As new report estimates the off-grid solar market has provided improved energy access to 360 million people globally, sector leaders gather in Hong Kong to chart the future of the industry

Hong Kong/Utrecht/Washington DC, Monday, 22 January, 2018

Hong Kong, Jan. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the start of the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo, a three-day event held biennially where 600+ key industry stakeholders are gathering to take stock of progress and discuss future trends in the off-grid solar sector.

The Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo (22-24 January 2018, Hong Kong) will gather 600+ key off-grid solar stakeholders

Organized by GOGLA and the IFC-World Bank Lighting Global program, and supported by the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and 12 additional sponsors, the event comes at a time in which the industry is seeing remarkable growth.

Globally, 130 million life-changing solar products have been sold since 2010, as reported in the newly-released 2018 Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report. In this time, the sector is estimated to have reached as many as 360 million people across the developing world, around 17% of the global potential market. It has generated USD 3.9 billion in cumulative revenue over the last eight years.

"Over the last decade, a concerted global effort has created a market for off-grid solar products, demonstrating that off-grid solutions can complement sustained grid electrification efforts to accelerate the rate of energy access," explains Riccardo Puliti, Senior Director for the Energy & Extractives Global Practice at the World Bank.

The dynamism of sector is being driven by a growing number of companies deploying innovative business models, selling an ever-expanding range of off-grid solar products and services.

Bringing together key stakeholders from across the industry's value chain, such as policy-makers, investors, donors, manufacturers, and distributors, the event provides a vital platform for dialogue and debate about the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. In addition, over 50 companies will showcase their latest off-grid solar innovations at the industry's largest exhibition. A full agenda of the event can be found here.

Some of the very latest developments within the sector are being announced today by event sponsors d.light, Greenlight Planet and BBOXX:

• Off-grid solar solutions provider d.light announces that following its successful launch last year of the pay-as-you-go X-series solar home system with TV, it will be rounding off its 10th-year celebrations with a new product range unveil at the Forum and Expo. Ned Tozun, d.light CEO and co-founder, adds: "Over our 10 year history, we have strived to push the boundaries of innovation and to challenge ourselves to never be satisfied with the status quo. The launch of these new products marks a complete overhaul of our entire product line over the last twelve months, all the way from our entry-level solar lantern up through our solar home system that runs a TV." d.light is exhibiting at booth C15 in the exhibition.
• Greenlight Planet, the solar energy company behind the Sun King brand, will be using this year's event to announce its latest product, the first Sun King solar-powered television. The 19-inch LED TV, which will be on display at the Greenlight Planet exhibition booth (at C4). This will be introduced as part of a complete home energy package. This launch follows a major announcement in December 2017 that the company received an additional $60m in new funding from private equity firm Apis Partners and other investors. The announcement capped off an eventful year in which the company launched a slew of other new products including a new range of high-performance solar lanterns.
• BBOXX, a next generation utility, will launch Pulse, a cloud-based task management platform, enabling distributed businesses to improve efficiency and enhance customer service. Pulse supports a wide-range of products and businesses, from solar home systems through to pumps and mini-grids. Using cloud-based technology, Pulse embraces big data, allowing businesses to quickly gain an accurate picture of performance and uses machine-learning to enable predictive analytics. Pulse uses product monitoring to predict failure and allow operational teams to proactively support customers, automatically schedule tasks, and understand what type of customer is most likely to default. Pulse enables data-driven decisions on how best to maximize available resources.

The convening also sees the launch of the sector's biennial flagship publication, the 2018 Global Solar Off-Grid Market Trends Report, key findings from which will be presented during the opening plenary.

"We are very excited to be launching the latest version of this landmark publication," explains Russell Sturm, Global Head of Energy Access at IFC. "The report delves into the latest investment trends and advances in technology, marketing and policy. It reveals some encouraging findings including an increase in interest and commitment from investors. Over USD 500 million has been raised in the last two years alone, and we're also seeing a growing acknowledgement from governments and development institutions who are committing significant resources into our sector, and for good reason. The sector's growth since 2010 has been extremely impressive. This report provides a vital tool for anyone interested in charting that growth."

For all media enquiries, contact Rahim Kanani on +1 617 460 9238 / rkanani@ifc.org and Anna Wells on +91 98236 90135/ a.wells@gogla.org

About GOGLA
GOGLA is the voice of the off-grid solar lighting and electrification sector. Established in 2012, GOGLA now represents over 100 members as a neutral, independent, not-for-profit industry association. Its mission is to help its members build sustainable markets, delivering quality, affordable products and services to as many households, businesses and communities as possible across the developing world. The products and solutions that GOGLA members sell transform lives. They improve health and education, create jobs and income opportunities and help consumers save money. To find out more, go to www.gogla.org.

About Lighting Global
Lighting Global is the World Bank Group's platform to support sustainable growth of the international off-grid solar market as a means of rapidly increasing energy access to people without grid electricity. Through Lighting Global, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank work with GOGLA, manufacturers, distributors, and other development partners to develop the modern off-grid energy market. The Lighting Global program -- in partnership with industry -- provides market insights, steers development of quality assurance frameworks for modern, off-grid lighting devices and systems, and promotes sustainability. To find out more, go to www.lightingglobal.org.

About ESMAP
ESMAP is a partnership between the World Bank Group and 17 partners to help low and middle-income countries reduce poverty and boost growth, through environmentally sustainable energy solutions. Situated within the World Bank, ESMAP influences billions in loans for development projects, leverages public and private financing, and shapes global policy. To find out more, go to www.esmap.org.

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