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Global Opportunity Explorer2019 Insights
A celebration of on-going activities on the Global Opportunity Explorer
TRINE’s financing model makes it easy to invest private capital in solar projects in the developing world.
TRINE’s crowdinvesting model for financing solar energy solutions provides electricity to communities that cannot bear the upfront costs themselves, while delivering a financial return for investors. With an investment minimum of only $25, the start-up makes it easy for even small-scale investors to profit from contributing to improve access to renewable energy in developing countries, in the process also improving livelihoods, and mitigating CO2 emissions from sources such a kerosene.
TRINE carefully vets potential projects so it can offer sound investment opportunities to customers. Since its launch in 2016, the platform has helped finance projects for worth more than €500,000, delivering electricity to more than 48,000 people and reducing CO2 emissions by 7,000 tonnes. The impact from a pilot investment project saw 180% more girls going to school and a 72% reduced usage of kerosene.
Why you should care
Energy poverty is a critical issue for 1.2 billion people in remote communities around the world. Many solar energy entrepreneurs in developing countries are waiting to be able to scale their business with fair loans at reasonable interest rates. The solution fills a financing gap and democratizes financing of solar energy, offering the potential to replace kerosene and other harmful fuels.
How the Global Goals are addressed

Good health and well-being
By introducing a replacement for kerosene, TRINE can help reduce deaths in households linked to burning solid fuels for cooking.

Affordable and clean energy
Clean, decentralized electricity from solar panels is funded by a low interest loan system making it available to more households.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Small-scale solar power catalyzes economic growth by providing cheap and clean electricity. It also reduce challenges of expensive power infrastructure.

Sustainable cities and communities
Delivering solar power early on during the urbanization transition helps facilitate a sustainable urban growth trajectory.

Climate action
According to the organization TRINE, this small-scale solar power solution is estimated to save 3.7 million tons of CO2 annually by 2026.
