According to the IEA Africa Energy Outlook 2022, over 500 million people across Africa lack access to electricity, underscoring the continent’s significant energy deficit. This energy access gap hampers socioeconomic development, limits educational opportunities, and restricts healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Expanding access to affordable, reliable energy remains a critical challenge as Africa seeks to balance its rapid population growth with sustainable energy solutions.
Meet Uwana Energy, a Nigeria-based company on a mission to address the country’s energy challenges and accelerate the transition to clean, renewable energy. In a nation where nearly 75% of electricity needs are met by generators, some of the most polluting energy sources, Uwana Energy provides a sustainable, clean alternative. The company helps Nigerians access and finance reliable solar energy solutions.
“In 2020, we started with a simple question: why isn’t solar the go-to energy choice for Nigerians?” the team shares. “We discovered a significant disconnect between solar users and providers, and we set out to bridge that gap.”
Deep knowledge of people’s “buts” for solar scalability
Given the country’s proximity to the equator and abundant sunlight throughout the year, solar energy presents a promising solution to Nigeria’s energy woes. However, slow solar adoption plagues the country, and this stems from various complexities, including affordability and misinformation about its long-term savings and sustainability.
Natasha Ibori, Co-Founder of Uwana Energy, addresses some common myths about solar energy adoption. “The belief that solar technology won’t work effectively or last for many years is one of the biggest misconceptions Uwana is working to dispel,” shares Natasha. “A common misconception is that solar energy is only suitable for small-scale applications and cannot meet global energy demands.” Through large-scale projects and diverse packages,
Uwana proves the scalability of solar solutions. The company’s packages and flexible payment plans are designed to overcome financial barriers, making solar energy more accessible. Natasha notes, “No other solution provider in the region takes into account various financial needs like long-term payment plans, Sharia banking, and volatile currency exchange rates.”
By simplifying the adoption process and addressing financial and logistical barriers, Uwana Energy is transforming sustainability from a theoretical concept into a practical reality. Natasha asserts, “Sustainability should be viewed not as a compromise but as an opportunity for a life of abundance.” To date, Uwana Solar has connected over 3,000 homes and businesses to affordable energy solutions, helping them transition away from reliance on environmentally harmful and unsustainable power sources.
Uwana Energy is transforming sustainability from a theoretical concept into a practical reality by simplifying the adoption process and addressing financial and logistical barriers. Natasha asserts, “Sustainability should be viewed not as a compromise but as an opportunity for a life of abundance.” Uwana’s efforts demonstrate that when sustainability is made simple and accessible, it moves from knowledge to action.
Uwana Energy is one of the incredible innovations supported by Village Capital through the Moody’s Foundation-backed Greentech Africa program. This initiative has also supported startups across Asia and Latin America, all working to tackle critical global sustainability challenges.
This article includes excerpts from a previously published article on Village Capital
