Atutu and ACTUAL Partner to Scale Investor-Grade Renewable Projects in Myanmar

ACTUAL, a leading AI-powered capital planning platform for sustainability projects, has announced a strategic partnership with Atutu, a renewable energy company focused on expanding clean power access across Myanmar.

With grid access in rural Myanmar currently below 22% and as low as 15% in Kachin State, this partnership aims to address a critical challenge while seizing the opportunity to build a resilient and sustainable energy system. A significant 62% of the rural population cites the “grid too far” as a significant barrier to accessing electricity.

Logistical challenges hinder the expansion of renewable energy in Myanmar. Inadequate infrastructure creates significant barriers, making generators and fuel prohibitively expensive. Even in grid-connected areas, electricity availability is limited to a few hours daily, restricting essential services like medical care where high-power equipment often remains inoperable.

Despite these challenges, the partnership is well-positioned to make a significant impact. Atutu’s deep-rooted cultural insight and on-the-ground experience, combined with ACTUAL’s cutting-edge AI technology, will enable the development of effective financing models for renewable energy projects. This comprehensive approach will streamline funding, reduce costs, and enhance the positive impact on communities through economies of scale.

ACTUAL’s AI-driven tools will ensure transparent project costs and impacts, encouraging increased investment. By optimizing financial returns and aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions.

“We’ve proudly partnered with Atutu to tackle the complex energy challenges in Myanmar,” said Karthik Balakrishnan, President and Co-Founder of ACTUAL. “Our AI-powered platform will help identify and structure financially viable renewable energy projects that can make a real difference in people’s lives.”

The initial focus will be on improving electricity access for healthcare infrastructure, with the potential to expand to schools and homes. This approach facilitates rapid deployment and significantly scales up the impact, providing a pathway to universal energy access and sustainable development in Myanmar.

Lin Thu Hein, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Atutu, added, “Our collaboration with ACTUAL will amplify our impact, with a projected 10-15 times increase in project deployment. By combining our local expertise with ACTUAL’s advanced planning capabilities, we can attract more investment and drive Myanmar’s clean energy transition forward.”

This partnership represents a crucial step toward achieving universal energy access and supporting sustainable development in Myanmar.

About ACTUAL: Founded in 2018 by a team of software engineers, game designers, and clean transportation and supply chain experts, ACTUAL is a first-of-its-kind AI-driven Capital Planning Platform designed to help organizations build capital plans to meet their sustainability and resilience goals. ACTUAL’s plans are uniquely living, always up-to-date and available for stakeholder inspection. ACTUAL’s platform has been recognized by Business Intelligence Group as a 2022 Sustainability Product of the Year, a TIME Best Inventions 2022 winner and an honoree of Fast Company’s 2023 Innovation By Design Award. ACTUAL is backed by Buckley Ventures, Hyper, Social Impact Capital, Wndrco, Sequoia Scout, Signalfire Scout, Craft Scout and Global Founders Capital. For more information, visit actualhq.com.

About Atutu: Atutu is a grassroots collaborative led and facilitated by indigenous and local community members from Myanmar who believe equitable energy access is the foundation to sustainable development. Atutu works to set the bar for the international development sector by starting with the hardest-to-reach communities. Atutu promotes sustainable, equitable, and resilient communities by offering renewable energy resources in place of fossil fuels. Atutu’s proven record of combining in-house engineering, deep-rooted cultural insight, local solar solution leaders, and partnerships with healthcare, education, and community spaces effectively brings solar energy access to Myanmar’s most marginalized communities.

Contact Information

Natalie Bartels

Senior Account Manager

VSC for ACTUAL

actual@vsc.co