6 February 2025: This week marked the official inauguration of the BGFA co-funded solar mini-grids in the communities of Totoquelleh and Farwhenta in Gbarpolu, northern Liberia. Customers, mini-grid workers and staff from Energicity, government representatives and representatives from the Swedish embassy in Monrovia gathered at the sites to celebrate. Construction of the company’s first sites in Liberia, and the first completely new mini-grid sites commissioned in Sub-Saharan Africa with BGFA support, began in 2023. The two completed sites each have a total capacity of 26.88 kWp and distribute electricity to customers through ABC overhead line networks that can be easily expanded to meet growing community demand.

“Commissioning our first two mini-grids in Liberia in partnership with BGFA and the Liberian government marks a significant milestone in our mission to bring clean, reliable and affordable energy to off-grid communities. The BGFA project demonstrates the power of innovative financing, technology and community-led development in bridging the energy gap and contributing to reducing energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. We look forward to continuing our work in Liberia and beyond, empowering communities to thrive and grow with access to productive sustainable energy,” says Nicole Poindexter, CEO and founder at Energicity.

BGFA is financing three further energy service providers in Liberia providing standalone solar home systems and solar battery rental services in remote communities. The aim is for all four portfolio companies to establish over 95,000 energy connections over the next few years. If all projects are implemented as planned in the challenging business environment, the companies could provide electricity to almost half a million people in Liberia.

“Sweden is happy to be part of this journey to bring electricity to rural Liberia, a vital step towards development that strengthens local businesses, enhances essential services and empowers communities for a brighter future,” comments Karl Backéus, Sweden’s Ambassador to Liberia.

Energicity’s mission is to provide affordable, reliable and scalable electricity solutions to rural communities in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. An agreement with BGFA to develop business operations in Liberia was signed in May 2022 to support the company to develop and operate mini-grids to serve low-income customers in remote areas across the country. The aim is to develop up to 30 solar-based mini-grids in Liberia, relying on local materials and workers for the construction. Once in operation, the mini-grids will provide over 4,400 residential, commercial and institutional energy service connections.

“It is fantastic to see that Energicity has come so far in Liberia with the support of BGFA funding and is now delivering electricity. Access to mini-grids will improve everyday life tremendously for the people living in these rural farming communities,” says Aleksandra Reskalenko, Programme Officer at Nefco.

BGFA is currently conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of results-based financing mechanisms in supporting mini-grid investments across Africa in collaboration with The Future of Energy (TFE), an African consultancy firm working with renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure developments in the global south.

“We see that the results of this study will greatly support BGFA and inform other results-based financing programmes on how they can improve their support for mini-grid developers in Sub-Saharan Africa to overcome challenges associated with implementing projects,” comments Kari Hämekoski, Senior Programme Manager at Nefco.

In total, the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa has contracted 30 companies in Sub-Saharan Africa, across Burkina Faso, DRC, Liberia, Uganda and Zambia since 2021. Once implemented, the current programme portfolio will have the potential to reach over 8.7 million people across these six countries. The BGFA funding window in Liberia is funded by Sweden.

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About Energicity: Since 2015, Energicity has been dedicated to electrifying rural communities in West Africa. Energicity builds and operates solar-powered mini-grids for off-grid communities with more than 100 households, targeting customers using up to 1,000 Wh/day, in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. By prioritising customer needs and satisfaction, implementing cutting-edge solar technology and harnessing innovative financing, Energicity paves the way for long-term growth and prosperity in the regions it serves. Energicity so far supports more than 45 communities in these three countries, and it aims to reach 100,000 customers by 2025. For more information, visit www.energicitycorp.com.

24 February 2025: The government of Sweden and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) today announced a partnership to mobilize resources to power thousands of healthcare facilities across South Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, and Kenya. This partnership will create a replicable blended finance model that countries across Africa can use to electrify health clinics on a national scale.

The initiative tackles an urgent challenge: one in four primary health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa lacks electricity, while only half of hospitals have reliable power. The partnership will initially focus on four countries, implementing an innovative financing model that combines public and private funding to ensure long-term sustainability.

“I’ve seen dedicated doctors and medical professionals working in darkness one too many times,” said President Bill Clinton at the launch at the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria. “Today, we’re helping to change that story. This partnership will bring sustainable solar power to thousands of healthcare facilities, ensuring that from delivery rooms to emergency wards, the power to save lives stays on.”

Håkan Juholt, Ambassador of Sweden to South Africa said “Clean, reliable electricity is a cornerstone of effective health service delivery. From powering vaccines cold chains and essential medical equipment to providing lighting for safe deliveries of newborns, energy access directly supports sexual and reproductive health and rights services. This partnership is a testament of Sweden’s commitment to advancing health equity through sustainable energy solutions, using innovative financing approaches and partnerships with private sector.”

The financing model aims to address the primary reason previous solar electrification efforts have failed: insufficient funding for system maintenance. CHAI will provide technical assistance to help governments secure and blend private and public financing, ensuring sustainable operations. CHAI will work with governments to mobilize new funding over the next several years. The funding will be used to electrify health facilities across the region.

CHAI CEO Dr. Neil Buddy Shah emphasized the initiative’s comprehensive approach: “Reliable electricity is essential for any functioning health system. One of the biggest challenges we’ve seen is solar infrastructure falling into disrepair because maintenance costs weren’t properly funded. This new financing model changes that—it’s designed to ensure sustainable operations over the long term, so doctors and nurses can focus on saving lives rather than worrying about power outages.”

Sweden and CHAI have worked together for over a decade in seven countries across Africa to strengthen health systems in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights. The new solar program is part of this broader partnership and will leverage the existing network of health financing advisors that CHAI has working across those countries.

“Our health financing advisors have been working alongside governments for years,” said Raphael Hurley, Senior Director of Health Financing at CHAI. “This means we understand each health system’s unique needs and can structure solar investments that align with national plans.”

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About the Clinton Health Access Initiative: The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a nonprofit global health organization committed to saving lives and improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries by enabling the government and private sector to strengthen and sustain quality health systems. Through our collaboration with Sida, we work with governments in Africa to strengthen health systems in support of sexual and reproductive health rights. For more information, visit https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/.

About the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria: The Embassy of Sweden in South Africa represents the Swedish government in the Republic of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho.  The Embassy is also responsible for the cooperation with the regional organization SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) with its head office in Gaborone, Botswana.  The Embassy is responsible for Sweden’s foreign and trade policy promotion and diplomatic, cultural, commercial and trade exchanges between Sweden and South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho. To implement the Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Africa 2022-2026 the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has a team based at the Embassy in Pretoria.

25 February 2025: As part of the Ford Foundation’s broader mission to combat inequality around the globe, the foundation has initiated a multi-faceted, five-year initiative to support the advancement of Africa’s just energy transition. The initiative brings together partners based in and working across Africa to advance equitable and just energy transitions. Supported by three Ford Foundation programs (Natural Resources and Climate Justice, Civic Engagement and Government, and Future of Workers), this initiative recognizes that a just energy transition is a whole-of-society endeavor that must respect human and environmental rights, promote sustainable development and economic justice, reduce poverty and inequality, and create decent work and quality jobs.

This initiative recognizes that as African countries initiate their respective energy transitions, they will display a range of approaches and needs. These differences emerge from the unique contexts of their transitions and the different impacts on various stakeholders. A just energy transition will not come from a one-size-fits-all approach; social, economic, and environmental justice—underpinned by inclusion, transparency, and rights protection—must be at the core of its design, ambition, and implementation.

“Energy transitions will have systemic, far-reaching consequences with differing impacts on various communities, sectors, and more. Working with diverse partners from across civil society, labour, government, and the private sector, this initiative aims to support multi-stakeholder processes of negotiating this distribution of losses and gains in an equitable way that advances climate justice and delivers social and economic development,” said Emmanuel Kuyole, Ford Foundation program officer, Natural Resources and Climate Justice in the Office of West Africa.

“A just and viable transition must include all voices from civil society, Indigenous communities, and those protecting the environment, as well as address different justice claims, and any alternative peaceful views must not be criminalized or punished,” said Otto Saki, Ford Foundation program officer, Civic Engagement and Government International.

This initiative brings together a diverse group of partner organizations that will navigate and respond to competing definitions of justice through grants, convenings, learning, and research. It will help nurture the broad-based societal coalitions, made up of civil society organizations, policymakers, the private sector, and others, that are needed to advance transformative action that puts Africa on a path towards a more equitable and inclusive low-carbon development trajectory. Additionally, this initiative will prioritize impacts on historically excluded communities and workers and embed gender justice and feminist thinking and approaches.

“A just energy transition needs to be worker-centered and gender-transformative in order to be truly just,” said Ghada Abdel Tawab, Ford Foundation senior program officer, Future of Work(ers). In that sense, the need for social dialogue and negotiation is at the heart of the fund’s mission to catalyze broad social coalitions that can agree on how to balance impacts on communities with different— and often conflicting— justice claims.

In collaboration with Ford’s Office of Strategy and Learning, the initiative will also produce analytical pieces and case studies that will provide evidence and reflections on what it means to center justice in energy transitions. Through this collaborative effort, where the different strengths of partners are leveraged in the interest of furthering the just transition, the collective influence and expertise of these organizations will support decision-making that keeps the well-being of those most affected by the transition at the forefront.

“Successful just energy transitions that reduce inequalities will require agreements in which the voices of the majority of—and ideally all—societal actors are represented and have some degree of power, but also in which all actors are prepared to compromise, and in that way build a broad coalition in support of these transitions,” said Anthony Bebbington, Ford Foundation International Director, Natural Resources and Climate Justice.

The five main partners for this initiative were selected to tackle specific challenges surrounding the just energy transition in Africa:

• The Coalition for Human Rights in Development (CHRD): A worldwide Global South association of movements, communities, and organizations that demands accountability from DFIs, governments, and corporations.
• Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP): An organization based in Ghana that works to improve economic transformation and inclusive sustainable development in Africa’s extractive governance space.
• The African Climate Foundation (ACF): An organization based in South Africa that focuses on developing, supporting, elevating, and catalyzing climate action across Africa through grants, research, technical assistance, and targeted advocacy.
• The International Trade Union Confederation Just Transition Center (JTC): An organization that brings together workers, businesses, and governments in social dialogue to ensure that labor is actively engaged in planning for a just transition.
• ENDA Energie: A Senegal-based nonprofit with the objective of supporting and guiding communities through transition processes towards lasting and sustainable development.

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About The Ford Foundation: Is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

27 February 2025: On the sidelines of the Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) 2025, the Agence française de développement (AFD) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) announce the signing of a statement of intent to strengthen their collaboration in accelerating universal access to sustainable and affordable energy in sub-Saharan Africa.

This initiative is part of Mission 300, a large-scale program led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, aiming to electrify 300 million people in Africa by 2030. The signing of this statement marks a decisive step in mobilizing public and private sector stakeholders to address the continent’s energy challenges.

A Structuring Partnership to Transform Energy Access in Africa

This partnership is built on four key strategic pillars. First, a strengthened strategic dialogue to align priorities, with the establishment of an annual dialogue and joint participation in international events to mobilize additional funding. Second, the mobilization of new financing through innovative mechanisms to catalyze investments and support local financial institutions in financing energy sector businesses.

Innovation is also at the heart of this collaboration. AFD and SEforALL will organize an innovation challenge in Nigeria in 2026 to reinforce the European Union co-financed Digital Energy program (an initiative under the Global Gateway strategy) in order to accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s electricity sector. Additionally, both organizations will explore the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence applied to energy, optimizing efficiency and infrastructure management. Finally, AFD and SEforALL will work to integrate existing initiatives, particularly through SEforALL’s Universal Energy Facility (UEF), while mobilizing SMEs, start-ups, and local operators to ensure the viability and impact of electrification projects.

Turning Political Ambitions into Concrete Solutions

Through this partnership, AFD and SEforALL reaffirm their commitment to translating political ambitions into concrete solutions. By combining their expertise and leveraging their respective networks, both organizations aim to play a key role in implementing a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa.

This strategic partnership with SEforALL is a major step forward in accelerating energy access in Africa. Building on the commitments made by France, through the AFD Group, at the Mission 300 Summit in Dar-es-Salaam, we aim to combine our efforts, stimulate innovation, mobilise finance and provide concrete solutions for populations still without electricity. said Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of AFD Group.

AFD’s support to SDG7 is testament to its commitment to advancing the global energy transition in a just and inclusive manner. AFD and SEforALL recognize the need for stronger collaboration to promote sustainable energy solutions, mobilize financing, and enhance knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful impact in the energy sector. I am particularly pleased about the resonance between our initiatives and our forthcoming cooperation. Damilola Ogunbiyi, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN Energy.

19 March 2025: Solarcool, an innovative startup harnessing solar cooling technology to drive decarbonisation, has successfully concluded its participation in the prestigious Energy Camp 2025, sponsored by GET.invest. The event, held from March 14 to 19, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, provided Solarcool with a platform to demonstrate its potential to create significant environmental and economic impact, while calling for increased support from donors and investors to scale its operations.

As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, Solarcool’s cutting-edge solar cooling technology offers a sustainable solution to one of the most energy-intensive sectors: cooling. By replacing traditional, carbon-heavy cooling systems with renewable energy-powered alternatives, Solarcool is poised to make a measurable impact on global decarbonisation efforts.

Solarcool’s technology reduces reliance on fossil fuels by utilising solar energy for cooling, significantly lowering carbon emissions by promoting clean energy adoption in small businesses and households.

With cooling demand projected to triple globally by 2050, Solarcool is positioned to capture a significant share of the growing market for sustainable cooling solutions. The startup’s participation in the Energy Camp 2025 has validated its business model and prepared it for rapid growth with the right investment and support. Solarcool has already demonstrated its ability to innovate and adapt, earning recognition from industry leaders and experts during the camp.

Christopher Nwatu Edeh, founder of Solarcool, emphasised the importance of donor and investor support: “The Energy Camp 2025 has been a turning point for Solarcool. We have refined our strategy, built valuable connections, and proven the viability of our technology. Now, we need the support of forward-thinking donors and investors to scale our impact and bring sustainable cooling solutions to communities and industries worldwide. Together, we can drive decarbonisation and create a cleaner, cooler future.”

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About Solarcool: Solarcool is a Lagos-based startup dedicated to advancing decarbonisation through solar cooling technology. By harnessing renewable energy, Solarcool provides sustainable cooling solutions that reduce carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and support climate action.

The Startup|Energy initiative builds on the long-standing activities of the Stiftung Solarenergie – Solar Energy Foundation (Freiburg) to promote indigenous solar companies in Africa. Together with the University of Freiburg, Startup Energy offers a novel accelerator program for energy startups.

About GET.invest: GET.invest is a European programme that mobilises investment in renewable energy, co-funded by the European Union, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria.

The Solar Energy Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Germany that has been working for more than 20 years to promote decentralised solar power in sub-Saharan Africa.

1 April 2025: Access to electricity in Zambia has risen from 30% in 2017 to currently nearly 50%. Whilst half of the population is connected, the remaining half will require new energy solutions. Zambia currently relies on hydropower for 80% its electricity generation, but recent droughts have shown the limitations of this energy source.

In collaboration with the World Bank, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Africa Minigrid Development Association (AMDA), and other partners, the Government of Zambia is redoubling its efforts to invest in off-grid solar energy throughout the country to connect all Zambians.

“Our target is to have at least 200 solar mini-grids operational by 2030, ensuring that every rural district in Zambia has access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity,” said Makozo Chikote, Minister of Energy of Zambia.

Solar home systems, which are rooftop solar panels that provide electricity for lighting, charging phones and running certain appliances, and mini grids, which are solar electricity generation and storage plants that provide electricity to whole villages – have the potential to reach 8.5 million Zambians currently still without electricity. However, while they are the cheapest and easiest way to connect remote populations, developers are facing technical and financial obstacles.

A conference, organized by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), COMESA and AMDA from April 1st to the 3rd in Lusaka, is bringing together mini grid developers, financiers, government representatives and development partners to look at the progress made in mini grid technologies and to discuss remaining impediments to their rapid deployment.

“Energy access changes people’s lives. It improves health and quality of life and helps create jobs and livelihoods that lift people out of poverty. The World Bank Group is partnering with the African Development Bank and other partners on Mission 300, an ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 and accelerate development and poverty reduction. In Zambia, Mission 300 includes supporting an acceleration of the deployment of distributed renewable energy,” noted Achim Fock, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia.

With an average of 24 inhabitants per square kilometer, Zambia is amongst the least densely populated countries in the world, making electricity grid extension challenging and costly. The World Bank is supporting Zambia’s electricity access initiatives, including the development of mini-grids, through projects like the Electricity Services Access Project (ESAP) and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector Project (ZTIP), aiming to expand access to affordable and sustainable energy.

3 April 2025: In a significant milestone for off-grid solar and global efforts to combat climate change, d.light has successfully mitigated 40 million tons of carbon dioxide—equivalent to the total annual emissions of Norway. This achievement emphasizes the crucial role off-grid solar plays in reducing global carbon footprints, particularly in regions where access to clean energy remains a challenge.

Since its inception, d.light has provided solar-powered solutions to off-grid communities, benefiting over 190 million people. Its products, including solar home systems, solar inverters, clean cookstoves, and energy-efficient appliances, offer a cleaner and more affordable alternative to kerosene lamps and biomass fuels. These solutions not only reduce CO₂ emissions, they alleviate indoor air pollution, save rural households money on fuel expenses, and reduce deforestation.

The growing impact of off-grid solar is underscored by its inclusion among the top 10 global solutions for carbon mitigation, as recognized by Project Drawdown. According to Drawdown’s Table of Solutions, tracking two separate scenarios, distributed (off-grid) solar and clean cooking rank as two of the most effective strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. “Drawdown Scenario 1 is roughly in line with 2˚C temperature rise by 2100, while Drawdown Scenario 2 is roughly in-line with 1.5˚C temperature rise at century’s end.” The recognition highlights how widespread adoption of these solutions is essential for achieving the global climate goals.

In addition to mitigating carbon emissions, off-grid solar is also contributing to significant economic benefits. d.light’s solutions empower underserved communities by enabling income generation, job creation, and the growth of small businesses. By expanding access to clean energy, d.light is helping to create a more sustainable and resilient future for millions of people. The progress in measuring the impact of off-grid solar has been enhanced by updated standards, such as those introduced by the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA). The latest version of GOGLA’s impact metrics—Version 4.0—provides a more refined picture of off-grid solar’s environmental, economic, and social benefits. This includes tracking customer location, job creation, and a deeper understanding of regional variations in solar adoption, with a focus on East and West Africa, and South Asia.

As the industry continues to evolve, these metrics will offer a clearer view of the transformative effects of solar energy solutions in combating climate change, driving economic development, and improving lives. For d.light, these advancements highlight the broader impact of its products—beyond reducing carbon emissions, they foster financial independence and social development in some of the world’s most underserved regions.

Despite these significant strides, the global need for clean energy access remains vast, with nearly a billion people still relying on kerosene for lighting and traditional stoves for cooking. Expanding affordable, off-grid solar solutions remains critical to closing this energy access gap and accelerating global efforts toward a low-carbon future.

As d.light continues to lead the way, the growing recognition of off-grid solar and clean cooking as key solutions in the fight against climate change marks a pivotal moment. With the right investment and policy support, off-grid solar has the potential to power a sustainable, equitable future for communities around the world.

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About d.light: Founded in 2007 at Stanford in California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold 35 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 190 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people with sustainable products by 2030. For more information, visit https://www.dlight.com.

3 April 2025: The report Beyond Silos: Strengthening Nexus Collaboration to Power Food Systems with Off-Grid Solar addresses the intertwined nature of energy use, efficiency, sustainability, and productivity of food systems in Africa, and calls for greater collaboration and ‘nexus’ approaches to maximize impact on food security.

The authors are a consortium of partners across the food systems and energy sectors, including GOGLA, IRENA, Efficiency for Access, GAIN, AGRA, GIZ, SNV and Wageningen University Research, with support from the IKEA Foundation.

Effective collaboration between food systems and the off-grid solar sector is crucial for transforming agricultural productivity and uplifting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who produce the majority of the food in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper forges a vital link between energy and agricultural stakeholders, deepening their mutual understanding of priorities and challenges. By aligning efforts, we can help accelerate innovation, strengthen food security, and make agriculture more climate-resilient.Jakub Vrba, Senior Research Lead, Energy Saving Trust, co-secretariat Efficiency for Access.

Africa’s goal to become food secure in the next decade, outlined in the recent Kampala Declaration includes transforming the continent’s agri-food systems and increasing agrifood output by 45% by 2035. However, smallholder farmers—who produce up to 80% of the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa—lack essential infrastructure, with more than two-thirds of rural communities still without electricity, restricting agricultural productivity, hindering economic growth, food security and rural resilience.

Off-grid solar energy, including irrigation, cooling and agri-processing solutions, is the quickest and most cost-effective solution for almost half of the people living without electricity today. It offers a stepping stone to clean, decentralized, and sustainable energy access for productive use, inclusive economic opportunities and growth.

It is already being used by 700,000 farmers, increasing their productivity year-round despite seasonal droughts, enabling access to new markets, increasing the value of their produce and benefitting communities with increased nutritional value in food.

Where the majority of food is produced by smallholder farmers without energy access, off-grid solar offers an opportunity to increase yield, productivity and economic growth. More broadly, through clean energy access we are decreasing reliance on fossil fuel and creating more sustainable food systems. Sarah Malm, Executive Director, GOGLA.

To reach its potential of serving 32 millions farmers and deliver optimal outcomes, food systems and energy sector stakeholders need to work together, learn from one another and build a common language and approach to integrating off-grid solar in food systems.

As global challenges grow more complex, this paper highlights the need for collaboration across sectors to build sustainable food systems. It brings together diverse expertise to find common ground, explore ways of working together, and showcase real-world examples of how integrated solutions can drive impact. The focus is clear: fast-tracking collaborative action to support smallholder farmers and value chain actors in producing and consuming food more efficiently and sustainably.Martijn Veen, Global Head of the Energy Sector, SNV.

Connecting technology push from the clean energy domain to the needs of agricultural development in LMICs requires mutual understanding and alignment to lead to effective interventions such as irrigation, processing, or cooling. This white paper creates awareness of the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach aimed at synergy to create sustainable impact.Jan Verschoor, Senior researcher/Consultant Postharvest Technology, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research.

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About GOGLA: GOGLA is the global association for the off-grid solar energy industry, representing over 200 members working to transform lives through clean, affordable, and high-quality solar products and services. More than 560 million climate-vulnerable people already benefit from off-grid solar to power their homes, farms, enterprises and public infrastructure. With the right support, our industry is poised to scale rapidly, aiming to improve the lives of 1 billion people by 2030. GOGLA drives this progress by serving as a central hub for the sector, offering vital market data, advocating for supportive policies and increased investment, and providing value-added services to our members. For more information, visit https://gogla.org/.

7 April 2025: Two years after launching their collaboration on solar projects in sub-Saharan Africa, EWIA Green Investments GmbH (EWIA), SunErgy GmbH, and KGAL have decided to convert their partnership into a merger. Under the terms of a new agreement, EWIA will acquire all shares in SunErgy. In turn, SunErgy’s existing shareholders will take stakes in EWIA Green Investments GmbH. The merger aims to establish a leading solar provider for Africa, overseeing projects from planning and financing to implementation.

“Investments in solar and infrastructure drive growth and prosperity in Africa while countering the climate crisis,” said Ralph Schneider, Managing Director of EWIA. “Simultaneously, this market offers unparalleled potential for investors globally.”

“With an average age of 19, Africa is not only the continent with the youngest population but also the one with the greatest growth opportunities,” emphasizes Dr. Alexander Ergenzinger, Investment Manager at SunErgy’s main shareholder KGAL, and Managing Director of SunErgy GmbH.

600 million people on the continent still have to manage completely without electricity supply. In many African countries, high and steadily rising electricity prices, combined with frequent, prolonged power outages, pose a severe challenge to the economy and social stability. These outages must be compensated for with expensive diesel generators (costing approximately €0.50–0.80/kWh) – an unsatisfactory situation both economically and ecologically.

Africa, the solar continent

Due to its proximity to the equator and an annual sunshine duration ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 hours, sub-Saharan Africa boasts enormous potential for solar energy generation.

SunErgy was founded in Norway in 2010 and aims to provide communities in emerging markets with off-grid solar energy through small turnkey solar power plants that are connected directly to customers’ buildings via their own power grid, so-called mini-grids.

Synergy thanks to SunErgy

SunErgy complements EWIA’s business. To date, the company has focused on selling solar systems to commercial and industrial customers under a solar-as-a-service model tailored for medium-sized enterprises. EWIA manages the planning, financing, construction, and operation of these systems, which are designed to largely self-finance through cumulative savings on diesel and grid electricity costs for customers. Geographically, operations have centred on Ghana and Nigeria. Following the acquisition, EWIA now employs 76 people.

Mini Grids for villages in Cameroon

SunErgy’s activities have so far been organized through SunErgy GmbH in Germany and its two subsidiaries in Cameroon, SunErgy Ltd. and 2 Mites Ltd. SunErgy Cameroon is responsible for the construction and operation of solar power plants in Cameroon, as well as for building solar power plants in other African countries. In September 2014, the company signed an agreement with the Republic of Cameroon to supply solar power to 92 villages in the southwest region, encompassing approximately 115,000 families (600,000 people), as well as schools, health centres, and private and public enterprises. Twelve municipalities have now been electrified through the construction of mini-grids.

“The merger of EWIA and SunErgy is a meaningful step toward realising our strategy of becoming one of the leading providers of solar solutions for sub-Saharan Africa,” affirms Ralph Schneider. “In addition to geographical expansion and diversification into the stand-alone solutions market, another crucial factor is that, with shareholders like KGAL, we gain established and experienced investors and investment professionals with proven expertise in the infrastructure sector, which constitutes a substantial enhancement.”

“KGAL has been providing investors with investment strategies in the renewable energy sector for over 20 years,” adds Michael Ebner, Managing Director of Asset and Portfolio Management at KGAL. “We are pleased to entrust SunErgy to EWIA and support the company’s continued growth. The African renewable energy market offers impact investors a wide array of opportunities.”

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About EWIA Green Investments: EWIA provides small and medium-sized businesses in Africa with access to clean solar energy and serves as a bridge builder to investors in Europe as well as for the transfer of technology know-how. Based in Munich, Germany, with operating entities in Ghana and Nigeria, EWIA offers private and institutional investors access to attractive impact investments in the fight against climate change and for sustainable economic growth in Africa. With EWIA’s flexible full-service financing solution, companies in Africa have the opportunity to obtain solar power, financing, security and service from a single source. In the infrastructure sector, EWIA funds and constructs mobile phone communication masts and traffic monitoring systems and equips them with PV systems. For more information, visit https://www.ewiainvestments.com/.

14 April 2025: Swiss solar water pump innovator ENNOS and Ugandan technology and electronics manufacturing leader INNOVEX have officially launched a groundbreaking partnership aimed at addressing water scarcity in rural and developing regions.

The partnership was inaugurated by Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, on 10th April 2025, at the Deep Tech Centre of Excellence located in Namanve Industrial Park, Uganda. In her address, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero stated, “The Government of Uganda warmly welcomes this innovative partnership. This smart solar water pumping solution enables rural farmers to affordably acquire irrigation systems through installments, thereby enhancing productivity. It further paves the way for scaling irrigation-as-a-service, significantly improving agricultural output and rural livelihoods. On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I endorse this partnership wholeheartedly and formally launch it”.

Speaking at the event, Douglas Baguma, Managing Director of Innovex, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: “This partnership marks a historic milestone in Uganda’s technological and manufacturing landscape. It demonstrates our commitment to realising African business potential through local technological advancement. By locally manufacturing high-value components, we’re creating employment opportunities, driving innovation, and enabling sustainable economic growth. This aligns perfectly with our vision of empowering communities through cutting-edge, locally developed technology solutions.”

Karin Jeanneret Vezzini, CEO of ENNOS, further commented on the strategic significance of the partnership: “By combining ENNOS’s globally recognized solar water pump controller technology with INNOVEX’s advanced remote monitoring capabilities (REMOT platform), we offer an unmatched solution for efficient, affordable, and sustainable water access. Imagine optimized pump performance, proactive remote management, and actionable data-driven insights—all contributing to sustainable electrification, increased agricultural productivity, and a greener future.”

This partnership is more than just a business collaboration—it represents a fusion of Swiss technological precision and Ugandan innovation, designed specifically to deliver tangible impacts and set new industry standards in solar water solutions. Already, the partnership has secured an initial order of 2,000 units, scheduled for delivery by the end of December 2025. This landmark collaboration has also created 30 direct high-value jobs at launch, with projections indicating a fivefold growth in employment over the next five years. By 2030, the partnership aims to export over 100,000 IoT-enabled solar pumps, significantly contributing to Uganda’s economy through foreign exchange earnings and attracting additional investments.

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About ENNOS AG: ENNOS AG, headquartered in Switzerland, specializes in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of market-leading solar water pump technologies. Their solutions emphasize efficiency, reliability, and affordability, primarily benefiting rural and developing regions globally.

About INNOVEX (U) Ltd: INNOVEX Uganda Ltd is a premier Ugandan electronics manufacturer and technology provider known for its proprietary REMOT IoT monitoring platform. Based in Kampala, Innovex delivers world-class electronics manufacturing services and innovative digital solutions to advance renewable energy adoption and economic development across Africa.