Session: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON ENERGY ACCESS IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

Radhika Thakkar is the VP of Corporate Affairs for Greenlight Planet, a leader in the global, distributed off-grid energy industry.  Greenlight Planet designs, distributes and finances high-quality affordable solar home energy systems for off-grid and under-served households across Africa, Asia and Central America under the consumer brand, Sun King.   

Greenlight reaches its consumers through two distinct business models: through its Sun King EasyBuy ‘pay-as-you-go’ (PAYG) technology that allows consumers to pay for their products through small installments over time and through its vast network of 300+ distribution partners including micro-finance institutions, rural retail networks, social enterprises, telecommunications companies and solar enterprises.  More than 55 million people use Sun King products as their primary source of light and energy at home.  

Radhika led the company’s global growth from its initial start in India into sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Central and South America.  In her current role, Radhika oversees external industry and policy relations and focuses on strengthening the internal culture, policy and governance of the company as it continues to grow at a dynamic pace around the world.  Radhika also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of GOGLA, the global off-grid industry association, and she was a 2019 C3E mid-career award winner.