Disruptive business models: Reshaping rural opportunities
The rise of innovative and disruptive business models for off-grid power solutions is reshaping rural development in Africa. By combining state of the art renewable technology with high efficiency appliances, latest battery technology, and innovative mobile payment systems that have emerged from the mobile phone revolution, entrepreneurs are delivering household solutions that increase rural electrification rates and scale up renewables in Africa. These innovative business models are challenging the conventional wisdom of energy infrastructure development in Africa and are fuelling debates on offgrid versus on-grid solutions as well as small-scale versus largescale projects.
Discussion Leaders:
• Steve Harley, President, Global Energy Sector, DHL, UK
• Simon BransfieldGarth, Chief Executive Officer, Azuri Technologies, UK
• Benon Mutambi, Chief Executive Officer, Electricity Regulatory Authority, Government of Uganda, Uganda
• Thomas Duveau, Head of Business Development, Mobisol, Germany
• Mugo Kibati, Group CEO; Chairman, Pan Africa Insurance; MKOPA Solar; Lake Turkana Wind Power, Kenya
Moderator:
• Angeli Hoekstra, Partner, PwC, South Africa
