.

Increasingly, people are calling for the new energy models in developing nations to be "sustainable" and drawn from "clean" and renewable sources. The accepted belief is that if we can get developing nations on a path of adopting clean technologies, they can completely leapfrog the dirty, self-perpetuating system we have created in the west. However, there are barriers to establishing renewable energy projects at the BoP, on both the supply and demand side. One recently-launched for-profit social enterprise that hopes to revolutionize financing in this field is MicroEnergy Credits Corporation (MEC), and I had the wonderful pleasure of conversing with its founders, April Allderdice and James Dailey, last week.

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