What is Off Grid Electric?

Off Grid Electric is the world’s first Solar as a Service company. By providing customers with Pay As You Go solar power, Off Grid Electric makes solar energy more accessible and affordable for the world’s poor, most of whom cannot afford the high upfront costs associated with traditional solar offerings.

Who is involved?

As part of its portfolio of investments that seek to expand the clean energy sector in the developing world, the Omidyar Networks, along with other partners, invested in a company providing a safer alternative to kerosene lanterns often used East Africa.

What does Off Grid Electric do?

By becoming the de facto utility for its customers, Off Grid Electric is able to provide 50 times more light for less than is currently spent on kerosene lanterns. They further keep costs down through innovative technologies – including next-generation lithium batteries and hyper-efficient appliances – that more efficiently deliver solar infrastructure to rural communities. Affordable and reliable electricity not only allows off-grid customers to light their homes – expanding opportunities for work and study – but it also supports charging of cell phones, better connecting them to mobile services and critical financial resources.

What has it achieved?

Between its inception in 2013 and April 2016:
  • OGE currently provides affordable power to people in Tanzania and Rwanda.
  • They employ more than 800 people full time, primarily in sales and regional service teams.
  • They are installing more than 10,000 solar units in homes and businesses every month.
There are also a number of indirect positive impacts of generated from the use of solar power such as powering small businesses that create jobs and stimulating education as children have more light to study.

What is next?

The next step is to provide low-energy fridges that could help customers open small restaurants or grocery stores. (Off Grid Electric says it already powers hairdressers and sports bars). Off Grid Electric raised $25 million as part of a Series C investment to expand its micro-solar leasing platform in Africa. The round was led by DBL Partners, which provided the majority of the funding, and also included Western Technology Investment and previous investors SolarCity, Omidyar Network, Serious Change LP, Vulcan Capital and the private investment firm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.