The Energy Talk - Storytellers of Africa's Energy Transition

The Energy Talk - Storytellers of Africa's Energy Transition

We are the storytellers of Africa's energy transition, covering the perspectives of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators dedicated to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future. The podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah. New episode every two weeks.

Episodes

Direct Air Capture In Africa: Octavia Carbon’s Journey to a $5M Seed Round

March 11, 2025 • 42 mins

Register for the Included VC Africa Reimagined: VC & Beyond Summit


Join Diana Maranga, Head of Commercialization at Octavia Carbon, as she shares her unique journey from growing up inspired by environmental hero Professor Wangari Mathai to leading a pioneering direct air capture and storage company in Kenya. In this episode, Diana discusses Octavia Carbon's early stages, key growth milestones, and the complex challenges ...

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Blended Finance for Impact: How GreenMax Capital is Energizing Emerging Markets

February 3, 2025 • 43 mins

In this episode, Ifechukwude 'Chude' Uwajeh, Managing Director of Blended Finance at GreenMax Capital Group, shares his professional journey from large-scale thermal power projects to clean energy advisory and fund management.

He discusses the challenges of electrification in Africa, the importance of creative financing models, and the implementation of the Small Outcomes Fund aimed at energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa...

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Meet The Team: Bonus Episode

January 29, 2025 • 6 mins

Quick and casual check with the team behind the podcast on our plans for the year.


Sign up for our newsletter (we have not yet changed the name):

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The Earthbond Approach: Transforming Energy Access Through Innovation

January 20, 2025 • 44 mins

In this episode of The Energy Talk, we sit down with the CEO of Earthbond, Chidalu Onyenso, to explore the company’s innovative approach to solving Nigeria’s energy crisis through solar energy solutions tailored for SMEs.

We explore Earthbond's mission, financing models, and the challenges of scaling renewable energy solutions in underserved regions. The episode also takes a detailed look at Earthbond’s potential role in the e...

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Asset Financing: How Payhippo is making solar products affordable

October 21, 2024 • 38 mins
Dami Olawoye joins us as we explore his remarkable career as a finance veteran turned clean energy champion and his role in revolutionizing solar energy financing in Nigeria as the CEO of Payhippo. From a big four-chartered accountant to leading a startup, our guest shares how his organization has raised $5 million to tackle Nigeria's electricity challenges with solar solutions. Subscribe to our Clean Energy Africa newsletter: ht...
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The African Mini-Grid Program: Mobilizing Catalytic Finance Episode 2

October 7, 2024 • 36 mins
Subscribe to our Clean Energy Africa newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dc168bd41a97/sign-up-here Recorded live during the Energy Access Investment Forum in May, this 2 part mini-series covers the African Mini-Grid Program (AMP). The AMP is a USD 50 million country-led technical assistance program designed to stimulate the solar-battery mini-grids market to boost electricity access in 21 countries, its mission is to enhance economic d...
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Investing Equity in African Infrastructure: InfraCo Africa’s $300M Journey

September 11, 2024 • 33 mins
Subscribe to our Clean Energy Africa newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dc168bd41a97/sign-up-here InfraCo Africa is one of the few financiers that provides equity investments in large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa. Typically investing in projects in the early stages of their development, all the way through construction and operational stages. So far, Infraco has invested over $300 million into projects in Sub-Saharan Afr...
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The African Mini-Grid Program: Mobilizing Catalytic Finance Episode 1

August 28, 2024 • 40 mins
Subscribe to our Clean Energy Africa newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/dc168bd41a97/sign-up-here Recorded live during the Energy Access Investment Forum in May, this 2 part mini-series covers the African Mini-Grid Program (AMP). The AMP is a USD 50 million country-led technical assistance program designed to stimulate the solar-battery mini-grids market to boost electricity access in 21 countries, its mission is to enhance economic d...
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State of The African Minigrid Business: INENSUS GmbH

July 22, 2024 • 36 mins
Nico joins us this week to share from his two decades of experience deploying Decentralized Renewable Energy projects, consulting governments on off-grid electrification policy, and what the emerging trends mean for financiers looking into Sub-Saharan Africa. This episode has already been published on "The Mini-Grid Business" podcast hosted by Nico. You can listen to an exclusive part 2 here: https://bit.ly/4cPNqg2
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Creating an African Clean-Tech Unicorn: Arnergy Solar Company

July 16, 2024 • 48 mins
Arnergy is a renewable energy company providing solar solutions to residential and commercial customers. Combined, Arnergy has raised $12M in a Series A and bridge round and is now gearing up for a big Series B fundraiser. In this episode, we speak with the company's CFO, James Fabola Jr., about operating in a difficult market and exciting growth opportunities.
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Empowering The Last Mile: SolarAid’s Unique Model to Scaling Energy Access.

April 29, 2024 • 38 mins
In this episode, we explore SolarAid's visionary work under CEO John Keane, aiming to deliver sustainable energy solutions to remote African communities. Focused on last mile areas, SolarAid's unique model tackles energy poverty while empowering communities with clean, affordable energy access. Through innovation and strategic partnerships, SolarAid is reshaping energy accessibility in Africa, paving the way for a brighter, more su...
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The GridCrux Story: How one Energy Entrepreneur is Democratizing Energy Access in Nigeria

March 18, 2024 • 38 mins
In this episode, we speak to Mojola Ola, a Nigerian-based energy entrepreneur about how his company, GridCrux, is channeling its core ethos of value-add to democratize energy access for thousands of Nigerians. We delve into his roots, entrepreneurial journey, innovations, and failures in a bid to uncover what it takes to thrive as an energy entreprenueur in Africa's largest market.
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De-risking Procurement and Financing to Accelerate Scale for Renewable Energy Companies in Nigeria

February 22, 2024 • 29 mins
Doing business in Nigeria is often fraught with challenges, especially on an operational scale amidst business models that involve cross-border transactions. In this episode, we speak to Justin Tinsey, the Vice President of Procurement, about Odyssey Energy Solution's innovative framework to de-risking procurement through its partnerships and systems, as well as financing through its DART and better payment programs.
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Funding Climate Impact with Persistent Capital

February 2, 2024 • 61 mins
Climate venture building is a concept that is not very common within sub-Saharan Africa. In this episode, we interview Tobias and Wairimu from Persistent Energy, a company deploying "persistent" financial and human resource capital to result in climate impact along energy, agriculture, mobility, and the circular economy. We talk about Persistent's venture building model, investment ethos, recent exits, as well as its role as a fund...
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Distributed Energy For People & The Planet Ep. 8: Rethinking Policy and Finance for Distributed Renewables

December 22, 2023 • 61 mins
In the eighth and final episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Henok Assefa - Founder and Managing Partner at PRECISE, and Dr. Paul Yillia - COO and Technical Advisor, TENN to find out how policy design and finance go hand-hand in ensuring that farmers in rural communities can afford their energy needs for their agricultural production.
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Distributed Energy For People & The Planet Ep. 7: Distributed Cooling to Create and Capture Markets

December 11, 2023 • 42 mins
In the seventh episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Anshul Ojha - Founder and Principal anchor for the Desert Resource Center, and Ralph Roothaert - Principal Investigator – Veggies 4 Planet & People (V4P&P) Project and Country Director – of Kenya Eastern and Southern Africa (World Vegetable Center).
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A $10M Partnership to Scale Energy Access: CrossBoundary and Mobile Power's Historic Deal

December 7, 2023 • 38 mins
In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of the landmark $10M partnership between Crossboundary Access (CBA) and Mobile Power–a partnership that promises to unlock energy access for over 300,000 people within Nigeria.
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Distributed Energy For People & The Planet Ep. 6: Closing the Cooling Gap with Distributed Renewables

October 27, 2023 • 34 mins
In the sixth episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Nirmita Chandrashekar a licensed architect and Senior Program Manager with SELCO Foundation in India, and Bijal Brahmbatt from the Mahila Housing Trust or MHT, a non-profit that was selected as a Women Changemakers India Fellow by Womanity Foundation. In this episode, we will focus on delivering cost-effective renewable energy-based solu...
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Distributed Energy For People & The Planet Ep. 5: Delivering health justice through distributed renewables

October 12, 2023 • 32 mins
In the fifth episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we continue our conversation from the last episode of the series joined by Shweta Narayan from the India-based NGO "Health Care Without Harm", and Shri Ram Kumar S, IAS - Project Director of the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MEGHSSP).
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How Catalytic Financing is Powering Clean Energy: David Arinze

September 14, 2023 • 44 mins
Donor-funded catalytic capital has been an integral part of the growth of the off-grid energy sector in Sub-Saharan Africa by de-risking new technologies and business models. David Arinze joins us in this episode to discuss the ecosystem impact and growth of projects funded by catalytic capital and how it is allowing organizations to scale enough to attract commercial capital.
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