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Lusaka, Zambia - The investment is specifically in Standard Microgrid’s Zambia operating company. The funding will help Standard Microgrid scale its operations in Zambia to serve clean, low-carbon reliable power to more than 130,000 Zambians from underserved communities lacking access to electricity.

Lusaka, Zambia - Standing in the bustling peri-urban settlement of Ngwerere, where nearly 1,000 Zambians live on the outskirts of Lusaka, you can see the power lines that follow the main road. But the residents here have never had access to grid electricity. That has not stopped enterprising business owners from setting up three video arcades and a movie theater, thanks to a 12-kilowatt solar array and battery bank installed by Standard Microgrid, which also provides power to grocery stores, hair salons, and nearly 100 homes.

In all, about 600 million people in the area do not have electricity, a problem being tackled by the Mini-Grid Innovation Lab, a new partnership between The Rockefeller Foundation and CrossBoundary Group.

Zambia’s Minister of Energy Matthew Nkhuwa presided as the guest of honor February 7th at the ribbon-cutting for Standard Microgrid’s 10th solar microgrid in Zambia, which also served as the public launch of the Africa Minigrid Developers Association’s Zambia country chapter.

Lusaka, Zambia - Sweden’s Ambassador to Zambia Henrik Cederin signed four contracts last Friday with companies offering a variety of rural energy solutions, marking the start of operations of the Power Africa: Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ). The USD25m Fund, which is financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and managed by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), aims to bring modern energy to one million Zambians, and build a solid foundation for continuing growth of the market such that it can serve all Zambians.

Lusaka, Zambia - Sweden’s Ambassador to Zambia Henrik Cederin signed four contracts last Friday with companies offering a variety of rural energy solutions, marking the start of operations of the Power Africa: Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ). The USD25m Fund, which is financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and managed by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), aims to bring modern energy to one million Zambians.

He made a vow. When his 16-year-old daughter died from an illness doctors could not diagnose, Allen Bailochan Tuladhar promised he would carry out her dream to help young people in Nepal obtain better access to technology and computer science education.

In the 10 years since Ellaine’s passing, it’s a vow Tuladhar has kept. He has established a foundation in his daughter’s name that offers scholarships and helps educate young women about technology. And his company, Picosoft Nepal, is working to bring low-cost internet to schools in the country’s heavily rural areas.

Several sessions during last week’s Africa Energy Forum (AEF) depicted the dynamics of solar energy development in Zambia that is currently taking the form of mini grids as well as larger projects via the scaling solar program.

Zambia’s solar sector has attracted global attention due to the very low costs of electricity procured via the first round of the so-called scaling solar program in 2015.

June 9 (Renewables Now) - Тhe US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) this week announced it has approved funding for a wind project of 130 MW to 140 MW that is being developed in Zambia by the local unit of Access Power Ltd.

The newly-signed grant will be used by Access Wind One Zambia Ltd to conduct feasibility studies in connection with the project located in Pensulo. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at USD 275 million (EUR 246m).

Upon completion in 2019, the wind park will be generating over 500 GWh of electricity a year.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has signed a grant aimed at increasing electricity access in Zambia.

This grant follows a partnership between USTDA and Zambian company Standard Microgrid Initiatives Limited on a study that supports the deployment of containerized minigrid units in rural and peri-urban districts in Zambia.

The project is anticipated to be the first large-scale deployment of solar with battery storage mini-grids in the country that utilizes U.S. technology solutions.

During this week's Africa Energy Forum, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a grant aimed at increasing electricity access in Zambia. USTDA is partnering with Zambian company Standard Microgrid Initiatives Limited on a study that supports the deployment of containerized minigrid units in rural and peri-urban districts in Zambia. The project is anticipated to be the first large-scale deployment of solar with battery storage mini-grids in the country that utilizes U.S. technology solutions.

Copenhagen, Africa Energy Forum (AEF): InfraCo Africa and Standard Microgrid Initiatives (Pty) Ltd (SM) have signed a Convertible Loan Agreement for the phased disbursement of up to US$3.5million. In parallel, the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) also awarded SM a US$0.75million grant to support project preparation services. Together, these commitments will fund the deployment of distributed solar power services across Zambia.