September 9, 2013 |
7:30 AM
|
Online - To reserve your Webinar seat you may register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wMav-nZiob86xFTGGVk2I3EnbJIffq5rK6JZ07DxA7A/viewform
Sustainable energy powers opportunity. As noted by the SE4All initiative, 1.3 billion people—one in five globally—lack electricity to light their homes or conduct business. Engaging the private sector to define and implement financially sustainable business models could play a pivotal role in accelerating off-grid rural electrification. The IEA estimates that more than $50 billion annual investment is needed to achieve universal energy access by 2030, much of which will be mobilized from and directed toward the private sector. Yet notable barriers remain for unlocking private sector participation in energy access. As you are aware, we continue to implement a multi-year initiative to explore and support commercially viable business models for private sector engagement in providing energy services to rural, off grid customers.
Reaching millions of customers is not a new challenge for the private sector. Around the world, even in rural areas with no access to electricity, industries such as telecom, consumer goods, appliances and automotive are reaching their customers using a network of retailers, distributors, local partners and agents. Despite some obvious and major differences between the energy sector and others, there is room for inspiration and there is a rural customer to be served. A confluence of factors including, recent advancements in renewable energy based generation and storage technologies, development of mobile-phone enabled metering, payment and customer management solutions, availability of high-efficiency household appliances and reduction in costs of these technologies, is creating a unique opportunity for the private sector.
What can we learn from other sectors to help design these business models for the energy sector? How can entrepreneurs who have created unique business solutions and are successfully running their companies in a few villages, scale-up or replicate? How can we engage small private enterprises that exist in most rural areas in becoming local energy service providers? Reinventing the wheel, village-by-village and country-by-country is not necessary. Can we learn and adapt the well-established practice of franchising? Can we help the development of the business method and relationships that could accelerate the pace of off-grid electrification? These are few of the questions for which we seek answers.
This webinar marks the first step in our quest to explore the franchising approach and will be followed by a 2 weeks long e-discussion on the online collaborative platform. We highly value your views, feedback and opinions. Please feel free to refer us to expert contributors for the e-discussion and any other suggestions that you may have to enrich this discussion.
Speaker
Mr. Jim Walker, Co-Founder of The Climate Group, serves as the organization's Director of International Programs & Strategy, based out of the New York office. He is a member of the Executive Management Team and of The Climate Group’s Australia, Hong Kong and China boards of directors.
He has worked for 16 years on green strategy and policy, formerly at Environmental Resources Management and URS Corporation in London. He has spoken at events including Climate Week NYC, the Climate Leaders Summit and TED Global and is currently focused on The Climate Group’s electric vehicles, LED lighting and smart technology programmes. He was a co-author of The Climate Group’s review of China’s 12th Five Year Plan commissioned by HSBC and spent 18 months living in Beijing in 2010-2012. He has served as a member of the final jury for the Netherlands Postcode Lottery Green Challenge since 2008, awarding US$1m to green entrepreneurs each year. He is an advisory board member at Chinese NGO Thirst4Water and a member of the UK Government's Catalyst UK business leaders' network.
Jim holds a Masters degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London, and competed in rowing at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.
Introductory remarks by Ms. Monali Ranade, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank Institute Climate Change Practice
Calendar » Live Webinar Exploring the Franchise Approach for Off-Grid Electrification
Live Webinar Exploring the Franchise Approach for Off-Grid Electrification
Sustainable energy powers opportunity. As noted by the SE4All initiative, 1.3 billion people—one in five globally—lack electricity to light their homes or conduct business. Engaging the private sector to define and implement financially sustainable business models could play a pivotal role in accelerating off-grid rural electrification. The IEA estimates that more than $50 billion annual investment is needed to achieve universal energy access by 2030, much of which will be mobilized from and directed toward the private sector. Yet notable barriers remain for unlocking private sector participation in energy access. As you are aware, we continue to implement a multi-year initiative to explore and support commercially viable business models for private sector engagement in providing energy services to rural, off grid customers.
Reaching millions of customers is not a new challenge for the private sector. Around the world, even in rural areas with no access to electricity, industries such as telecom, consumer goods, appliances and automotive are reaching their customers using a network of retailers, distributors, local partners and agents. Despite some obvious and major differences between the energy sector and others, there is room for inspiration and there is a rural customer to be served. A confluence of factors including, recent advancements in renewable energy based generation and storage technologies, development of mobile-phone enabled metering, payment and customer management solutions, availability of high-efficiency household appliances and reduction in costs of these technologies, is creating a unique opportunity for the private sector.
What can we learn from other sectors to help design these business models for the energy sector? How can entrepreneurs who have created unique business solutions and are successfully running their companies in a few villages, scale-up or replicate? How can we engage small private enterprises that exist in most rural areas in becoming local energy service providers? Reinventing the wheel, village-by-village and country-by-country is not necessary. Can we learn and adapt the well-established practice of franchising? Can we help the development of the business method and relationships that could accelerate the pace of off-grid electrification? These are few of the questions for which we seek answers.
This webinar marks the first step in our quest to explore the franchising approach and will be followed by a 2 weeks long e-discussion on the online collaborative platform. We highly value your views, feedback and opinions. Please feel free to refer us to expert contributors for the e-discussion and any other suggestions that you may have to enrich this discussion.
Speaker
Mr. Jim Walker, Co-Founder of The Climate Group, serves as the organization's Director of International Programs & Strategy, based out of the New York office. He is a member of the Executive Management Team and of The Climate Group’s Australia, Hong Kong and China boards of directors.
He has worked for 16 years on green strategy and policy, formerly at Environmental Resources Management and URS Corporation in London. He has spoken at events including Climate Week NYC, the Climate Leaders Summit and TED Global and is currently focused on The Climate Group’s electric vehicles, LED lighting and smart technology programmes. He was a co-author of The Climate Group’s review of China’s 12th Five Year Plan commissioned by HSBC and spent 18 months living in Beijing in 2010-2012. He has served as a member of the final jury for the Netherlands Postcode Lottery Green Challenge since 2008, awarding US$1m to green entrepreneurs each year. He is an advisory board member at Chinese NGO Thirst4Water and a member of the UK Government's Catalyst UK business leaders' network.
Jim holds a Masters degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London, and competed in rowing at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.
Introductory remarks by Ms. Monali Ranade, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank Institute Climate Change Practice
Hi,
Is it possible to get a summary of the webinar