UK-backed clean energy innovations set to scale across Africa
From hospitals in Kenya and telecom towers in Uganda to fishing communities in Mozambique and food markets in Nigeria, a new generation of UK-backed clean energy projects is demonstrating how reliable, affordable power can support the services and industries people rely on every day.
(Courtesy)
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Ten projects across eight African countries, ranging from hospitals, telecom networks, agriculture, fishing communities and small businesses, are set to benefit from a new innovation expected to offer reliable power supply.
From hospitals in Kenya and telecom towers in Uganda to fishing communities in Mozambique and food markets in Nigeria, a new generation of UK-backed clean energy projects is demonstrating how reliable, affordable power can support the services and industries people rely on every day.
ZE-Gen announced over £2m of investment across ten projects that will help expand clean energy alternatives to fossil-fuel generators in sectors where reliable electricity can have the greatest impact, including healthcare, telecommunications, food production, small businesses and community energy access.
The projects will deploy and test proven renewable energy technologies in real-world settings, helping companies move from successful pilots to larger-scale deployment while demonstrating how clean energy can support essential services, strengthen local economies and improve resilience in off-grid and weak-grid communities.
Backed by the UK Government's Ayrton Fund through the Transforming Energy Access platform, funded through its Global Research and Technology Development portfolio, the latest ZE-Gen projects support companies that have already demonstrated promising technologies and approaches through earlier innovation programmes.
The latest portfolio builds on previous success following initiatives including ZE-Gen, Energy Catalyst and Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities.
The projects span a diverse range of sectors and applications that include Kenya - clean energy systems for hospitals, Uganda - battery-powered telecommunications infrastructure, Mozambique - renewable-powered fishing and cold-chain hubs, Nigeria - solar-powered food storage and processing facilities, among others.
Lily Beadle, Programme Director, ZE-Gen. (Courtesy)
"These ZE-Gen supported projects show how clean energy can power the services and businesses people rely on every day - from hospitals and telecommunications networks to food systems and local enterprises,” Lily Beadle, Programme Director, ZE-Gen, said.
Years of UK-Government-backed innovation support have created a portfolio of businesses with both UK and African roots that are now ready to scale proven clean energy solutions across Africa.
“Every unit we deploy in Africa pulls through British engineering, design and manufacturing. This is UK innovation from our Telford base earning its place in a fast-growing market, and building a genuine, lasting partnership between the UK and Uganda," Mark Thompson, Co-Founder & CEO, AceOn Group said.