Where to Find Efficiency for Access at the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo
The biennial meeting of the off-grid solar energy industry
Efficiency for Access and some of its network will be attending the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo in Kigali between 18 – 20 October 2022.
We’re looking forward to connecting in person with sector stakeholders and partners at the event. You can visit our team at booths M30, M31 and M32. We have supported 25 companies to attend the Forum. Find out about them here. We will also be participating in and hosting several sessions throughout the forum. See the schedule below for more detailed information:
Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Time: 4:45 – 6:00 PM EAT/2:45 – 4:00 PM CET
Room: MH3
Session info
Distributed solar and storage technologies combined with high-efficiency appliances are poised to transform electricity access for homes and businesses on the weak grid. Innovative solutions are emerging that offer more reliable, affordable, and cleaner power for 840 million people. This represents a $200bn climate finance opportunity that helps governments achieve climate goals. What are these technologies, and how can the industry collaborate to accelerate growth in the market?
Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Time: 12:45 – 2:00 PM EAT/10:45 AM – 12:00 PM CET
Room: MH3
Session info
The off-grid solar sector already has a profound economic impact, through enabling households to save money, powering businesses and creating jobs. If companies are locally owned, or backed by local investors, this can help to maximise spending within the local economy. In some country contexts, manufacturing or assembly of off-grid solar products can also help to create jobs and drive economic growth. Government decision-makers must decide whether it makes sense to focus on maximising the economic impact of off-grid solar within their policies and programmes, and if so, how best to do so. This session will consider different ways that they can do so, and the circumstances in which different approaches are likely to be successful.
Thursday, 20 October 2022
Time: 10:30 – 11:45 AM EAT/8:30 – 9:45 AM CET
Room: MH1
Session info
To drive a range of PURE appliances further along the market development curve, and truly “leave no one behind”, we are increasingly looking towards tools and market intelligence that can translate what relative impact each appliance may have in each local context, or for a certain user versus another, and how real-life applications of such appliances – many of which still represent nascent markets and compete with incumbent technologies – may or may not live up to the consumers’ performance and demand expectations. In this session, Efficiency for Access and its partners will focus on the consumer’s voice and knit together the latest findings on the uptake of PURE products from their multi-country, multi-product and multi-year field testing and market intelligence gathering efforts. Locally led companies will take the stage to share their unique experiences with, and recommendations for, consumer awareness raising and engagement, including steps they are taking towards an improved and more inclusive journey from customer acquisition through after-sales service experience.
E6: The Connect Initiative: A Roundtable Meeting on the Next Generation of Interoperable Technology
Time: 10:30 – 11:45 AM EAT/8:30 – 9:45 AM CET
Room: AD12
Session info
This will be a seminal meeting following the kick-off at GOGSFE 2020. This will be a roundtable for manufacturers to share their commitments to adopt the Technical Guidelines and chart the course for the next phase of the initiative.
A8: Sustainable Cooling as an Integral Element of Energy Access and Climate Action
Time: 3:00 – 4:15 PM EAT/1:00 – 2:15 PM CET
Room: MH1
Session info
Access to Climate Smart and Sustainable cooling can accelerate SDG 7 and catalyse equitable, resilient development for rural populations in a warming world. Yet this requires a holistic systems approach to create enabling ecosystems by bringing together all the key stakeholders and making the best of what they each have to offer. This session will define the synergies between sustainable access to energy and cooling in rural areas and demonstrate how they are inextricably linked, showcasing how cooling, powered by distributed renewable energy, can change – and save – lives.
C8: Networking Extravaganza and Investor Matchmaking for Locally-Owned Companies
Time: 3:00 – 4:15 PM EAT/1:00 – 2:15 PM CET
Room: MH3
Session info:
This local company networking session will be building up on the virtual boardroom that took place at the GOGLA Investment Forum in December 2021, which aimed to understand investment barriers in the off-grid solar sector towards locally owned and managed companies. The purpose of the session is for companies and investors to have candid conversations on issues and challenges faced on both sides when it comes to fundraising and come up with innovative solutions to ensure local companies can access fitting capital to foster the growth of new companies and business models to meet the demand for electricity services and appliances.
D8: VeraSol Stakeholder Meeting
Time: 3:00 – 4:15 PM EAT/1:00 – 2:15 PM CET
Room: AD10
Session info
VeraSol – an evolution of Lighting Global Quality Assurance – is a global quality assurance (QA) program for modern off-grid solar energy solutions, from solar energy kits to productive use appliances and equipment. VeraSol maintains the world’s most widely recognized quality assurance framework for pico-solar products and solar home system kits. Since the launch of VeraSol in 2020, the VeraSol QA services have expanded and transformed to keep pace with market trends and stakeholder demand. Join this interactive Q&A session to hear directly from the VeraSol team about their newest program services, make a case for your own QA service needs for future consideration, and help shape what you can expect from VeraSol in the coming years.
Time: 3:00 – 4:15 PM EAT/1:00 – 2:15 PM CET
Room: AD12
Session info
In recent years, the off-grid solar industry has made much progress in advancing circular models and improving e-waste management. Attendees are welcomed to the Circularity Carnival, a series of three sessions which focus on expanding circularity initiatives, catalysing support and driving innovation.
In the second session, attendees will workshop on how the industry can move forward in the areas of repair, refurbishment, recycling and second-life battery solutions. Which solutions can be scaled up or replicated? How best can persistent barriers be overcome? How can companies and other stakeholders collaborate? What additional support is needed to catalyse innovation for circular models?
Time: 4:45 – 6:00 PM EAT/2:45 – 4:00 PM CET
Room: MH1
Session info
There is a diverse level of market readiness for solar-powered cold-storage appliances and power systems from early-stage to fully commercial equipment suppliers and cold-storage facility operators. This session will explore the latest insights on the commercial viability of off-grid cold storage technologies and operational models.
B9: Building a Gender-Forward Industry
Time: 4:45 – 6:00 PM EAT/2:45 – 4:00 PM CET
Room: MH2
Session info
Women are underrepresented in the off-grid solar sector across all areas of customers, workforce and leadership. This session by the World Bank Group/ESMAP and GOGLA will explore existing gender norms across these pillars, and present new data and tools that aim to help companies, investors and other stakeholders make progress in building a gender-forward industry by creating a more equitable, inclusive environment at organisation and customer levels.
C9: Networking Extravaganza and Investor Matchmaking for Locally-Owned Companies
Time: 4:45 – 6:00 PM EAT/2:45 – 4:00 PM CET
Room: MH3
Session info
This local company networking session will be building up on the virtual boardroom that took place at the GOGLA Investment Forum in December 2021, which aimed to understand investment barriers in the off-grid solar sector towards locally owned and managed companies. The purpose of the session is for companies and investors to have candid conversations on issues and challenges faced on both sides when it comes to fundraising and come up with innovative solutions to ensure local companies can access fitting capital to foster the growth of new companies and business models to meet the demand for electricity services and appliances.
To find out more about the event, please click here.