Azuri PayGo Energy has combined solar and mobile
phone technology to bring clean energy to people living in Sub-Saharan Africa. The pay-as-you-go
solar home system provides eight hours of emission-free lighting each day and enough power to
charge mobile phones. After paying a small one-time installation fee, the user then purchases a
scratch card, or uses an integrated mobile money service to top-up their unit. The Azuri system
cuts weekly energy spending by up to 50%, which means people start saving money and reducing
emissions immediately.
Key facts:
Azuri’s innovative financing mechanism helps customers self-finance their access to clean
solar power, without having to pay high upfront fees, but instead by paying small, regular amounts
via mobile phone technology
Tens of thousands of units have been distributed in 11 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa; in
Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Togo, and
Ghana
Hundreds of thousands of people have benefitted from the clean energy that Azuri solar home
systems provide
Azuri calculates that 28.5 million hours of clean light and 9.5 million hours of mobile phone
charging have been provided, resulting in 3,504 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided to date
The problem
Globally, more than 1.2 billion people do not have access to electricity in their homes. As a result, they
are forced to burn expensive and polluting fuels for their basic lighting needs.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, many people burn kerosene as fuel for lighting. Burning kerosene causes harmful
indoor air pollution and emits greenhouse gas emissions fuelling climate change.
Clean energy sources, like solar or wind, are often unaffordable in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, where a
typical farmer earns USD 2-3 a day and would struggle to afford a basic USD 70 solar system. On average,
people in rural Sub-Saharan Africa spend USD 2-4 a week on kerosene for lighting and phone charging, which
means their ability to save is limited.
The solution
Azuri is transforming the prohibitive upfront cost of renewable energy into a pay-as-you-go model by
combining mobile and solar technology.
After paying a small one-time installation fee for the solar home system, the user then purchases a scratch
card, or uses an integrated mobile money service to top-up their unit. This top-up costs up to 50% less
than their current weekly budget on kerosene and phone charging.
These regular ‘top-ups’ pay off the cost of the solar system; after 18 months the customer
fully owns the system and can use renewable energy at no further cost.
Helping the planet
An independent survey showed that while 85% of Azuri customers used kerosene lamps prior to installing the
solar home system, only 17% still use kerosene now. Across its operations, Azuri calculates that its
systems have provided 28.5 million hours of clean light and 9.5 million hours of emission-free mobile phone
charging. This equates to 3,504 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided to date.
Helping people
The Azuri PayGo business model supports and fosters a sustainable economy, as local people are recruited by
distributors as telephone operatives for customer support, technicians to complete installations, and as
local sales agents, benefitting from on-going commission income from the regular top-up sales.
Surveys show that a typical customer will save up to USD 70 in the first year of pay-back. Of those
surveyed, 37% of Azuri customers said they spent those savings on school fees; 28% on food and water; and
20% reinvested the money into their businesses.
Spillover effect
So far, tens of thousands of units have been distributed in 11 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa; in
Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Togo, and Ghana.
The replicable nature of the Azuri PayGo model was recognized in 2013 with a USD 1 million award from
USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures to support the establishment of Azuri PayGo solar power in
Rwanda.
Azuri has recently signed agreements with a leading mobile network operator in Tanzania, with plans to
procure 100,000 units over the next two years.
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