By way of keeping our clients informed of developments, in our Profile Series, we will profile stakeholders, companies and players in the Nigerian renewable energy industry.
Profile
All On Partnerships for Energy Access Limited is a non-governmental organization established in 2016 by Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd to act as a catalyst in the growth of Nigeria’s market for sustainable off-grid energy solutions. All On invests in off-grid energy solutions spanning solar, wind, hydro, biomass and gas technologies deployed by both foreign and local alternative energy companies that complement available grid power across Nigeria and help bridge the nation's significant energy gap.
All On has a special focus on the Niger Delta.
The CEO of All On, Dr Wiebe Boer was born in Jos, Nigeria to Dutch missionary parents. Prior to joining All On as one of the founders of its Lagos office, Boer had spent years at Bolton Consulting Group and Heirs Holdings, both in Lagos. He had also worked as a director in the Rockefeller Foundation and as a consultant for McKinsey & Co. A trained historian, Boer holds a Ph.D. in history from Yale University. He is the author of a book on the history of football in Nigeria.
Fully seeded by Shell with contributions from organizations including U.S. African Development Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation, All On is by far the most prominent independent player in Nigeria's solar energy industry. All On provides investments and financial support for already-existing energy solution providers to help their up-scaling. It also provides loans and equity alongside consultancy services.
A few of All On's contribution to the solar electricity industry in Nigeria are briefly profiled below.
The Nigeria Off-Grid Energy Challenge
The Nigeria Off-Grid Energy Challenge is a partnership by All On and the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). Through the annual challenge, All On provides angel stage funding for Nigerian off-grid solar companies that are developing, scaling-up or extending the use of proven technologies for off-grid energy to reach remote communities underserved by existing power grids.
Organized annually since 2018, each of the selected enterprises receive up to $50,000 in convertible debt and $50,000 in grant capital. Apart from the funding, the beneficiaries will also receive technical assistance from USADF and governance support from the All On Hub.
The winners of the latest edition of the challenge are Allbase Global Technology, Ashdam Solar Company, Covenant Plus Engineering, Green Acres Microfinance Bank, Reeddi Technologies, Salpha Energy, Solarworld Alternative Energy Resources, Sunhive Limited, and Vesselnet Integrated Services Limited. The winners received $25,000 in grant capital from USADF, and $25,000 in grant capital from All On via its support from the Rockefeller Foundation, and an additional $50,000 in convertible debt also from All On.
The 2019 winners included Sholep Energy Limited, Protergia Nigeria Limited, Entric Power Systems Limited, Acob Lighting Technology Limited, Pirano Energy Limited, ICE Solar Commercial Power Limited, Sosai Renewable Energies Company Limited, Nexgen Energy & Allied Services Limited and Greenage Technologies Power Systems Limited.
Earlier winners include Havenhill, Prado, Solmenz, A4&T and Darway Coast, Auxano Solar, Eastwind, Alyx, Creeds and iKabin.
Solar Future Nigeria
All On is also a strategic partner of the annual SolarPlaza international conference The Solar Future Nigeria. Nigeria's largest conference on solar energy, The Solar Future Conference is a two-day that event brings together all the prominent players in the Nigeria solar electricity industry alongside more than 200 other high-level decision-makers from around the world.
NCIC Embryo Incubation Program
Established on August 3rd 2018, by the World Bank and the Federal Government through The Office of The Vice President of Nigeria, the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) is the Nigerian arm of the Climate Innovation Centre (CIC) network that provides holistic, local-content-driven support to accelerate the development, deployment and transfer of locally relevant climate solutions and clean energy technologies.
All On provides a grant funding for the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre's Embryo Incubation Program. After a 16-week incubation program, eight of the twelve participants who received training and support in a variety of areas aimed at developing their business knowledge and commercial skillset are each awarded a $10,000 grant to further develop their business ideas.
Solar Relief Fund
On March 31st, 2020, All On announced the COVID-19 Solar Relief Fund. Through the Fund executed by Auxano, Arnergy, GVE and Lumos, All On provided solar power for emergency health facilities in support of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Costing a total of N180M ($500,000), the Fund was executed in less than two months.
The investee companies’ efforts included 10 rooftop solar and storage installations spread across Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Rivers and Enugu States as well as 95 Solar Home Systems across 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Oolu Solar
In December 2020, Oolu Solar announced that it has raised $8.5 million in Series B equity investment. The Series B round of fundraising was led by independent renewable energy developer, RP Global and other investors among whom included All On.
Arnergy
In July 2019, Arnergy, announced it has raised $9 Million in a Series A round of funding led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures with participation from the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund), EDFI ElectriFi and All On.
Rubitec Academy Scholarship
All On says that it will be funding scholarships for up to 120 professionals affiliated to the Niger Delta to the Rubitec Academy. Rubitec Academy will develop future players in the renewable energy industry through a 1-year workplace training programme. Rubitec will provide support, coaching and mentorship for the trainees who will be responsible for driving their own development. Only graduates who have completed their NYSC would be allowed to participate in the programme. Rubitec Academy hopes to partner with universities, polytechnics and technical/vocational colleges.
Auxano Solar
In September 2020, Auxano announced that it had received a $1.5m investment fund from
the United States Development Foundation (USADF) and All On. Auxano says that it will use the fund to expand its solar panel assembly plant capacity by over 50%. In December 2020, Auxano broke ground for its new and expanded solar panel assembly line.
Comments