Keeling Curve

Primary Project Category:

Secondary Project Category:

Year Project Originated:

Project Summary / Description:

BioLite designs and manufactures solar home systems, solar generators, and clean cookstoves, which are distributed through 25+ partners across the globe. The model we have chosen to pursue since 2016 is a business-to-business model, whereby we partner with ambitious climate-focused distributors across Africa, Asia to reach off-grid households at the last mile with solar and clean cooking solutions.

The specific project that we are showcasing here is our distributor financing project. Through, this, we have been able to extend preferential payment terms to partners in various countries across Africa since 2020, to allow them to acquire large quantities of products directly from the manufacturer (us), and amortize the payment of these products, typically sold on pay-as-you-go, meaning that the full revenue from a single product is spread over six to 24 months. The outcome is that our partners can stay in stock, and we accelerate our collective impact and scale.

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

The organisations that most often struggle to secure financing are those that work in hard-to-reach markets, have female or minority leaders, and work with the lowest income sections of the population. Those are the organisations that we primarily aim to support with this project. We are also currently working with organisations active in refugee camps and with internally displaced people (IDPs) to expand access to clean energy solutions and financing amongst these populations. With the introduction of our new product, the BaseCharrge (a solar generator with capacity of 600Wh and 1500Wh) we are also exploring partnerships in humanitarian settings, and for productive use, which would specifically benefit climate vulnerable communities.

In addition, in our own organisational culture, we strive for a diverse and inclusive team. We currently have 50% women and 88% Kenyan nationals in our Nairobi office.

Sub-Categories:

Mission Statement:

BioLite works with partners across more than 20 partners in 20 countries in Africa and Asia. We have an office in Nairobi, and one in New York. For this specific project we would target partners in the following countries, though this is not exhaustive:

Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Liberia
Kenya
Uganda
Malawi
Rwanda
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Madagascar
Ivory Coast
Senegal
Mali
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Guinea Conakry
Benin
Burkina Faso
Philippines
Papua New Guinea
Zambia
Zimbabwe
South Africa

Greatest Current Funding Need: