30-day notice: SOGE and DFCD

This project snapshot highlights SNV’s collaboration with Solar Green Energy (Cambodia) Co., Ltd (SOGE), Cambodia’s leading solar irrigation provider. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Phnom Penh, SOGE operates 19 solar-powered irrigation stations covering over 3,000 hectares and has installed more than 3,000 individual solar pumps for smallholder farmers. The company employs 40 staff across seven divisions, including technical support, marketing, project coordination, and accounting.

From June 2025 to January 2027, the DFCD Origination Facility is providing a €370,000 grant to assist SOGE in de‑risking and scaling 18 additional solar irrigation schemes. These schemes will cover over 18,000 hectares and benefit more than 10,000 farming households. The support focuses on feasibility assessments, business planning, financial and institutional strengthening, environmental and social management, and gender‑inclusive systems.

SOGE’s business model—charging farmers per hectare of irrigation—eliminates their need for upfront investment and reduces reliance on diesel-powered pumps. By refurbishing irrigation infrastructure and incorporating smart water-pump technology with sun trackers, SOGE delivers affordable, reliable, and low-emissions irrigation tailored to Cambodia’s agricultural conditions, where erratic rainfall and climate vulnerability threaten rice yields and food security.

The project aims to unlock a US $13 million investment for solar irrigation expansion across three phases between 2025 and 2028. Expected outcomes include improved irrigation for 18,250 hectares, enhanced access for 10,835 families (80 percent smallholders), yield increases of up to 50 percent, family income growth of 20–50 percent, and a reduction of 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually due to diesel displacement.

By combining climate adaptation, mitigation, and inclusive rural development, this initiative supports Cambodia’s irrigation needs, strengthens food security, and contributes to national priorities on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. The investment is classified as IFC category B for environmental and social risk management.