New research from Efficiency for Access outlines a strategic approach for improving carbon credit financing in Africa's productive use appliance sector, specifically for solar-powered irrigation, cooling, and milling technologies.
Long-term, sustainable growth in solar-powered appliance and equipment markets will require a significant increase in financing available to companies and customers. Carbon finance is one mechanism that could drive funding to this market, making solar-powered appliances and equipment more affordable. However, the current infrastructure for carbon finance in this sector is not fit for purpose and needs an upgrade.
The “Carbon Credit Financing for Productive Use Appliance Markets” report from Efficiency for Access presents a strategic approach for improving carbon credit financing into the Productive Use Appliance (PUA) sector in Africa, with a particular focus on solar-powered irrigation, cooling, and milling. It provides a comprehensive review of existing carbon methodologies applicable to PUAs and offers practical recommendations for their improvement.
The review uses a novel evaluative framework and analyses each methodology’s use of baseline studies, monitoring, reporting and verification processes, integration of social and environmental safeguards, and alignment with both voluntary and compliance carbon markets.
Key Findings
- A review of existing methodologies for carbon projects involving solar PUAs revealed significant gaps, especially in terms of regional applicability, data consistency, and monitoring accuracy.
- These gaps limit the effectiveness of the methodologies, making it difficult to capture the true emissions reduction potential of solar PUA projects across different regions, particularly in Africa.
Recommendations
- Develop a new, consolidated solar PUA carbon methodology
- Conduct robust, standardised baseline studies
- Support innovation around digital monitoring, reporting, and evaluation
- Develop and adopt an emission reduction calculation tool
* Click here to read the report
** Efficiency for Access is a global coalition dedicated to advancing access to energy and affordable, energy-efficient appliances. It is co-managed by CLASP and Energy Saving Trust.
