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A business model for success: Enterprises serving the base of the pyramid with off-grid solar lighting

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  • Scott, Inara

Abstract

Basic electric service is essential to sustainable development, yet for remote rural areas, connecting to an electric grid can be economically and geographically unfeasible. Firms have sought to bring basic electric service to isolated and impoverished rural areas using off-grid solar lights and solar home systems, but often meet challenges common to base of the pyramid (BOP) markets. This article examines the intersection of theories related to successful business models for enterprises serving the base of the pyramid and studies of off-grid renewable energy enterprises. It identifies relevant and overlapping themes, and creates a framework for a successful business model that includes four primary components: community interaction; partnerships; local capacity building; and addressing barriers unique to the off-grid market, including financing, education, and development of distribution networks.

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  • Scott, Inara, 2017. "A business model for success: Enterprises serving the base of the pyramid with off-grid solar lighting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 50-55.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:70:y:2017:i:c:p:50-55
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.179
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    2. Fuentes González, Fabián & Webb, Janette & Sharmina, Maria & Hannon, Matthew & Braunholtz-Speight, Timothy & Pappas, Dimitrios, 2022. "Local energy businesses in the United Kingdom: Clusters and localism determinants based on financial ratios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    3. Hu, Bo & Zhou, P. & Zhang, L.P., 2022. "A digital business model for accelerating distributed renewable energy expansion in rural China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    4. Harrington, Elise & Athavankar, Ameya & Hsu, David, 2020. "Variation in rural household energy transitions for basic lighting in India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. Iwona Bisaga & Priti Parikh & Yacob Mulugetta & Yohannes Hailu, 2019. "The potential of performance targets (imihigo) as drivers of energy planning and extending access to off‐grid energy in rural Rwanda," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1), January.
    6. Victoria Kihlström & Jörgen Elbe, 2021. "Constructing Markets for Solar Energy—A Review of Literature about Market Barriers and Government Responses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, March.
    7. Wong, Jason Chun Yu & Blankenship, Brian & Harish, S.P. & Urpelainen, Johannes, 2022. "Increasing microsolar technology adoption: Efficacy of vouchers, cash transfers, and microfinance schemes," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    8. Howell, Rachel & van Beers, Cees & Doorn, Neelke, 2018. "Value capture and value creation: The role of information technology in business models for frugal innovations in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 227-239.
    9. Li, Changsheng & Shen, Bo, 2019. "Accelerating renewable energy electrification and rural economic development with an innovative business model: A case study in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 280-286.
    10. Aman, Sadaf & Seuring, Stefan, 2022. "Interestingly it's innovation: Reviewing sustainability performance management in the base of the pyramid (BoP)," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    11. Vivien Kizilcec & Priti Parikh & Iwona Bisaga, 2021. "Examining the Journey of a Pay-as-You-Go Solar Home System Customer: A Case Study of Rwanda," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-26, January.
    12. Joshi, Lalita & Choudhary, Deepak & Kumar, Praveen & Venkateswaran, Jayendran & Solanki, Chetan S., 2019. "Does involvement of local community ensure sustained energy access? A critical review of a solar PV technology intervention in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 272-281.
    13. Rosca, Eugenia & Bendul, Julia C., 2019. "Value chain integration of base of the pyramid consumers: An empirical study of drivers and performance outcomes," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 162-176.

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