100%
Climate Love
Climate Review Score ranking:
Trine
6 w
•
Trine invests in companies and projects that create an impact on local communities and the planet by giving people in emerging markets access to affordable and clean energy, people who may not have had reliable access to electricity at all before. One of these is Distributed Energy, a company that develops solar power in communities where the energy infrastructure has historically been lacking. To learn more about what it’s like to work in this market, we sat down with Ruchir Punjabi, CEO and co-founder of Distributed Energy. Distributed Energy makes solar energy affordable and accessible for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Founded in 2019, the company has the majority of its live plants in India but also operates in the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Tanzania. “In terms of making solar affordable,” said Ruchir, “the primary focus is financing through power purchase agreements where we sell electricity, or some form of loan/lease.” The goal is to spread out the cost of the plant over time, making the transition more affordable. Distributed Energy started working with Trine in June of 2023, in an agreement for a $5 million debt sheet from Trine towards solar assets in India. “As any debt lender, they presented certain requirements, and as long as we meet them they list our projects on their website and provide us with debt,” said Ruchir, emphasizing Trine’s role as a catalyst in financing renewable energy. “There is a lot of capital available for large-scale utility solar, and some money available for energy access small-scale solar, used for communities, mini-grids, and so on. But if you want to fund solar for what is considered the engine of the economy – 90% of the economy is from SMEs – there is almost no money available.” Trine as a catalyst for solar investments Ruchir went on to describe the difficulty for smaller companies to borrow money in countries like Burkina Faso, where banks require 100% cash collateral for loans to SMEs. Early investors who are willing to take a risk are of supreme importance in these markets. “Trine plays a catalytic role because as a crowd funder, they are willing to take risks that traditional lenders are not willing to.” After Distributed Energy got Trine on board, other lenders noted that Trine rates them highly, which paves the way for other capital to be more comfortable in making investments. “I hope they continue to play that strong role because people like us are able to jump from being a nobody to being somebody because there are people like Trine in the middle,” said Ruchir. The impact requirements from Trine were not a problem for Distributed Energy to comply with. “We have been measuring four factors of impact from the beginning: coal displacement, emission avoidance, air quality, and SME savings,” said Ruchir, continuing to explain that Trine’s other requirements were more beneficial. “Trine needed a structure to appropriately lend to us for solar plants in India, so we needed to find a structure that was both compliant with laws in India and worked for Trine.” This requirement pushed Distributed Energy to create a legal node on structuring in their company, which skips about a month of work when approaching other lenders outside of India. What we need to expand solar energy projects in Africa and Asia In their work of kickstarting solar projects in emerging markets, Distributed Energy has found three major challenges: A lack of trust from investors in projects in emerging markets; managing and underwriting risk in these markets; and ensuring that the operations are of the appropriate quality while staying within budget. Lack of trust: Some of the capital that has gone into the solar space in emerging markets before was not used very well, which means that investors are unwilling to invest in these projects again. This puts Distributed Energy in a classic startup no man's land, where they have some track record, but it’s not big enough for big lenders to get excited yet, while some of the smaller investors have been burned once by the market. “Finding equity capital that is excited to back us is a lot of hard work.” Managing and underwriting risk: In some of the markets there are no standards for these types of lending, and there can even be cases where people take the equipment provided but do not pay, meaning that for pioneers like Distributed Energy, a lot of work needs to go into checking the loan takers and the measures the company can take if they don’t follow their agreement. “If we do badly, we will set a bad example for the others who follow us, and that responsibility we take really seriously.” Operations: When building and managing plants, Distributed Energy has to make sure that the partners they work with are of high quality, otherwise the projects run a serious risk of going over budget. “You really have to do a lot of diligence on the partners you work with, and have the ability to execute in these markets with your own people.” More investors need to join the fray Solving these challenges requires new ways of doing things, and Distributed Energy acts as a pioneer in these markets, putting the systems in place that allow more capital to flow into energy projects, which Ruchir believes will happen quickly once they reach a certain tipping point. “As we build a track record, we will get more people interested.” Looking into the future, Ruchir explains what lies ahead for Distributed Energy if they get more investments through Trine and other actors. “We want to continue to mainly do small and medium solar until we reach 50 million in assets under management,” he explains, “After that, we want to enable other aspects and go deeper in our relationships with businesses, to do things like energy efficiency, energy trading, energy storage projects and so on.” A lot of businesses have complex energy requirements, and by being able to provide systemic solutions Distributed Energy can help them bring their business ideas forward in a sustainable way. In the end, preparing businesses in emerging markets for further investment is the goal. “The day banks start lending for solar without needing additional collateral is the day we’ve won.” Invest in solar energy in emerging markets with Trine: https://trine.com/go/wdht-de
Trine
10 w
•
At Trine, our investments are our impact. To learn more about what the money you invest through us can accomplish, We Don’t Have Time sat down with Ayokanmi Aderibigbe, lawyer-turned-investment manager who works for Trine from his hometown of Toronto. Hello, Ayo! We introduced you as an Investment Manager at Trine – What does that mean, and what do you do at Trine? It means a lot of things! But to put it simply, while an Investment Manager at Trine is responsible for many things, the first responsibility is deal origination and sourcing. This means that you’re going across different markets and scouting for potential investable projects with a high impact. Once we find these projects, we are also responsible for the due diligence to ensure that the projects are genuine, safe, and have a scalable impact that can benefit from our funding. Once that is done, we structure a transaction with the project developer that ensures the best deal possible for our investors while maximizing the positive impact the project can have on the local community and the planet. Once an agreement has been reached, you now have a borrower with one or more fundable projects. Another crucial part of the job is managing the relationship with those borrowers. You’re the one they come to when they have questions, need clarification, or perhaps they are encountering unanticipated challenges. As partners, sometimes you have to also help borrowers navigate difficult situations including those that can lead to potential defaults, remaining connected to our borrowers besides their standard reporting obligations keeps us in the know and helps us stay ahead of any potential challenges. In essence, we don’t just disburse money and then take our eyes off the ball, we monitor the projects consistently to ensure that the monies disbursed are applied for the right purposes and report that back to our investors. Overall, impact is the most important element of each of our investments, and we make clear from the first signing of the agreement what impact we expect from the project. Most of the time, we find that the projects deliver a higher impact than we expected, both in terms of value provided to the local communities and in terms of carbon emissions avoided. Your investments focus on solar energy, why is that? We focus our investment on solar energy projects for many reasons, the major ones being the abundance of solar projects due to their clean and renewable nature, low operating costs, scalability, job creation potential, and rapid technological advancements. Thanks to these factors, solar technology has been adopted worldwide and is creating a massive impact even in the remotest and poorest communities. There is also the aspect of availability – in most markets where we work, there is a high level of solar irradiance, so the energy production for each solar panel is high, leading to higher efficiency compared to other technologies Leading experts worldwide reiterate that we need significant funding to transition to renewable energy across the world. How does private capital play a role in this? According to the World Bank, this transition will require trillions that the world certainly does not have now, so we need every hand on deck. Public capital has been trying to do this for a while, but private capital is extremely crucial, especially in bridging gaps and reaching markets that public capital can’t support. There is a gap between what is needed and what public capital can finance. Trine goes into emerging markets to fund market segments that are either not funded or severely underfunded by public capital. It turns out that these segments are typically commercial and tend to be less risky from an investment perspective. But in emerging markets, private capital also has another benefit. We have found that investments from private capital can lead to an even greater impact than public capital because when we look for projects to invest in, we look for profits with a purpose. This means that we focus on productive use, meaning that the project should produce renewable energy that is consumed and generates economic activity. Every time we invest in projects in the commercial and industrial sectors in emerging markets, all of that energy will be used productively to create economic value in their local communities. Why is the impact on emerging markets so important for the transition? You have to look at where the energy is most needed. In developed markets, most of the energy infrastructure for renewable energy already exists, so the electricity grid in those markets is already as green as it could possibly be. But in developing markets, a lot of the energy comes from coal or other fossil fuels. There is some hydroelectric power, but there is a lot more opportunity to push for more renewable energy in those markets and push out fossil power, thereby effectively reducing carbon emissions. Also, the grids in these markets can rarely support the energy demand. We currently don’t have the capital required to bolster the grid significantly, but we can support off-grid projects that increase the total energy output of the country without putting extra strain on the grid. By working with off-grid and partially grid-tied projects, we can provide energy to people who either do not have access to grid electricity in the first place or who do not have access to a stable grid supply. It also enables us to support organizations that want to go off-grid because their operations are threatened by unreliable energy grids. What are some examples of projects you have available to invest in right now on Trine.com? We have a lot of projects currently available on the platform, and each project is unique. I would like to highlight projects that have a high impact and touch a large number of communities. One of those projects is Watt Renewables, which provides power to telecommunications towers in emerging markets, focusing on Nigeria. In countries like Nigeria, communications can be a big challenge and a lot of people can barely buy phone credits for their low-cost phones, but they still want to be able to reach their loved ones. By funding projects using solar technology to simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and the cost of electric power to telecommunications companies, we enable them to provide cheaper services to lower-income populations across Nigeria. Another project I would like to highlight is Distributed Energy, which develops renewable energy facilities for different kinds of high-impact off-takers, for example for schools across India. This is very interesting for us – they are providing energy to the future generation and giving them the tools they need to succeed, which is key for us in terms of impact. If you want to invest money in projects that make economic sense, make an impact on local communities, and reduce emissions, I would suggest checking these projects out on Trine.com. Remember to diversify your portfolio – invest in both! And visit Trine.com to find more projects to invest in. Thank you, Ayo. Stay tuned to Trine’s page here on We Don’t Have Time, where you will also be hearing more about Trine’s work and projects!
•
•
10 w
Certainly going to check it out. Thank you.
•
•
•
10 w
I have invested in several Trine projects. I love being able to have my money help reduce emissions, while also getting a kickback.
•
•
10 w
Fascinating to hear about the different ways to provide impact through the investments you provide!
Trine
19 w
•
To reach our climate goals, we need massive investments in renewable energy from companies and individuals. Trine is an investment platform that makes it easy to invest in solar energy in emerging markets, allowing anyone to be a part of the renewable energy transition. The energy crisis is a crisis on three fronts. The current energy system causes massive carbon emissions while leaving a large part of the global population with lackluster to no access to electricity. At the same time, massive investments are needed to support the infrastructure needed to provide clean energy to every country worldwide. To tackle this triple threat, solutions are needed that address the needs of people, planet, and profit. At Trine, we provide an investment platform that allows private investors to support solar energy projects in emerging markets. Our CEO and Co-founder, Sam Manaberi, joined the COP28 Climate Hub for an interview to explain how it works and why it's important. “We offer a better return profile than normal investments,” Sam explains, “We invest in solar energy borrowers in emerging and frontier markets with a very direct impact on CO2 abatement as well as a positive impact on people’s lives.” The projects are diversified geographically to improve the risk profile of the investment, meaning that we support solar energy projects in places such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America. These areas need these investments to reduce carbon emissions and bring people out of energy poverty. The IEA has estimated that we need investments of $1.3 trillion per year in renewable energy by 2030 to meet our climate goals. But another recent report also made it clear that to succeed in the clean energy transition in emerging markets, we need “upwards of $2 trillion,” Sam added, “and 80 to 90% of that must come from private capital.” This poses a massive challenge, that everyone who can put their money to good use can help overcome. However, many banks today use the money we invest to increase carbon emissions through investing in carbon-intensive projects across the world. Through Trine, we want to provide an alternative where your money can help solve the climate crisis while you get returns as high as 4 to 8.5% per year, making it easy and profitable to support this transition that supports people, planet, and profit. If you want to learn more and invest, visit our website and stay tuned to this profile, as we will continue to share about our solution for the coming months. Watch the full interview below: https://youtu.be/SjXNsElekRY?t=16182 About the COP28 Climate Hub We Don’t Have Time hosted the COP28 Climate Hub, in partnership with Race To Zero, UNDP, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, amplifying the important high-level discussions at COP28 to a global audience. The live broadcast spanned over 10 days and covered a variety of climate-related topics. Rewatch the COP28 Climate Hub anytime on We Don’t Have Time Play.
•
17 w
this message. The approach is good and we also welcome your improvements
•
•
19 w
It's heartening to see initiatives like Trine actively addressing the threat of the energy crisis.
•
•
19 w
Thanks for joining us! It was great to learn more about your work at Trine!
Trine
21 w
•
Our current loans available on Trine avoid 18,139 tons of CO2 in total. The projects include telecom towers, schools, hospitals, agriculture and manufacturing, providing social and environmental benefits to the emerging communities they serve. Make a direct impact and invest today - https://tinyurl.com/25f2d8sf
Trine
22 w
•
COP 28 will soon begin in Dubai. But the landmark summit has been foreshadowed by a year of climate milestones. Significantly, the hottest October on record and the release of the the first global stocktake. Will this be the year we see actionable plans to phase out all unabated fossil fuels? We discuss in the article below. https://bit.ly/46oU1Kg
2023’s record breaking heat brings a new sense of urgency to COP 28 | Trine
COP 28 is set to begin in Dubai on the 30th of November. But the conference has been foreshadowed by the news that 2023 will likely be the hottest year on record. Creating a greater sense of urgency leading up to the landmark summit.
https://bit.ly/46oU1Kg
•
•
22 w
Cop28 is drawing nearer and it will be a game changer
•
•
22 w
I think the new high temperatures have to be a discussion point at this year's #COP
•
•
22 w
The upcoming COP28 in Dubai holds promise amid climate milestones.
Trine
22 w
•
“Diversification” is today’s headline as to why people are interested in investing outside the stock market. But it’s far from the only reason why they should. With the planet, people and profit in mind here are 5 reasons you should invest outside of the stock market. https://bit.ly/3ui1ygy
5 reasons why you should invest outside the stock market | Trine
At Trine, we make it easy for people to invest in solar energy in emerging markets. But even though the green impact weighs heavily for one to take an interest in investing with us - it may not be the only benefit.
https://bit.ly/3ui1ygy
•
•
22 w
In essence, we should all diversify our portfolios. It's as the old adage goes, don't keep all your eggs in one basket
•
•
22 w
Investing outside the stock market offers diversification, potential for higher returns, and providing a more balanced and resilient investment portfolio.
Trine
23 w
•
Want to provide solar energy solutions to schools and hospitals in India? India's growth in renewable energy, particularly in the solar sector, has been astonishing over the past decade. Despite this incredible progress, India's energy mix is still dominated by coal. One of the key challenges is the improvement of grid infrastructure to effectively manage the increasing influx of renewable energy. Talf Solar, a leader in solar infrastructure development and management in India, helps bridge this gap. Our 2nd Talf loan will finance solar solutions to three end customers: Venkateshwar Hospital in Dehli, Shri Venketeshwar International School and Jindal Public School in New Dehli. This current loan alone is estimated to avoid 10 410 tons of CO2 emissions. Use your money to make a direct impact by investing today. https://bit.ly/talf-solar-invest Photo Credit: Talf Solar.
•
•
8 w
Great initiative
•
•
23 w
I'd really like to see more clean energy solutions in India take effect. It will make such a huge difference on the grids
•
•
22 w
Impressive initiative by Talf Solar!
Trine
23 w
•
So many of us want to put our money in places that positively impact our planet. Yet getting into impact investing can, at times, feel overly complicated. But if you do want to vote with your wallet and make sure your investments align with your values, we have compiled 3 ways you can steer your money towards a greener future. https://trine.com/insights/what-future
3 ways you can steer your money towards a greener future | Trine
There are many ways you can make a positive impact with your money and put them where your values are. If you are looking to make a social and environmental impact by investing in funds, there are ‘light green’ funds and ‘dark green’ funds. But what does it mean? And are there any other ways you can make an impact with your money than by investing in ‘light green’ and ‘dark green’ funds?
https://trine.com/insights/what-future
•
•
22 w
The world needs more green energy to replace fossil fuels as an energy source therefore we must invest in renewable energy for a greener future.
•
•
23 w
Good move our investors should consider investment in green energy too
•
•
•
23 w
I love this form of impact Investing.
Trine
23 w
•
Connectivity is crucial for economic development in Nigeria's emerging communities. It helps them stay connected, fosters business growth and generates employment opportunities. However, poor infrastructure and an unreliable grid means operators struggle to provide this service we all largely take for granted. That's why our loan to Watt Renewables is so important. An independent producer of clean energy solutions for telecom towers, Watt Renewables implements battery packed solar systems for Nigeria's telecom operators. Supporting the industry in its transition to renewable energy and removing its reliance on fossil fuels. So far, by transitioning one of its clients to a solar hybrid solution, Watt as a business has displaced 14,200 tons of CO2 per year. Annually, they have been able to save 1.4 million litres of diesel. Our newest loan alone is estimated to reduce 6100 tons of CO2. Use your money to make a direct impact to both our planet and its people by investing today. https://bit.ly/watt-invest Photo Credit: Watt Renewables
•
•
23 w
Glad to see steps being taken in such nations to address the issue of poor connectivity
•
•
23 w
This is impressive as it will accelerate the transition to green energy!
•
•
23 w
Fantastic! I love the idea of being able to directly see the impact of my investment
Julien
46 w
•
After having facilitated over 80.000.000€ of investment into new solar energy generation in Africa and South Asia, Sweden-based solar investment company Trine, which enables people from around the world to invest in the establishment of new solar generation facilities, has expanded its reach into South America, with a first loan open for investment in Chile. Read more here about the state of solar energy in Chile: https://trine.com/insights/chile-the-country-leading-the-way
12 more agrees trigger contact with the recipient
•
•
22 w
Tremendous!
•
•
46 w
Encouraging
•
•
46 w
Great
Mattias Goldmann
75 w
Over a million tons of CO2 emissions avoided, more than two million people with access to clean electricity... The progress of Trine's investments in solar energy is impressive, especially since they are in countries like Zambia, Togo, Sierra Leone, Kenya... And the best bit is that it works; I invest in Trine, take a risk that the project might not work but typically it does and then I get on average 7.4 % annual interest, depending on the project. The money can be easily withdrawn, but I of course choose to reinvest, making solar grow! #Trine #Jointrine #solar #PV #EV Test it out, €10 to start with this link https://trine.com/just-invested/217332
142 more agrees trigger scaled up advertising
•
•
22 w
solar power is a good investment
•
•
75 w
Not convinced? How on earth not? Let me know - I've been with Trine for years and it is a true favorite of mine!
•
•
75 w
Convinced? Go straight to the investment, be part of the solar revolution! https://trine.com/just-invested/217332
Ingmar Rentzhog
95 w
•
•
Trine is an investment platform for real impact investment that is also very good for your wallet. I am a proud investor myself. They have invested €70 000 000 in solar together with their investors! You can invest too. Check out: https://trine.com/
55 more agrees trigger contact with the recipient
•
•
22 w
Great commitments by Trine.
•
•
95 w
I was planning to send climate love to Trine! They are doing a fantastic job 👏👏
•
95 w
Amazing!
Trine
109 w
•
Invest your money in businesses committed to using solar energy as a key driver for sustainable development.🌱 Access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy is paramount for sustainable development. Redavia solar provides more than just electricity; their solar energy spurs business expansion, improves education, and brings employment to developing communities. Check out our latest investment opportunity and put your money to work for people, planet, and profit: https://bit.ly/3D9f5aO ♻️☀️
•
•
22 w
I love the commitments conveyed in investing in solar energy.
•
•
108 w
Also, you could send @redavia climate love!
Julien
118 w
•
I discovered the Swedish startup Trine a few years back while I was searching what I could do to "put my money where my mouth is" and properly invest in the fight against climate change. The company enabled the investment of €17M into new solar power in 2021 and fights for a combination of environmental impact (through the acceleration of new solar power coming online) but also greater equality, through investments going to regions in the Greater South with much lesser means than most North-Western countries. In any case, I think what they're doing is great and I'm always surprised to not hear more about them, so here we go. Here's a look at their end-of-year 2021 report: https://trine.com/insights/year-end-review-2021
75 more agrees trigger contact with the recipient
•
•
22 w
Trine requires our support by all means possible.
•
•
118 w
Trine is a great company! Would love to see them more active here on the platform
Trine
133 w
•
Profit with a purpose is at the core of everything Trine does. No matter if it is solar energy, e-mobility or green logistics - as long it means a positive impact for people, planet and profit. Sustainable practices are going to win the battle for the consumer’s wallet in the future, and we are here for it. Green is definitely the new black. As sustainability comes into sharper focus for businesses, industries across every sector are looking for ways to mitigate the impact of their carbon footprint and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions their activities emit, especially carbon dioxide emissions. At Trine, we recently launched our first loan to Bisedge, a green logistics company providing electric forklifts to businesses across Nigeria. This was our first loan launched outside of the solar energy sector. Logistics play a huge role in the global economy and represents an area with a high carbon footprint. It is estimated that 8% of global CO2 emissions come from logistics operations. The industry is a major contributor to air pollution and changes need to be made as freight emissions are still increasing. Green logistics - what is it? The green logistics sector is growing and has gained momentum in the last few years, but as many other industries, needs capital to continue to accelerate and move us forward to a more sustainable future. Green logistics describes all efforts to minimise the negative ecological impact of logistics activities. It includes the efforts made by businesses in the industry to reduce its footprint and how they run their sustainability operations. The vision is to coordinate logistics activities and implement them in a way that benefits people, planet and profit. The logistics industry is not necessarily known for being one of the more sustainable ones. As an example, the machinery needed is unavoidable, such as forklifts, and they do pollute our planet. However, even though trucks for moving goods and similar are well needed in the industry and cannot be removed, we can still do our part in reducing emissions, making operations more sustainable. So how can we solve these challenges in the industry? One thing we can make sure to do is to leverage electricity in the right way . As with Bisedge, we are collaborating to replace diesel forklifts with electric ones. This will reduce the use of diesel with 50,000 litres per year and vehicle. It will also remove diesel fumes from Nigerian breweries, which will greatly improve the health of employees. As electric forklifts are quieter than diesel ones, the sound levels will decrease and do the same. In the future, we also hope to implement and leverage solar energy in charging stations for the forklifts. We can no longer continue without sustainability at the forefront of all things. Initiatives in logistics need to be made so we can keep our planet healthy and safe for generations to come. Head to trine.com to invest in our latest loan to Bisedge.
•
133 w
I loved the idea, that they must be a way to catalyze change towards greener future. @Trine has proved it and a big thumps up!
Trine
159 w
•
In 2020, the world installed more renewables than ever. New renewable energy installations reached 260 GW last year, despite the outbreak of Covid-19, national lockdowns and a slowing global economy, according to numbers released by IRENA. Compared to 2019, 50% more renewables were installed in 2020, making up for more than 80% of total new electricity capacity, while fossil fuel additions fell by more than 6%. The growth of green energy is accelerating, and we need to keep up with the trend. Solar and wind lead the growth Solar and wind lead the growth, contributing 127 GW and 111 GW of new installations, respectively. To put this into perspective, a gigawatt equals a billion watts, a light bulb in our home is typically between 60 and 100 watts. Hydropower still retains the largest share of global renewable electricity generation, accounting for more than 43% of total renewable generation capacity. However, wind and solar are catching up, accounting for 733 GW and 714 GW of capacity, respectively. "These numbers tell a remarkable story of resilience and hope. Despite the challenges and the uncertainty of 2020, renewable energy emerged as a source of undeniable optimism for a better, more equitable, resilient, clean, and just future," IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said in a statement. While the IRENA Director-General described the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources as an “unstoppable trend”, he also emphasized that “there is a huge amount to be done”. The resilience and momentum of renewables 2020 offered further evidence of the resilience and momentum of renewables, but much more is needed to align with a net-zero economy in 2050. Renewable energy deployment levels need to accelerate to align the energy system with a 1.5 degree Paris compliant future. According to the UN, the current pace for achieving SDG 7, access to affordable, reliable and clean energy for all, is way too slow, and specifically when looking at the deployment of off-grid solutions and decentralized energy. Significant planned energy investments must be redirected to support the transition if we are to achieve the 2050 goals. Faith Bitrol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said that even though the world’s largest economies have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, few have implemented the policies necessary to realize that objective. This renewable growth trend should be used as a source of inspiration to go further, while renewables’ share of electricity generation is increasing, fossil fuels are generating more carbon emissions than ever. In fact, this year, atmospheric CO2 emissions reached 417 parts per million, which is 50% higher than pre-industrial levels of CO2 seen in the 18th century. While we are making good progress at building less coal and gas power plants, we are still building them. We should retire them.
•
•
•
159 w
Love it
Trine
160 w
•
With temperatures rising and what seems to be a new humanitarian crisis every week, many people are looking for ways to make a difference. It can be difficult to figure out how to live more sustainably and to understand what is the most effective way to make a positive impact. Impact investing is a growing market for people that want to invest for environmental and social impact, whilst still looking for a financial return. What’s the difference between sustainable investments and impact investing? Let’s start off with why we talk about impact investing rather than other terms you might have heard of, such as sustainable investing, ESG, or socially responsible investing. In general, sustainable investing allows investors to ensure they are not investing in companies with a negative impact. If we take a sustainable fund for example, it often simply means that certain industries, like fossil fuels, are not included in the fund. It’s a way of reducing negative impact on the world. Impact investing is focused on finding solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems, which means you invest in companies that are looking to make a positive environmental or social contribution. Many people talk about this as a way of investing with your values. Bill Gates has spoken out about this difference in an article in the Financial Times, advising inclusion rather than exclusion. “Divestment, to date, probably has reduced about zero tonnes of emissions. It’s not like you’ve capital-starved [the] people making steel and gasoline,” he said. “I don’t know the mechanism of action where divestment [keeps] emissions [from] going up every year. I’m just too damn numeric.” Pros and cons with impact investing With that in mind, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of impact investing. Pros - Investing with your values. It’s hard to live your life according to certain principles while ignoring that fact that your money is supporting the very thing you’re against. - Positive impact. You’re not only moving capital away from industries that have a negative impact, you’re also investing in companies that are looking to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges. If successful, this strategy has the greatest chance at bringing real positive change. - Diversification. Impact investments can make a great addition to diversify your current investment portfolio. You might have heard of the non-correlation effect, which basically means that these types of investments might not behave in the same way as others. For example, if the oil industry is going down, renewable energy is likely to be doing the opposite. Cons - Accessibility. Impact investing is growing but is not yet mainstream enough to invest with your bank. This means you have to look elsewhere which can be a barrier for many people. - Measuring impact. For impact investing to work we need to be able to measure the impact in the same way that we can measure returns, otherwise, how can we compare? Right now there is no universal impact measurement tool which can make this challenging. - Track record. With many impact investment products being relatively young, there is less of a track record to be able to assess potential returns. The idea is that you should not have to sacrifice returns, but results are yet to be seen. How do you know if an investment has had a positive impact? If measuring impact is a challenge, how can you make sure that your impact investments are having the positive effect you’re looking for? It just means you have to do your research. You can look for companies that are using a framework to measure their impact, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals or the Global Impact Investor Network’s tool IRIS+. There are also some investments that have a direct impact with measurable results. For example, when you invest in off-grid solar energy loans through Trine you can see how much CO2 is estimated to be avoided and how many people will be provided with electricity. As impact can be calculated in many different ways it’s good to check how it is calculated to make sure it feels right for you. How do I get started with impact investing? The impact investing market is maturing and demand is increasing, which means there are some great tools and investment products out there to get you started. - Hållbarhetsprofilen is a tool from SWESIF to help you find sustainable funds in Sweden. - Klimatsmarta investeringar is a Facebook group with more than 3000 active members that are interested in investing for a sustainable future. - Proethos is a Swedish sustainable fund that is easily accessible, for example via Avanza. - Trine is a Swedish company offering investments in solar energy in emerging markets. Conclusion Any investment decision is personal and only you can decide if impact investing is something for you. However, if you’re looking for a way to make a positive impact on the world, your money and investments are a great place to start. Bill Gates is a great example of someone who puts his money where his mouth is, what would the world look like if we all did the same?
•
160 w
This is quite insightful. Thank you for sharing!
•
160 w
This post gives a good picture of the tools that we can use for impact investment.
Trine
163 w
•
You might have heard or seen the term impact investing being thrown around on various occasions. But what is it really, and what makes it different from other types of investments? Let’s dive into what many believe is the future of finance: https://trine.com/insight/what-is-impact-investing?utm_source=wedonthavetime&utm_medium=affiliate
Jonas Bergström
166 w
Trine makes it easy for people to invest in solar energy! I love how they really have put effort in their graphics, where investors can see the impact of each investment - amount of CO2 avoided and amount of people getting access to green electricity. Also, there is a clear connection to the sustainable development goals! I'm a happy Trine-investor. Are you ready to join me?
131 more agrees trigger social media ads
Shared by Trine
We Don't Have Time
166 w
•
PARTNER UPDATE. “For people, for planet, for profit” is Trine’s motto and their triple bottom line. They aim to make it easy and rewarding for people and companies to invest in a greener future through investments of all sizes. Trine’s goal is to provide a triple return on investments in solar energy in growing markets. And they’ve just launched a partnership with We Don’t Have Time to help make that happen. Trine has developed a simple approach for individuals, companies and professional investors that makes the process of investing in clean energy simple, straightforward and trustworthy. First, the investor creates an account on trine.com and finds a loan they want to invest in. These loans fund solar energy businesses around the world, each with different impact, size, location and risk. Each investment can be as small as 25 EUR or as large as the full remaining amount of a loan. Once a loan is fully funded, the investment funds are transferred to the borrower and utilized for selling and distributing their solar products or services. Each borrower, or solar partner, has been carefully vetted through Trine’s due diligence process. Hanna Lindquist, customer success manager at Trine, describes these solar partners as “the most promising, most impactful companies that have the possibility to scale when it comes to decentralized solar energy solutions.” When the solar partner repays the loan, the investor receives back their original investment, with interest. Those funds can be easily withdrawn or reinvested in another loan through the Trine dashboard. “One of the key missions for us has been to transform how people look at finance and see the potential of using their money to have a tangible impact,” says Hanna. “We share the same cause as We Don’t Have Time in terms of what we want to achieve and seeing that anyone can be a part of it.” Trine plans to use their Open for Climate Dialogue™ certification on We Don’t Have Time “to interact with more people who haven’t been in contact with impact investing before,” says Hanna. “We’ll be shining light on the impact investing sector, because not everyone knows it exists or that they can invest in it. We want to tell people what it is, how it works, why they should invest, and how easy it can be.” “We also want to engage our peers in the financing sector so we can find out together what more we can do to help people use their money for good,” she explains. “We want to be a part of the dialogue, lead by example and share our learnings and our experience from the years we have done this.” Trine’s future planning includes diversifying their portfolio, which may mean moving into other sustainable business sectors beyond solar. “And one big thing that’s happening right now is we’re launching our own payment solution, so that will have big benefits for everyone who wants to invest in an easy way,” says Hanna. “It’s coming soon!” https://youtu.be/sMdSEnBLHf0 ABOUT TRINE Trine makes it easy for people to invest in solar energy where it has the most impact. Innovative companies get the injection of capital they need to create a greener future. Trine investors get a triple return on investment — earn a profit while making social and environmental impact. www.trine.com
•
•
166 w
Very encouraging and really a great initiative! Wish you great success!
•
•
•
165 w
Thanks Johannes! :)
Trine
169 w
•
Meet the team behind Trine! Check out our website and let us know your feedback: https://trine.com/about?utm_source=wedonthavetime&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign
Trine
174 w
•
Want to learn more about how you can invest with triple impact for people, the planet and your own wallet? Check out the video below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMdSEnBLHf0?utm_source=wedonthavetime&utm_medium=affiliate
Trine
177 w
•
Hi We Don't Have Time community! We are Trine, and we make it easy for people to invest in solar energy in growing markets. Our mission is to give people a triple return on investment - earn a profit while making social and environmental impact. People, planet, profit. Stay tuned for our future posts to find out more about how you can be a part of this! If you want to know more, check out the video below where Hanna from the Trine team talks about our work, our vision and one of our leading borrowers Bboxx. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSiZ4vFxBPA
•
177 w
Welcome! 😄 I've been a Triner since 2018 and especially like the impact dashboard where I can follow how my investments are supporting sustainable development around the world 🌍 Excited to follow your upcoming work! Feel free to ask the community if you have any specific areas you want feedback on - I'm sure there are several people here who want you to succeed just as much as I do!
•
•
•
177 w
Thanks Samuel! We will definitely be reaching out to the community here and it's good to know we have some friends here already 😉
Hanna Westerberg
183 w
Investing in a greener future. For people, for planet, for profit.
865 more agrees trigger social media ads
Pinned by We Don't Have Time
•
•
•
169 w
Thank you for the climate love! We highly appreciate it :)
•
•
•
169 w
Trine is great. i am investing myself.
Write or agree to climate reviews to make businesses and world leaders act. It’s easy and it works.
Certified accounts actively looking for your opinion on their climate impact.
One tree is planted for every climate review written to an organization that is Open for Climate Dialogue™.
•
•
6 w
Trine's investment focus on providing affordable and clean energy to underserved communities is truly impactful.
•
•
6 w
This is a huge step in ensuring that we all go green in the near future
•
•
6 w
Very interesting to hear about the challenges of financing solar projects in emerging markets, I didn't know about that! Another reason to support Trine in your work to introduce funds in those regions, thank you for your work!