Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) has awarded M3.5 million to help the Energy Research Centre and OnePower Lesotho partnership to advance inclusive and productive use of energy through a women-led productive use of electricity company (PECO) in Lesotho.
The project aims to advance inclusive and productive use of energy through a women-led productive use of electricity company (PUECO) in Lesotho. The project will support 12 women entrepreneurs to create energy-enabled businesses in three communities, serving a population of more than 5 000 people.
The project, according to EEP Africa, also aims to distribute over 450 energy efficient appliances and create 40 new jobs, with 70 percent of the opportunities earmarked for women. If successful, this model will be replicated and scaled up to 10 new mini-grids that OnePower is developing in Lesotho.
OnePower Lesotho is a renewable energy startup providing affordable and reliable electricity services to off-grid communities, giving families, schools, health clinics and local businesses the opportunity to thrive.
The PUECO will support the creation of women owned local enterprises and develop a last-mile supply chain for energy efficient appliances in three communities served by OnePower solar mini-grids.
“It will provide local women entrepreneurs with training and starting capital to become anchor customers for the mini-grids. Local women will also be recruited to retail energy efficient appliances,” EEP Africa said in a statement.
EEP Africa will enable OnePower to pilot this model and demonstrate the value of integrating a PUECO with mini-grid construction. The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) is a clean energy financing facility hosted and managed by the Nordic Development Fund (NFD) with funding from Australia, Finland and NFD.
It is guided by a vision for a climate-resilient, zero-carbon future with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the Paris Agreement on climate change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EEP Africa provides early stage grant and catalytic financing to innovative clean energy projects, technologies and business models in 15 countries across Southern and East Africa.
Since 2010, EEP Africa has committed more than EUR70 million to 250 pioneering projects. Meanwhile, Hirundo Energy, a company which develops wind energy projects and operates wind farms in Belgium, is looking to erect a number of wind farms in Lesotho.
The company has recently officially registered a subsidiary called Hirundo Lesotho as part of this noble intention. A number of studies are ongoing to accurately check the viability of such farms.
The company has approached the Energy Research Centre (ERC) to model the potential revenue generation of such farms considering the various Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) electricity trading markets.
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