# Climatetech for developing economies

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2022-10-27
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies

## Summary

Kate Steel, CEO of Nithio, discusses the urgent need to deploy existing clean energy technologies in developing economies, particularly in Africa, to provide electricity access and support economic growth without relying on fossil fuels. She explains that while solar home systems and microgrids are technically ready, the primary barrier is financing, specifically the inability of distributors to assess household credit risk. Steel highlights how Nithio uses data to underwrite this risk and provides receivables financing to scale off-grid solar, while also noting the potential for electric motorbikes to leapfrog fossil fuel transportation.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=7) Introduction: The urgency of energy access in developing economies
- [4:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=256) Energy access vs. economic development: The two distinct problems
- [10:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=630) Current energy mix: Biomass, geothermal, and the cooking challenge
- [14:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=844) Off-grid solar vs. diesel: Why solar is winning on cost and logistics
- [18:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=1135) Technology readiness: Batteries, PV, and reverse tech transfer
- [29:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=1792) Financing challenges: Canceled PPAs and utility insolvency
- [33:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=2009) Nithio's model: Underwriting credit risk and scaling financing
- [39:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=2352) Transportation leapfrogging: Electric motorbikes and public transit
- [41:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies#t=2478) Final thoughts: Deploy what we have and changing perceptions

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Nithio (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- Actuate Climate (company)
- Power Africa (company)
- Nithio FI (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#002 - Empowering women in Nepal by a woman entrepreneur, with Anya Cherneff of Empower Generation, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2016-12-08-002-empowering-women-in-nepal-by-a-woman-entrepreneur-with-anya-cherneff-of-empo) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [HIBT Lab! BlocPower: Donnel Baird](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-07-hibt-lab-blocpower-donnel-baird) (How I Built This)
- [Reinvesting in our cities with renewable energy with Donnel Baird of BlocPower (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-22-reinvesting-in-our-cities-with-renewable-energy-with-donnel-baird-of-blocpower-2) (How I Built This)
- [From Solar’s 90% Cost Crash to AI’s Energy Surge: The Economics Driving Climate Tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-09-16-from-solars-90-cost-crash-to-ais-energy-surge-the-economics-driving-climate-tech) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Silicon Savannah: Expanding Access to Clean Cooking Fuel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-05-11-silicon-savannah-expanding-access-to-clean-cooking-fuel) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-27-climatetech-for-developing-economies. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.