Atlanta-based Renewvia Energy pioneered its Africa model in remote communities where it relied on grant funding to connect solar microgrids to empower villagers. While this rural-focused model is still going strong, Renewvia has in recent months been seeing increasing uptake with corporations in urban centers. Late last year, Lagos, Nigeria-based United Bank of Africa, which boasts more than $20 billion in assets, announced a power-supply agreement with Renewvia and its on-the-ground partner, Incremental Energy Solutions Ltd. The following year, Renewvia got a $10 million investment from Nashville-based Claritas Capital to power more projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Renewvia operates some of its larger grids for the Kakuma refugee camp and the nearby Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.
