Cash for the Climate
Green infrastructure is expensive, and this is particularly challenging for developing countries and emerging economies. GET.invest connects them with investors.
Clean energy is the future. This is also true in the Global South. Although there is a great willingness to implement innovative concepts, the right conditions are often lacking. In many cases, promising projects fail not because of the technology, but due to insufficient access to capital or because the business models are unclear. This is where GET.invest comes in, offering advice, market knowledge and networking between project developers, authorities and investors. Good ideas are thus turned into successful projects.
GET.invest supports energy projects in preparing their concepts so that they are attractive to investors. This includes providing as much detailed information as possible on planned business models, reliable figures and transparent financing steps. The programme also offers expertise on markets and provides analytical tools for banks and other investors, allowing them to overcome uncertainties and arrive at positive decisions more easily. In addition, GET.invest connects the right contacts from its strong network.
A reliable partner
A good example of this is the German solar company Enteria in Mozambique, which was planning a solar roof system for a shopping centre near Maputo. GET.invest was on board from the outset. The team assisted in drafting contracts, arranging permits in compliance with the new energy law and tailoring the business model to local market conditions. It was a success. The targeted support allowed Enteria to attract investors and secure access to local credit finance. Marc-Oliver Bruckhaus, Managing Director at Enteria, is delighted with the customised support he received. ‘Our expertise in solar energy engineering has translated well from Germany to Mozambique. We just needed expertise on the very different regulatory environment and finance considerations in the country, and on that GET.invest has been a partner we can trust.’
To date, GET.invest has facilitated investments totalling over EUR 500 million and is currently supporting more than 280 projects worth a total volume of over EUR 25 billion. A volume of this size is possible because many countries are involved: in addition to Germany and the European Union, support is provided by Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria. The programme is thus part of Team Europe, the alliance of European development organisations. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the programme on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Viable concepts thanks to leverage
Another great example is in Lagos, Nigeria, where a local mobility provider was looking to convert its fleet to electric vehicles. Given the high acquisition costs and lack of charging infrastructure, the project initially seemed virtually unfeasible. GET.invest supported the company with technical planning and in finding financing partners. At the same time, the programme brought the city administration and energy suppliers to the table. The outcome was a viable concept for a fleet of electric vehicles that reduces emissions, creates jobs and sustainably transforms urban mobility in Lagos.
The successful work of GET.invest shows how public funds can be used to secure capital expenditure worth many times the outlay. This leverage is crucial: the programme thus not only supports projects, it also generates sustainable social and environmental innovation. The combination of expertise, local ideas and capital facilitates social participation in climate action. Moreover, the economy benefits – in partner countries and in Germany.
