Brazil is one of the only countries in the world that produces the vast majority of the appliances sold on its domestic market. By implementing more ambitious energy efficiency standards that meet, or even exceed, global benchmarks, Brazil could bring its industrial power to the global market.

In addition to growing Brazil’s global appliance market share – thereby increasing local jobs and revenue – a move towards production of more efficient appliances would yield other benefits like reduced energy demand on national power grids and lower electricity bills for consumers.

Efficiency standards are a tool for industrialization

Ambitious efficiency policy spurs an improved manufacturing ecosystem, making the production of outdated products obsolete. Currently, Brazil’s appliance efficiency policies do not match the ambition of minimum energy efficiency standards of many nations, including potential trading partners like Argentina, the European Union, Kenya, Mexico, and the United States. As a result, Brazil’s appliances cannot enter these lucrative markets, while competitors from other countries reap economic and industrial benefits.

Appliance efficiency signals a readiness for investment

At the 2024 Clean Energy Ministerial in Fos do Iguassu, Brazil, CLASP Senior Director of Climate, Ana Maria Carreño explained, “Appliance efficiency policy signals to the private sector that it’s a good time to invest in industry, resulting in increased availability of more efficient appliances and benefits for industry, the country, and consumers.”

Brazil is already witnessing the impacts of this positive cycle. Following the country’s refrigerator policy revisions in 2021 and 2023, leading manufacturer, Midea, invested $122 million USD in a new factory in Brazil to produce efficient refrigerators. At the same time, companies already operating in Brazil – like Electrolux, Esmaltec, and Whirlpool – injected tens of millions of dollars into their manufacturing operations to upgrade production lines and enable production of more efficient refrigerators.

CLASP collaborating to chart Brazil’s path forward

CLASP is working alongside multi-sectoral partners to outline what a feasible and fruitful national transition to more efficient appliances would entail. Progressive industry and government have revealed a willingness to collaborate in pursuit of a larger market reach and better Brazilian-made products. Some local utilities are also considering incentive-based programs in to back ambitious industrial policies driving the availability of quality, efficient appliances. This will go a long way to reduce climate emissions and improve lives.

Enhancing food security in Nigeria

Farm Warehouse is an agricultural technology distributor that offers portable, solar-powered mills to smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Through the support of CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility – an innovative financing program that delivers support to companies through capacity-building grants, subsidies, and business support – Farm Warehouse has been able to deliver life-changing technologies into the hands of those who need them.

Farm Warehouse customers affirm the benefits of these grain mills:

Not only do these mills increase food production, they also significantly decrease food wastage. According to Kuma Mede, CEO of Farm Warehouse, before the introduction of these appliances, farmers were losing roughly 30% of their harvest; with Farm Warehouse’s portable, solar mill, farmers are able to significantly reduce wastage and reap more from their harvest.

For close to a decade, CLASP has been working to improve access to efficient appliances that work in off-grid or weak-grid areas. These productive-use appliances (PUAs), such as solar-powered refrigerators, solar water pumps, and solar milling machines are technologies that have a direct, transformative impact on local communities, small businesses, and people’s livelihoods.  As these appliances are often powered by renewable energy, they have far lower running costs for consumers, and they reduce harm to the environment and the climate.

The Facility helps strengthen the role of appliance suppliers and distributors by providing capacity-building grants to companies like Farm Warehouse. In addition to business support, CLASP improves appliance performance testing to verify appliance quality, ensuring Farm Warehouse consumers receive reliable information about the efficiency and quality of the products on sale.

About the Productive Use Financing Facility 

CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility, is supported by The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). It has provided financing to 24 companies in six countries, to enable the distribution of over 13,000 productive-use appliances, directly impacting more than 58,000 households.

Solar-powered farm equipment could be a crucial tool in overcoming the challenge of unemployment in rural areas across many emerging economies, according to new research by Efficiency for Access and Power for All.  The solar irrigation sector in India and Kenya alone has the potential to create over 115,000 jobs by 2030.

The report Green Jobs for Rural Youth  analyzes four countries Kenya, India, Nigeria and Uganda. It finds that there is a significant opportunity to combat youth unemployment through innovative solar technologies.

Promising findings

The findings are promising: solar-powered farm equipment could generate thousands of sustainable jobs, transforming agriculture and improving life quality in rural communities.

Abigail Kuria, the lead researcher from CLASP, who co-authored the report, notes, “These technologies equip rural youth with transferable skills and long-term employment while advancing sustainable development.”

Addressing barriers to adoption

However, affordability and awareness remain significant barriers to wide-spread adoption. Kuria urges, “Investors, financiers, philanthropies, and governments must bolster financial support and market incentives to drive demand for renewable energy in agriculture and tackle affordability issues. This includes funding interventions and rolling out awareness campaigns to boost technology adoption.”

For this report Kuria collaborated with Hannibal Tesfahunegn from Power for All, a nonprofit advocating and scaling solutions in the off-grid sector. The research addresses a critical data gap that has hindered effective policymaking and sector growth, arriving at a pivotal moment for those looking to invest in sustainable development.

Discover how solar innovations can open new job opportunities and benefit rural areas by exploring the full report here.

The Efficiency for Access coalition is co-managed by CLASP and Energy Saving Trust.

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Rain-fed agriculture is a fundamental pillar of the Ethiopian economy. In 2022, agriculture employed about 80% percent of the country’s workforce and contributed nearly 38% to gross domestic product (GDP).³ However, persistent droughts have posed significant challenges to farmers’ livelihoods and reduced food yields.

Off-grid irrigation as a solution

Solar water pumps are a sustainable, off-grid solution to improve small-scale irrigation, strengthen community resilience, and support sustainable economic growth. Powered by the sun, solar water pumps also reduce the use of fossil fuels, so they are less harmful to the climate. Rekik Bekele is the founder and CEO of Green Scene Energy, a thriving solar appliance distributor. Green Scene recently received business support through CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility to increase its supply of affordable solar water pumps.

Founded by Rekik Bekele in 2016, Green Scene Energy provides affordable, high-quality solar energy products in off-grid areas of Ethiopia. Green Scene began by specializing in solar home lighting systems, later expanding its portfolio to include solar mini-grid, commercial and industrial solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solutions for off-grid projects.

In 2022, in response to the growing need for irrigation pumping in rural areas across Ethiopia, Green Scene began distributing solar-powered water pumps. To date, the company has successfully positioned itself as a market leader in the provision of affordable solar water pumping systems.

Financial support catalyzing progress

Despite a growing demand for solar water pumps, the substantial upfront capital required exposes significant challenges. According to Rekik, CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility has been instrumental in allowing Green Scene to continue selling solar water pumps in 2023. “We had been seeking investment for some time; by the end of 2022, we were only importing small numbers of pumps at a time, using existing sales revenue,” observed Rekik.

“Green Scene’s expanded capacity to make larger, more efficient orders, is allowing us to reach many more end users. Response to the introduction of the pumps is incredibly positive. The farmers are pleased with the improvements.”

Appliances with a transformative potential

Efficient productive use appliances (PUAs), like solar water pumps, refrigerators, and milling machines, have transformative effects on local communities, small businesses, and the environment. However, despite their potential for income generation, PUA sales remain remarkably low in emerging markets due to their relatively high upfront costs and a lack of access to finance. CLASP’s innovative financing facility addresses these challenges by helping distribution companies like Green Scene sell their products at lower prices.

Multifaceted support

The Facility’s support to Green Scene is multifaceted. Subsidies to lower product prices are easing import constraints, while increased performance testing verifies product quality. A capacity-building grant is also helping with a variety of one-off costs and purchases associated with introducing new product lines.

“The funding has assisted Green Scene in selling over 50 solar water pumps,” adds Rekik. “We expect to sell at least another 250 during the upcoming months.”

According to Rekik, demand is leading Green Scene away from the sole retail of solar lighting, toward a greater focus on solar-powered productive-use appliances (PUAs). She attributes this strategic transition to the considerable success achieved with solar water pumps and a recognition of the tremendous potential within the PUA market.

Assisting customers to access finance

In addition to expanding and diversifying its portfolio, Green Scene Energy has also leveraged the Facility’s support to unlock consumer financing for solar water pumps. Rekik and her colleagues have been working closely with an Ethiopian bank to design the bank’s first-ever consumer loan product for solar water pumps.

“Previously, the Bank had provided loans for solar lighting to consumers through Micro-Finance Institutions (MFI),” explains Rekik. “However, solar water pumps have become more expensive and technologically complex. For the first time, the MFIs are now offering collateral-free loans for solar water pumps.”

According to Rekik, CLASP’s financing has been critical for Green Scene because it is in a scale-up stage. They have been able to use the funding to gain confidence and trust in their business, which has in turn facilitated the securing of additional private financing.

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About The Productive Use Financing Facility

CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility, is supported by The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). It has provided financing to 24 companies in six countries, to enable the distribution of over 13,000 productive-use appliances, directly impacting more than 58,000 households.

Around the world, women make up only 32% of the renewable energy workforce, in India this figure is just 11%.  To speak to this topic, CLASP hosted an event in New Delhi, to shine a light on the strategic benefit of increasing equity and inclusion in India’s energy sector. The first-of-its-kind event, titled “Equity Surge: Powering Inclusion in India’s Energy Sector”, brought together respected leaders and experts to delve into the various facets of gender inclusion and its impact on India’s energy transition.

The first discussion, moderated by Neha Dhingra, Senior Manager at CLASP, shed light on the evolving landscape of India’s energy sector and the pivotal role women play within it. Speakers, including Ruchika Drall from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ramila Vyas from People Education & Development Organization, Mandira Kalra Kalaan from Purpose, and Leher Sethi from the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs, Delhi, provided valuable insights into women’s participation, their role as community leaders and decision-makers, and the need for gender-responsive policies.

The first discussion, moderated by Neha Dhingra, Senior Manager at CLASP, shed light on the evolving landscape of India’s energy sector and the pivotal role women play within it. Speakers, including Ruchika Drall from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ramila Vyas from People Education & Development Organization, Mandira Kalra Kalaan from Purpose, and Leher Sethi from the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs, Delhi, provided valuable insights into women’s participation, their role as community leaders and decision-makers, and the need for gender-responsive policies.

The speakers noted that women are not just underrepresented in the energy sector but also disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. The need for mainstreaming gender and fostering a gender-neutral framework was emphasized to break stereotypes and achieve gender balance in the workforce.

The solutions include enabling women’s access to finance and community engagement, as well as fostering leadership among women in the energy sector. The importance of monetizing unpaid household care work by women and communicating gender-responsive policies effectively were also underscored as critical steps toward achieving equity and inclusion.

According to India’s Council on Energy, Environment, and Water, if women’s participation in the energy sector is increased to 30%, it could create up to 3.2 million additional jobs by 2025. This CLASP event served as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue, learning and collaboration to encourage a more inclusive and equitable energy sector in India. CLASP continues to steer efforts and collective action globally with the vision of a just and inclusive energy transition for all.

Appliances Supporting Life-Saving Health Facilities

The Rhino Camp is a refugee settlement camp in Northern Uganda. Within the camp is the Ofua Health Center 3, a solar-powered medical facility with just two doctors attending to a population of over 45,000 people. Dr. Gideon Anguerini highlights a pressing challenge: the center’s reliance on a single, energy-inefficient fridge unsuitable for solar power. The health center aims to purchase an efficient solar-powered fridge from POPO Africa, an appliance distributor based in Uganda. With the fridge, the health center’s services will be expanded, its energy costs significantly lowered and it can treat more patients.

Delivering Change through Solar Solutions

From the outset, POPO Africa’s vision aimed at enhancing maternal health by ensuring that clinics in refugee camps had reliable solar lighting powered by solar battery packs. This expanded, as the company moved into leasing the battery packs to the wider community.

POPO’s solar batteries are a lifeline for community businesses, enabling them to operate after dark, offer phone charging services, and more. With 54 distribution points across five districts, POPO’s impact is widespread, directly employing 75 people and indirectly supporting many more through their distribution network. POPO Africa also places a strong emphasis on women’s economic empowerment, boasting a workforce that is 70% female.

Recognizing the critical need for cooling services POPO aimed to revolutionize the off-grid cold chain service in Northern Uganda. The only barrier to this was capital constraints. POPO could not pursue the cold chain opportunity without external support. With funding from CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility, POPO was able to start selling solar-powered refrigerators, that will benefit healthcare facilities and empower local businesses.

Transformative, Impactful Financing

Efficient productive-use appliances (PUAs) like solar-powered refrigerators, pumps, and milling machines can have transformative effects on local communities, small businesses, and the environment. However, despite their potential for income generation, PUA sales remain remarkably low in emerging markets due to their relatively high upfront costs and a lack of access to finance. CLASP set up the Productive Use Financing Facility to address these challenges by helping distribution companies like POPO Africa sell their products at lower prices.

Overcoming Capital Constraints

With CLASP’s Facility’s procurement subsidies and capacity-building grant, POPO is working to sell approximately 140 refrigerators within a year. They have made that transformative step into the cold chain market and are now extending affordable, off-grid cooling to their customers, like the Ofua Health Center.

With each solar-powered battery and refrigerator, POPO is helping to build a future where energy is accessible, businesses thrive, and healthcare advances, even in the most remote corners of the world.

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About The Productive Use Financing Facility

CLASP’s Productive Use Financing Facility, is supported by The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). It has provided financing to 24 companies in six countries, to enable the distribution of over 13,000 productive-use appliances, directly impacting more than 58,000 households.

CLASP is running an industrial accelerator program in Pakistan to spur innovation and improve appliance efficiency. The program leverages international production and design experts to collaborate with local industry manufacturers to enhance the energy efficiency of water heaters and motors.  Improved energy efficiency will reduce demand on the national power grid, reduce energy costs for consumers, and produce less climate emissions.

This Industry Accelerator has two main components: strengthen capacity for testing labs and provide technical support for manufacturers to improve their products to prepare for the upcoming regulations.

The Need for Reliable Testing Laboratories

In Pakistan’s appliance and equipment manufacturing sector, reliable, independent appliance test laboratories are starting to emerge. Test labs support manufacturers in assessing efficiency levels of their appliances, and their presence is crucial to accelerating efficiency, innovation and quality. They will also be essential in measuring the performance of regulated products for compliance once Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and labeling regulations are rolled out.

Strengthening Lab Capacity Through Partnerships with Private Sector

Recognizing the need for both industry-based and independent test laboratories that are able to provide reliable and accurate test results, CLASP facilitated public-private partnerships with major air conditioner and motor manufacturers in Pakistan. CLASP also collaborated major manufacturers to support the capacity building of existing labs such as Centre for Energy Research & Development, Pakistan (CERAD). The training included upskilling the lab technicians’ proficiency in protocols, test methodologies, and enhancing verification process to prove that testing is reliable.

Learning from International Best Practice

CLASP partnered with motor testing expert from Turkish National Standards Institute (TSE) who are working in Pakistan and remotely to help strengthen the capacity of three motors labs at the Information Technology University (ITU), the Gujranwala Institute of Future Technology (GIFT) and CERAD. TSE have provided advice not only on lab equipment set up, but have undertaken extensive testing alongside the Pakistani technical staff to ensure their ability to test products and analyze results according to the IEC testing standards.

To gain insights on producing more efficient water heaters, a delegation of Pakistani manufacturers visited China’s renowned testing lab, the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI) in Beijing. The manufacturers had an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of test lab equipment, methodologies and processes and learn insights in designing more efficient water heaters. When efficient water heaters are produced in Pakistan they will reduce the fossil fuel demand, strain on national grid, lower emissions and lessen monthly power bills for consumers.

Strengthening the Motor Industry

CLASP also invited motor experts from EMOSAD in Türkiye to visit local counterparts in Pakistan to share insights on how the country transformed from producing low-efficiency motors to building globally competitive, energy-efficient models. Following initial assessment of manufacturer production facilities, the experts have been preparing tailored design and production improvement recommendations for each participant considering their existing capabilities and objectives. The overall goal is to enable all participating manufacturers to have the capacity to produce motors of at least IE1 efficiency levels.

Industry Support Yield Benefits for Manufacturers, Consumers and the Climate

Around the world, manufacturers are recognizing the benefits of producing appliances and equipment that adhere to global standards in energy-efficiency that are also crucial to climate action and sustainable development. The presence of reliable, independent appliance test laboratories and technical assistance to participating manufacturers are the first steps towards building thriving motor and water heater industries in Pakistan. This will benefit the climate, the economy and consumers.

CLASP would like to thank the following companies who are a key part of the Pakistan Industry Accelerator program: AC and Motor Test Laboratories at CERAD, ITU and GIFT; the Punjab Energy Department (PEECA); Haier, ABB, Dawlence; the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR); the Turkish National Standards Institute (TSE); the Turkish Motor Manufacturer’s Association (EMOSAD); the Pakistan Pumps and Motor Manufacturers Association (PPEMMA); the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI); and the participating manufacturers Canon, Super Asia, Waves, Golden Fuji, Fisher, Golden Dynamics, El-Khas, Sunrise and Shahzad Pump.