Energy 4 Impact

26/03/2025

Crowdfunding is becoming an important tool for financing clean cooking solutions, helping companies scale and bridge funding gaps. Our latest white paper, 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 examines developments from 2016 to 2024, including:

📊 𝟲𝟰% 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 in crowdfunding for clean cooking.
💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 in expanding access.
🚀𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 entering the sector.

The report also features insights from BURN, Sistema.bio, Greenway Grameen Infra, and explores how platforms like bettervest GmbH and Charm Impact are supporting the sector.

📥 Download the report here 👉 bit.ly/3Y1F7s2

21/03/2025

We are bridging finance and clean cooking for women in informal settlements! 💰 🔥
For many low-income women, the upfront cost of switching to cleaner forms of cooking is a major barrier. The Financial Inclusion for Clean Cooking Access in Rwanda and Sierra Leone (FICCARS) program is tackling this by integrating tailored financial solutions into the clean cooking sector.
Read how this initiative, implemented in partnership with Empower Rwanda and supported by Jersey Overseas Aid, is enabling women and entrepreneurs like Beatha to access cleaner cooking options, save money, and build a financial track record—so they can access more financial services in the future.
When finance meets energy access, real change happens. 👉bit.ly/4kI4skz

18/02/2025

PREO is dedicated to supporting companies harnessing PURE (Productive Use of Renewable Energy) technologies to improve livelihoods and enhance climate resilience. We are excited to showcase how PREO funding is supporting recent grantees to pilot their innovative PURE solutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

🍽️ Ecobora: Is implementing a Cooking-as-a-Service model and installing solar-powered cooking boilers in schools to replace firewood. This initiative not only promotes cleaner cooking solutions but contributes to healthier learning environments.

💉 Drop Access Limited: Is introducing ‘VacciBox’ to the market - a solar-powered cooling service for health facilities in Kenya. By increasing vaccination rates and reducing vaccine waste, Drop Access can play a crucial role in improving healthcare outcomes.

☀️ ICE Solar: Is providing rooftop solar solutions to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria through subscription models. These efforts are supporting local young people with training programmes, fostering economic growth, and promoting sustainable energy use.

🧺 Farm Warehouse: Is piloting an e-commerce application for processed products from smallholder farmers. Additionally, the company is distributing PURE equipment and providing warehousing for produce, enhancing the agricultural value chain and supporting smallholder farmers.

🪴 SIMUSOLAR LIMITED: A Ugandan supplier of solar-powered agricultural equipment, is enhancing productivity for smallholder farmers through solar irrigation solutions. Its work is boosting agricultural efficiency and supporting sustainable farming practices.

To learn more about PREO and the impact of other PREO-supported innovators, visit:

PREO is a demand-led productive use of renewable energy (PURE) programme improving the livelihoods of communities through partnerships, knowledge sharing and innovation.

14/02/2025

Looking forward to the UrbanShift Forum for Africa in Nairobi next week! There’s no better time to discuss how urban planning can respond to the urgent challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate breakdown. If you’re attending, seek out our Head of Energy Research and Innovation Mercy Rose to explore how clean energy can drive sustainable urban growth—from powering transportation, lighting, heating and cooling, to supporting clean cooking and food systems. Coupled with improved energy efficiency in buildings and appliances, these solutions can boost climate resilience.
Mobilizing finance for cities to drive sustainable urban development will be key!

Environment Facility
C40 Cities

Africa is responsible for less than 4% of global emissions but is disproportionately affected by climate breakdown. With record temperatures and devastating natural disasters, people are increasingly at risk. The time to act is now.

Next week, city leaders will come together at the UrbanShift Africa Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, and share how they are scaling up ambitious, people-centred climate action in cities to create a safer and healthier future for all Africans in urban centres.

UrbanShift
Global Environment Facility

30/01/2025

🏍️ We are thrilled to spotlight some of the latest cohort of ground-breaking initiatives PREO is funding in sub-Saharan Africa.

These companies, focused on e-mobility, are working to accelerate the green energy transition in the region, harnessing renewable energy technologies to improve livelihoods and reduce fossil fuel reliance in sub-Saharan communities through clean transportation solutions. 💡

🚀 AG Energies Co. Ltd Tanzania is working to transform transportation in Tanzania with its battery-swapping service for electric tuk-tuks and motorcycles, making sustainable mobility more accessible, efficient and less reliant on petrol.

🌊 Jokosun Energies is empowering local fishers in Senegal by providing hubs for charging and distributing batteries for electric boats, improving their operations and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

⚡ CHAJI is driving the adoption of electric vehicles in Kenya by installing fast EV chargers in commercial centres and developing financing options for electric three-wheelers in Nairobi and Mombasa.

🔋 Mazi Mobility is exploring the potential of battery swapping stations as a viable business model for e-mobility in Africa, conducting crucial studies to pave the way for sustainable transportation solutions.

These pioneering companies exemplify PREO's commitment to harnessing renewable energy for improving incomes, building climate resilience, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.🌱

To learn more about PREO-funded companies, please visit: https://www.preo.org/

23/01/2025

🔋 Pioneering Battery Solutions for a Sustainable Future 🔋

PREO is proud to support ground-breaking companies transforming the productive use of renewable energy (PURE) landscape with innovative battery solutions. These enterprises are not only addressing critical energy needs in sub-Saharan Africa, but promoting sustainability and circularity.🌍

⚡Inter Ethiopia Solutions PLC - Ethiopia, is revolutionising e-waste management by refurbishing solar home systems with second-life lithium-ion batteries, providing affordable and reliable renewable energy to micro, small, and medium enterprises such as healthcare facilities, barber shops, mini-supermarkets, and restaurants.

⚡AceleAfrica – Kenya, is introducing a cell testing-as-a-service model for solar home system companies, advancing sustainable business models for repurposed battery solutions.

⚡Hinckley E-Waste - Nigeria, is validating a proof of concept for developing and installing second-life batteries to power telecom towers, addressing the energy needs of critical communication infrastructure and promoting circularity.

⚡SLS Energy (One Acre Fund) – Rwanda, is piloting an ‘Irrigation-as-a-Service' model for smallholder farmers by deploying 100 Solar Water Pump units equipped with second-life batteries, supporting sustainable agriculture and providing smallholder farmers with reliable energy solutions.

These pioneering companies exemplify PREO's commitment to harnessing renewable energy to improve incomes, build climate resilience, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

To learn more, please visit: Home - https://www.preo.org/

IKEA Foundation, Transforming Energy Access, Ayrton Fund, The Carbon Trust, Energy 4 Impact

22/01/2025

🌍 9 days left to apply for catalytic grants – Deadline, 31 January 2025 🌍

🕑 There’s still time to apply for catalytic funding from PREO, the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities programme. Don't miss out on its latest competitive open call for applications.🕑

We are inviting innovators in sub-Saharan Africa to apply for catalytic grants that support business models harnessing the productive use of renewable energy (PURE) to improve livelihoods, boost incomes, and enhance climate resilience.

✏️ Who can apply:
- Businesses or non-profit organisations legally registered and/or based in a sub-Saharan African country (excluding South Africa).
- Innovators piloting a new business model or pivoting an existing one focused on the productive use of renewable energy.

👇 Funding details:
- Up to 20 grants available, each worth up to EUR 200,000.
- Projects should be 12-24 months in duration.

📅 Key dates:
Call closes: 31 January (23:59 UTC)

Find full details about the PREO Open Call here: https://lnkd.in/gXGJ67C

20/01/2025

📣 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🌍

As Africa’s urban population continues to grow rapidly, energy access in cities, particularly in informal settlements, is becoming an increasingly pressing challenge. With 609 million people now living in urban areas, nearly 𝟲𝟬% 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 where access to clean, sustainable energy is limited and inadequate.

🔎 Two recent studies from Energy 4 Impact, conducted through the UK Aid-funded Enabling African Cities for Transformative Energy Access (ENACT) project, centre upon recent interventions in 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 and 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮, 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮, and explore the innovative financing mechanisms and market-driven solutions that can bring clean cooking technologies and fuels to underserved urban populations.

🚨 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

• Despite progress in grid expansion and off-grid solutions, both Freetown and Kampala face significant energy access gaps, particularly in informal settlements. With their populations projected to double over the next 20 years, the demand for sustainable energy solutions will only grow.

• Financing remains the key barrier. Tailored financing options for both clean cooking solution providers and end users are essential. Innovative mechanisms like blended finance, microfinance, and pay-as-you-go models can help scale businesses and make solutions more affordable.

• The private sector plays a critical role in advancing energy access, but it requires supportive policies, regulatory frameworks, and financing mechanisms to achieve scale. Public-private partnerships are key to de-risking investments, fostering innovation, and attracting private sector investment to expand clean energy solutions in underserved urban areas.

As urbanization accelerates across Africa, the findings from these reports provide valuable insights for service providers, policymakers, investors, and development agencies looking to address similar challenges across the continent.

🔑 Download the reports:

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 - 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 👉 bit.ly/42EkGVt

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 - 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 👉 bit.ly/3EchENG

🔍𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 👉 https://bit.ly/4jny2uP

More information on the ENACT project, funded by UK Aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform and implemented by Energy 4 Impact and ICLEI Africa, can be found here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gjJBgsS.

FinancingSolutions

New studies explore market-driven solutions to deliver clean, sustainable energy in Africa’s cities, where 60% of 609M urban residents live in informal settlements with limited energy access.

07/01/2025

📣Just 3 weeks left to apply for PREO’s catalytic grants! Innovators in sub-Saharan Africa: secure up to €200,000 to pilot or pivot business models harnessing renewable energy for livelihoods, incomes & climate resilience. Deadline: 31 Jan 2025👉https://bit.ly/4j5uspa

11/12/2024

Last month in Freetown, Sierra Leone, we convened clean cooking innovators, finance providers, local authorities, and sector influencers to explore a transformative concept: how combining and financial inclusion can empower economically disadvantaged women.

It was an exciting milestone for our Financial Inclusion for Clean Cooking in Rwanda and Sierra Leone (FICCARS) program, which enables women from informal settlements to purchase sustainable cooking solutions on credit. The impact is compelling: clean cooking alleviates the labor and health risks of cooking with biomass whilst serving as a ladder to economic opportunity. Buying stoves on credit helps low-income women build a financial track record, improving their access to life-changing loans and services in future — and unlock livelihood opportunities.

The rich potential to replicate this approach across Sierra Leone provided stakeholders with plenty to consider. Amongst the presentations, our partners, microfinance provider MiKashBoks and LPG distributor Afrigas (SL), shared insights into how they work together within FICCARS. Cooking companies and finance providers from outside the program then demonstrated their impressive range of solutions, sparking conversations about collaboration and scalable impact.

Heartfelt thanks to the Renewable Energy Association of Sierra Leone (REASL) for co-hosting this event, as well as our implementing partners CODOHSAPA and FEDURP.

08/11/2024

🌞 Powering Rwanda’s agriculture with solar energy! 🌞
Through our Productive Use of Renewable Energy in Agricultural Value Chains (PURE.Ag) program with EUCORD, we’re sparking a new era of solar irrigation in Rwanda to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen climate resilience.

We’re thrilled to welcome four solar water pump companies—Open Construction, Ignite Spring, ETS Construction Mixed, and General Trading & Consultancy—into the program to help bring this vision to life. Through a supply-side results-based financing (RBF) mechanism, we’ll work closely with each company to develop tailored technical assistance plans. These will include awareness-raising and go-to-market strategies to support credit-based adoption, making solar technology more accessible to smallholder farmers through affordable PAYGo models and flexible payment options.

We’re also partnering with financial institutions such as Goshen Finance, COPEDU MFI, and Equity Bank to expand financing solutions for farmers. By strengthening their expertise in solar irrigation, we’re helping financial institutions create innovative products and build strong partnerships with solar water pump suppliers—making climate-smart agriculture a reality for Rwanda’s farmers.

01/11/2024

🌍 Picture this: in Nairobi, taxi driver Amos starts his day by powering up his electric motorcycle; later in Kigali, Julienne cooks a family meal using biomass pellets on a clean cookstove. These products, brought to market by clean energy companies Roam and BioMassters, are not only sustainable – they’re delivering cost savings, convenience, and other benefits that improve the daily lives of Africans.

But scaling such impactful solutions isn’t easy, as traditional financing is typically elusive for innovations targeting high-risk, low-income markets. That’s why Roam and Biomassters turned to at critical growth junctures. Their successful campaigns on crowdfunding platforms Lendahandand Charm Impact provided the flexible bridge funding they needed to scale.

Read about their crowdfunding journeys, the growth this financing unlocked, and the transformative impact on African households. The article also examines the rapid rise of energy access crowdfunding, bolstered by our Crowd Power programme with support from the Transforming Energy Access platform.

Find out more 👉https://www.energy4impact.org/resources/daily-africa-transformed-innovations

We also recently hosted an insightful webinar on crowdfunding for energy access companies, featuring tips and strategies from top platforms and successful borrowers on how to execute high-impact crowdfunding campaigns.
🎥 Watch the webinar recording 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrqZY3gd95A

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Crowdfunding has become a game-changer for energy access companies looking to close financing gaps. Hosted by the Crowd Power programme, implemented by Energ...