![]() ![]() To overcome the costs and challenges associated with managing manual bank-transfers and cash-based payments, EVI wanted to go cash-less and automate all transactions. Before the grant project, EVI ran its micro-grid network on its own Wi-Fi network and collected manual bank-transfers from agents every few weeks, to issue electricity vouchers. Telkomsel is the only mobile operator in Sumba and the network coverage is patchy at best, except in the capital city of Waingapu (a five-hour drive from EVI’s sites). Agents usually top-up their accounts once a week and then keep transferring electricity credit to individual customer accounts as they receive cash payments.įigure 1 – EVI customer journey A reliable and robust mobile network is key to the success of mobile money adoption, but the mobile operator must see the business valueĮVI’s microgrid sites are spread across mountainous terrain with low population density. However, customers are unable to use the app and have to make cash payments to their local agent who generates a top-up on their behalf. To overcome this implementation challenge and facilitate payments, EVI decided to provide all agents with basic access to EVI’s Wi-Fi network. ![]() Since the mobile network coverage in Sumba is patchy and unreliable, it is difficult to process app-based payments that require robust mobile internet access. The app also gives customers an overview of their electricity usage, balance and payment history. The app allows users to top-up their credit on EVI’s platform, which can then be applied to either electricity or device purchases. In partnership with Linkaja, EVI developed a mobile application called ‘EVI Wallet’ for its agents and customers. In order to hire agents, EVI partners with local village representatives to provide customers with electricity top-ups. The micro-grid provides prepaid electricity to 900 households which currently have no alternative electricity source. This grant was a step towards diversifying our portfolio in Asia and trialling a mobile money enabled micro-grid in Indonesia’s evolving fintech landscape.ĮVI operates 11 micro-grids covering five villages in Sumba. In the past, the M4D Utilities Innovation Fund has largely funded microgrid/minigrid projects in Africa (read more in our blog). During the grant period, EVI also trialled a lease-to-own device initiative to increase electricity usage among customers, allowing them to move up the energy ladder. In June 2018, EVI, in partnership with LinkAja (a mobile money platform), received a grant from the Mobile for Development (M4D) Utilities Innovation Fund to integrate mobile money payments in order to reduce the costs and risks associated with cash collection through EVI’s agent network. The infrastructure also includes smart inverters and meters that manage electricity production, storage and enable remote control. EVI’s micro-grid infrastructure captures, stores, and distributes clean electricity through an integrated network of solar PV panels. EVI builds and operates solar-PV microgrids on the islands of Papua and Sumba in the East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, which has the lowest electrification rate of all provinces at 72 per cent. Given the high cost of extending the grid, the government of Indonesia is turning to off-grid renewable energy solutions to accelerate the electrification of under-developed, far-flung areas.Įlectric Vine Industries (EVI) is a Jakarta-based private utility bringing sustainable energy access to un-electrified Indonesians. Extending the grid infrastructure to rural parts of Indonesia is difficult given the geography, population density and expected initial consumption. For Indonesia, the biggest challenge is its geography – an archipelagic nation with 17,000 islands – which significantly increases the cost of last mile electrification. While the government planned to achieve 100 per cent electrification by 2020, connecting the remaining millions has been challenging. Despite such a high electrification rate, at least 4.9 million Indonesians still live without electricity. Government data shows that the electrification rate jumped from only 84 per cent in 2014 to 98.05 per cent, as of September 2018. In the last five years, Indonesia has made significant progress in achieving its electrification target. This blog shares some key insights from implementing the grant project. In June 2018, EVI received a grant from the GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) Utilities Innovation Fund to integrate Linkaja’s mobile money service into EVI’s power metering payment platform. Electric Vine Industries (EVI) is a private microgrid developer founded in Indonesia. ![]()
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