Africa – Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst programme has allocated over £40 million to support innovative clean energy projects, marking a significant investment in the global energy transition. This funding is aimed at fostering accessible and sustainable energy solutions in various regions.
According to Africa Science News, made by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, this £40 million grant is part of a larger £316 million package. The funding, drawn from the Ayrton Fund for clean energy innovation, is provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This initiative highlights the UK Government’s dedication to advancing research, development, and demonstration of technologies and business models essential for clean and affordable energy.
The latest beneficiaries of the Energy Catalyst programme include 64 projects across 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region. These projects, part of Round 10 of the programme, are set to innovate in areas such as next-generation solar, smart green-grids, hydrogen, clean cooling, and renewable alternatives to fossil fuel generators.
Notable projects receiving support are Achelous Energy’s floating oceanic solar farm in Indonesia and ion Venture’s automatic battery swapping cabinet designed to enhance e-mobility in Uganda. Additionally, Energy Catalyst will for the first-time support projects in Cambodia, Eswatini, Fiji, Malaysia, and South Sudan, including the SDG Changemakers project focusing on clean energy accessibility in Fiji’s Kioa Island.
Since its inception in 2014, Energy Catalyst has become a crucial element of the Ayrton Fund, contributing significantly to sustainable energy solutions and reducing fossil fuel reliance in targeted regions. This round of funding increases Energy Catalyst’s total grant value to over £160 million, impacting 46 countries through 320 projects and over 600 partnering organizations. The programme has catalyzed further investments, with previously supported projects securing an additional £200 million in funding.
Highlighted success stories include Mobile Power, which developed MOPO Hubs for accessible solar-powered energy, and enee.io, which enhances energy reliability and affordability. These companies have benefited from prior Energy Catalyst support, demonstrating their business models and securing further investments.
Alice Goodbrook, Energy Catalyst Lead at Innovate UK, emphasized the programme’s role in addressing urgent energy challenges and its collaborative approach with innovators. Energy Catalyst’s unique strategy involves grant funding, partnership building, and acceleration support from a consortium led by Carbon Trust, which includes various partners like Mercy Corps Energy 4 Impact, Intellecap, Open Capital, Eigen Ventures, and others.
Energy Catalyst’s comprehensive support, combining financial and advisory services, plays a critical role in forming strategic partnerships, sharing knowledge, and developing business models aimed at commercializing solutions that enhance lives.