Portfolio Learning

The holistic impact on low-income communities of battery-as-a-service in rural Tanzania

A new report examines the impact of Jaza Energy and the battery-as-a-service model on Jaza Hub Operators (“Jaza Stars”) as well as current, former and potential Jaza Customers.

The report, conducted by the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics and co-funded by Shell Foundation and the UK government, presents the results of research conducted in the Kigoma and Mtwara regions of Tanzania, where Jaza brings affordable electricity to under-served customers.  This is done through a network of solar energy hubs from which customers may rent solar-charged batteries for home lighting and other household energy needs.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT (PDF, 3.75MB)

Research was divided into two “workstreams,” with Workstream 1 unpacking the potential impact of Jaza Energy and the battery-as-a-service model on Hub Operators, and Workstream 2 examining the potential impact of Jaza Energy on current, former and potential Jaza customers. Busara implemented a mixed methods approach, with a more extensive customer and non-customer survey, along with deep dives into customer profiles that give insight on key topics including gender.

Download the full Impact infographic

The final report presents analysis of Jaza’s customer demographics, its impact and recommendations for future business growth.

Jaza recently won a Start-Up Energy Transition award in the “Quality Energy Access & SDG-7” category. Shell Foundation has supported them since 2020. Jaza’s work was also recently featured in a BBC Storyworks video.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT (PDF, 3.75MB)