Solar Austin Happy Hour: Solar PV In Africa

From Solar Austin –

This month, Solar Austin is going to step outside of our Austin bubble and hear about solar development in Africa. While industrialized countries face the challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, many developing countries – particularly those in Africa – don’t even have widespread access to electricity. While 80% of the global population has some access to electricity, only 30 percent of people in Africa do. About 600 million Africans live without electricity, mostly in rural communities.

Solar is helping communities in Africa leapfrog past polluting fossil fuels to expand access to this essential service. With access to electricity comes improvement in educational opportunities, health services, and access to clean water and information. Instead of relying on massive transmission line investments, the electrification of Africa is utilizing on-site solar and micro-grids, which allow development to proceed much quicker.

This month, we will hear from Bako Ambianda, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Labacorp Group, and an international development specialist, business strategist, and global African entrepreneur. Mr. Ambianda will discuss his experiences facilitating off grid and large-scale solar projects in Africa including his involvement with Akon Lighting Africa. In 2012, he developed a game plan and “blue print” for tapping into Africa’s opportunities in key sectors, facilitating international solar, biomass, hydro, and hotel construction projects in 16 African countries, with clients from China, India, US, Turkey, France, and Germany. He will talk about the challenges, opportunities, and trends in developing solar in Africa.

Solar Austin is excited to present Mr. Ambianda, as our September Happy Hour speaker, and we hope you’ll join us for this exciting conversation.