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Solar credit innovation through agricultural cooperatives

Created Feb 05 2015, 4:55 PM by Andrew Carter

Find out how Aphelion Energy is piloting a solar credit model through agricultural cooperatives in Côte d'Ivoire by watching our video here: http://ow.ly/GhvVf

Our solution is to provide high-quality solar home systems using an innovative credit model built on partnerships with agricultural cooperatives. This allows farmers to pay for their systems over several harvests, with structured monthly payments that correspond to varying monthly income levels. Our relationships with cooperatives help to manage the risk of loan default, and provide a channel to market our service to targeted customers efficiently. This creates a solution that the community can sustain for the long-term.

Aphelion Energy will deliver and install solar home systems, train maintenance agents, and provide after-sales support to ensure that the systems are used and maintained properly. In order to scale the model, we seek to partner with organizations such as agribusiness companies and micro-finance institutions to create a revolving debt fund that will cover the cost of the equipment, and reach new customers as the loans are repaid.

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Yann Loic Tanvez

Replied Feb 19 2015, 10:44 AM
| 1

Hi Andrew, this is excellent!

Do you plan on powering productive uses at some point as well? Or only basic lighting and phone charging? I would be interested in thinking on this.. Is it too expensive for now? Could you do it through also providing the machinery for the farmers to use it on a shared basis?

Thanks and best,

Yann

ytanvez@worldbank.org

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Solar credit innovation through agricultural cooperatives

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