Submission to the International Development Committee by GOGLA
GOGLA, the global association for the off-grid industry, respectfully submits this information to the International Development Committee to profile the transformational role of electricity access via off-grid solar solutions, including solar home systems, irrigation, cold storage and communications appliances. These stand-alone systems, bought and owned by families, entrepreneurs, and farmers around the world, provide over 560 million people with improved economic opportunity and quality of life through first-time and improved access to clean, modern energy.[1]
GOGLA requests the Committee to consider and support off-grid solar energy in addressing global energy poverty and strengthening locally-led development. Off-grid solar is driving fundamental transformation, with impacts including:
● Quality of Life: 94% of solar home system (SHS) users report improved quality of life through improved lighting, extended device usage, and increased productivity.[2]
● Income Generation: 12% of those buying SHS use them to support income generation.[3] Access to electricity via off-grid solar has generated over USD 13 billion in savings and $9 billion in new income for families across Africa and Asia.[4]
● Productivity: 10.7 million micro and small enterprises are powered by off-grid solar technologies, while 700,000 farmers are using off-grid solar irrigation or cooling systems.[5]
● Direct Employment: The distributed renewables industry supports 400,000 clean energy jobs, frequently in remote areas where few opportunities for youth and women exist.[6] It also includes a wide range of locally owned and led off-grid solar businesses.
● Digital Inclusion: The industry has enabled 380 million people to access solar energy kits with phone charging capacity, and leading off-grid companies sell smartphones, wifi routers, and other ICT.[7]
● Climate Resilience and Adaptation: In the last two years, 80% of households using off-grid solar experienced a climate shock, such as droughts, heat stress or flooding.[8] 50% reported that off-grid technologies helped them to cope and recover.[9]
● Democratised Access to Energy: Customers make the choice to buy off-grid solar, defining their own energy security and supply. Even in cases where SHS customers also have access to the grid (16%), some prefer to use their SHS as their primary source of power.[10][11]
The Role of Off-Grid Solar in Transforming Energy Access
Off-grid solar solutions provide the least-cost route to reaching 400 million more people by 2030. The recently launched Mission 300 initiative by the World Bank Group and African Development Bank includes off-grid energy as a key pillar. The World Bank expects almost 50% of connections under the initiative to be achieved via off-grid solutions. Off-grid solar is also seen as a critical mechanism to achieve national electrification goals by the leaders of African nations developing National Energy Compacts under the programme.
Off-grid solutions provide the fastest and most effective way to lift communities across Africa and Asia from energy poverty. They play a critical role in improving energy services for those living in areas with weak grids and in powering agriculture, health, and public services.
Several other development areas supported by off-grid solar are profiled in the reports Leveraging Energy Access and Off-Grid Technologies to realize National, Social and Economic Development Priorities, Powering Climate Resilience: the Role of Off-Grid Solar and Beyond Silos: Powering Food Systems with Off-Grid Solar. GOGLA is working with the GSMA to map the ways that off-grid solar is supporting digital transformation and connectivity.
UK Support for Off-Grid Solar
The UK Government has been a leading advocate and supporter of the off-grid solar industry. Supportive programmes include:
● The groundbreaking Energy Africa initiative that helped to kick-start the off-grid industry;
● Innovation and grant financing through the Transforming Energy Access programme which has led to the growth of new market segments such as solar irrigation, cooling and e-mobility;
● Concessional financing via the government supported British International Investment that has seeded the growth of leading off-grid companies which now serve millions of customers, and
● Support for policy and research via the Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility which helped to inform national governments of the potential of the emerging off-grid sector and encouraged many to provide supportive policy and fiscal measures.
These have been fundamental to catalysing the off-grid industry and helping it reach hundreds of millions of people in just a decade. The off-grid industry has matured to attract over $1.2 billion in financing and has received policy support from governments across Africa. By teaming aid with impact investment, commercial finance and payments from off-grid customers, it has been possible to use a limited amount of grant and innovation finance to generate significant mpact returns.
Gaps and Opportunities
Despite the considerable progress, the industry still requires more support to serve the hardest-to-reach communities. 82% of those who still lack access to electricity today are living in remote, fragile, or conflict-affected areas.[12] More support from governments, development actors and investors is needed to achieve national and international energy access targets. Key areas of action include:
● Working with more national governments to integrate off-grid solar electricity into policies and plans for electricity and climate, and to provide supportive fiscal measures such as tax and tariff exemptions.
● The development of subsidy programs to ensure that the poorest communities are lifted from energy poverty.
● The creation and capitalisation of financial mechanisms that can attract greater investment into the off-grid industry, such as de-risking instruments, guarantees and concessional financing.
● Support for ecosystem actors to enable the continued development of a sustainable and responsible industry.
● Cross-sectoral support for energy access and off-grid solar by demonstrating its role in achieving other development outcomes, including green growth, climate resilience and food security.
● Greater support for locally-led companies, including catalytic grants and technical assistance, to ensure the development of an inclusive and diverse sector that creates jobs and builds skills for the national workforce.
● Continued support for innovation in technology, business models and programmatic interventions to ensure that this pioneering industry can continue to deliver outsized development impacts.
GOGLA is available and enthusiastic about making further presentations to the Committee on the gaps and opportunities for leveraging transformational financing to accelerate off-grid solar, meet energy access goals, and empower energy-poor communities around the world to determine their own energy supply and security.
In addition to written submissions, GOGLA has UK-based staff, Members, and Partners who can provide in-person comments or information.
About GOGLA
GOGLA is the global association for the off-grid solar energy industry, representing over 200 members working to transform lives through clean, affordable, and high-quality solar products and services.
More than 560 million climate-vulnerable people already benefit from off-grid solar power for their homes, farms, enterprises, and public infrastructure. With the right support, our industry is poised to scale rapidly and aim to improve the lives of 1 billion people by 2030.
GOGLA drives this progress by serving as a central hub for the sector, offering vital market data, advocating for supportive policies and increased investment, and providing value-added services to our members.
Learn more at gogla.org.
Off-Grid Solar Testimonials:
Improving income and opportunity
My name is Leon. I am the cluster leader as well as the refugee welfare council one in Cluster C. I am 37 years old, South Sudanese by origin, and I came to Uganda in 2016. Our source of income is maize, poultry, piggery, rabbit keeping. The food ration of the World Food Program has been reduced, so it’s not enough. And we need money for school fees and other basic necessities. We got the home solar kit in September 2024 for the room of my children so they can do their homework at night. We also use it to charge the phones. Before I had to buy torches, which I had to replace after 2 days. Now we can use the lights of the home solar kit.
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My name is Achol Biar Gief. I am 27 years old and I am married and I have 4 children. My husband has mental health problems so I have to earn the family income. I started sewing in 2018 and a month ago I got the solar sewing machine. Now I don’t have to use my foot to run the machine, which saves a lot of energy in my legs. My production increased. Apart from that the machine is much more advanced so I can make many different designs. Now I can make all types of dresses and school uniform shorts.
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Joseph is one of just a few smallholder farmers to have a smartphone. His aim was to access farming information online and download apps to help connect him to cooperatives and buyers, but without electricity, it was challenging and expensive to keep his phone constantly charged. Since having solar power installed in his home, Joseph has been able to charge his phone in the evenings ready for the next day, saving time and money.
Joseph has also joined a WhatsApp group set up by the Homabay Agricultural Board that shares farming tips including where to buy certified seeds, the best time to plant, the placement of seed, fertilising and ways to reduce post-harvest wastage. Advice on better farming techniques has helped Joseph improve crop yields and make savings. The ability to keep his smartphone charged and connected to WhatsApp groups has helped him increase income by more than 50%. Joseph is saving to build a new home and possibly buying more farmland to keep expanding his businesses.
Improving Healthcare
My name is Driwaru Gloria, and I am 32 years old. I am a registered midwife at OCEA Health Centre, where I am in charge of the maternity department. The Popo power system has been a big help at our health center. We mostly use it for lighting, because our usual power system is down, and even though we have a generator, it often runs out of fuel. Sometimes we go for weeks or even a month, without fuel for the generator. Without power, it’s very hard to do our work, especially at night. There have been times when I had to conduct deliveries in the dark, using my phone’s flashlight by holding it in my mouth to see what I was doing. Popo power has made things much easier. It’s flexible, so we can move the lights where we need them, like the postnatal ward or the labor room. It’s also helpful in emergencies, like when we need to refer patients to higher-level facilities.
Susanna’s Story: How the off-grid industry is enabling life-changing jobs for women
In the Maasai village in northern Tanzania where Susanna lives, most of the families in her community rely on kerosene at night. This worries her because she understands the dangers of kerosene lamps. One of her neighbours, Mary, had a terrible experience when a cat came in and knocked her lamp over. Mary woke up because the house was on fire. Luckily she had time to run out with her children and call for help.
Before joining Solar Sister, Susanna was relying on livestock – selling milk or their cows and goats. About four years ago, her husband left. A year later, she was attending a woman’s group and heard about Solar Sister and she decided to give it a try since her life was difficult with her husband gone and five children to support.
“I didn’t have any training nor the investment income to start a business. I have learned a lot since joining the Solar Sister program. I have learned how to save my money and how to invest in my business. I have learned how to grow my business and how to connect with customers.”
With her Solar Sister income, Susanna has been able to support her firstborn Benjamin’s education, and buy him school materials like notebooks, stationery, a dictionary, a school uniform and shoes, as well as a mattress and better clothes for herself. She has also begun to build the foundation of a house for herself in the family boma or village family community.
On market days, Susanna takes her products to sell at the market. On other days she walks door to door selling. She walks up to seven kilometres to her neighbour’s homes. Susanna’s husband has since returned to the family, but she remains steadfast that women need to be able to take care of themselves.
“It is essential for us women to work. We can’t rely on our husbands for everything. In my case, my husband was gone for three years. The year after he left, I joined Solar Sister. The income earned from selling the products helped support my family and children. My eldest, Benjamin, performed well at school. He wanted to continue with his secondary education, but my husband had disappeared. I had to cover the educational expenses. With the additional income, we can ensure that our children can go to secondary school.“