Disruptive
Climate Finance

GGF ENSURES SOLAR DISTRIBUTORS GET SWIFT ACCESS TO INVENTORY

GGF is a not-for-profit facility that ensures the replacement of fuel generators - stimulating local economic development while mitigating carbon emissions. It provides stock to solar generator distributors to boost their sales. GGF provides technical assistance and digital loan portfolio management tools to distributors, rewarding best business practices.

HIGHLIGHTS

Low barriers to access

Fast access through lean due diligence

Low transaction costs

Due to not-for-profit facility design

Swift stock procurement

Due to fast-tracked approval process

Digital transactions

Detailed support in data monitoring

Small initial tranches

Scaling over time based on performance

Portfolio monitoring

Real-time digital portfolio quality monitoring

FEATURES

Small amounts and fast-tracked approval process

GGF drastically reduces the barriers to access financing for solar distributors thanks to lean, fast and efficient due diligence focused on sector specific metrics. It provides companies with inventory amounts ranging from USD 5k to 500k and payment terms up to 24 months.

Real-time data driven performance monitoring via digital tools

All relevant technical and customer repayment data are collected through the Prospect platform, allowing GGF to monitor the performance in real-time. It also enables companies to adjust commercial practices early on in case of poor portfolio performance.

Scaling amount over time based on performance

Traditional ways of financing often provide companies with large amounts of financing at once to purchase inventory, pushing them to sell quickly. By providing companies with only the stock they need, GGF allows distributors to focus on quality of sale and to grow a healthy business over time, at their own pace.

Carbon finance gradually replacing grants as a first-loss cushion

The detailed monitoring of systems allows to measure and trace the carbon savings from fuel displacement. The monetization of these carbon savings provides the first loss layer necessary to de-risk the facility and lower its cost of capital.

Why GGF?

REPLACING FUEL WITH SOLAR GENERATORS IS POSSIBLE

Demand for larger solar systems is high, especially where grids are weak and fuel generators are the energy infrastructure’s backbone.
Adequate and affordable solar technology exists, with a growing number of suppliers entering the market.
Credit-worthy distributors are on the ground and eager to provide reliable solar products.

FINANCING REMAINS THE MAIN BOTTLENECK FOR SCALING

Smaller distributors face high barriers to access financing because of complex, costly, and lengthy processes.
Lack of financing limits the availability of stock, which limits the adoption rate and market growth.
GGF aims to reduce complexities and lower barriers to accessing financing through lean due diligence and digital processes.

Impact

FOR PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND CLIMATE

In Nigeria alone, approx. 20 million small fuel generators emit around 50 million tonnes of CO2 per year
For every solar generator installed, 15 tonnes of CO2 are mitigated over 5 years
Customers of solar generators save an estimated 1,700 USD over 5 years compared to a fuel generator; businesses are empowered by efficient, reliable energy supply
Improved health of business owners and staff through avoidance of pollution and noise
The energy transition creates new green jobs for solar installation and maintenance technicians

TEAM

Working collaboratively to finance solar at the last mile

The GGF unites long-standing finance and operational experience in the sustainable energy access sector.
Our team members have vast experience in green investments and development finance in the private and public sector, as well as backgrounds in solar engineering, procurement, sales, and data gathering and analysis. They have spent many years working in on-the-ground solar businesses - managing sales, operations, and customer loan portfolios. We are passionate about accelerating the solar revolution and providing sustainable energy access while creating green jobs and mitigating climate change.

The investment committee

Astrid Manroth

Head, Global Infrastructure Facility, A G20 Initiative

Astrid is heading the Investment Committee at GGF. She brings 25 years of experience in development finance, specializing in infrastructure and climate finance in the public and private sectors in emerging markets. She has a track record of successful collaboration with partners—including governments, development organizations, and private investors—to deliver development impact through sustainable infrastructure. She is also a renowned expert in blended public-private finance. Astrid holds an MBA from the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany and an MSc in Political Economy of Transition from the London School of Economics in the UK.

Christian Schattenmann

Head of Energy Access – Bamboo Capital Partners

Christian is Head of Energy Access at Bamboo Capital Partners. Over the last 25 years he led multiple equity and debt transactions, developed fund strategies, and managed the investment process from deal sourcing to portfolio management and exits. Specializing in energy access, Christian structured investments in various companies. He served as a board member and supported portfolio companies from startup stage to becoming large profitable companies with several thousand employees and over $300 million revenue. Christian also works with national governments and Multilateral Banks to design strategies for sector development funds and manages programs in countries from Haiti to Madagascar.

Jerome Savelli

Senior Advisor Market Creation, FMO

Jerome is a seasoned impact investing COO with a 20-year experience in the origination of private debt deals and the development of teams and systems fit for high growth. He is now dedicating his career to the financing of climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, having an extensive track record in deal sourcing and closing for Private Debt Funds in Africa, Asia and Europe in financial inclusions, Fintechs and Renewable Energy projects. He is an expert in credit and ESG risk assessment as well as SFDR-related topics such as ESG performance and impact measurement.