MicroEnergy Credits – Microfinance for Clean Energy Product Lines – Africa

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Project Name : MEC Africa

Project owner : MEC

The purpose of this project is the dissemination of clean energy products in Africa.

The Programme will promote two clean energy product :

• Efficient charcoal/wood based cookstoves.
• Solar Electric Lights.

The stoves, and solar lighting systems disseminated under this program will slash down carbon emissions by reducing the amount of fuel required to cook, and will provide light for low-income households in rural regions of Kenya and Uganda.

Many microfinance clients suffer from energy poverty, impacting their health, their ability to educate their children, and their ability to save and accumulate wealth.  

MEC addresses these barriers by working with microfinance institutions to market affordable, reliable clean energy products right to doorstep of the microentrepreneurs.

In these countries, the predominant means of cooking are traditional cookstoves that use charcoal or wood as fuel. The smoke and fumes from these inefficient stoves contribute heavily to indoor air pollution and affects human health. Regarding the lighting, there is either no grid connection or frequent power outages and low voltage so rural households must use kerosene for indoor lighting. The kerosene used  for indoor lighting, also contributes to indoor air pollution.

The new clean energy products will increase energy efficiency of the households in Kenya & Uganda. The cookstoves reduce the amount of fuel required to cook, the solar lighting reduces the need to kerosene lamps in the house.

MicroEnergy Credits (MEC) is a social enterprise that helps microentrepreneurs and low-income households in developing countries to invest in clean energy through their local microfinance institution. Many microentrepreneurs and households lack access to clean energy technologies due to economic barriers and market inefficiencies. MEC addresses these barriers by working with microfinance institutions to market affordable, reliable clean energy products right to doorstep of the microentrepreneurs.

Traditional stoves produce harmful smokes.

The project reduces indoor air pollution by 80% and related risk to respiratory diseases.

MEC used the local workforce to implement the program.

The installation of the insulation is done by local people who are trained about how the technology works.

The project activity involves the introduction of solar lighting systems into households.

These solar lighting devices will help households to reduce their kerosene consumption and thus reduce their kerose bills.

Many households lack access to clean energy technologies due to lack of access to upfront finance or lack of awareness of clean energy products and their value proposition

MEC addresses these barriers by working with microfinance institutions to market affordable, reliable clean energy products.