PAYGo solutions are helping to reach the poorest households with clean energy technologies 

In the last six months of 2021, sales of PAYGo products reached a record high of over 1.5 million units. This was driven by the growth in sales of PAYGo solar lanterns, the most affordable line of products in the off-grid range. 

Affordability is a major barrier to clean energy access, and the challenge has been heightened as the COVID-19 pandemic has knocked millions of additional families into poverty.  High PAYGo lantern sales suggest that the option to pay for these products in instalments, rather than upfront with cash, is helping more households to take a first step towards modern energy access. Many PAYGo lantern customers go on to purchase larger energy systems and appliances once they have paid off their initial purchase – moving up the ‘clean energy staircase’.