Aed Energy
Modular thermal energy storage replacing coal-fired heat in mining and industry
PARTNERS:
Aed Energy; CENEC; CPE; Impala Platinum Mines; DNV UK
COUNTRY:
South Africa
TECHNOLOGY:
Other energy access technology
STAGE:
Late Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
Aed Energy is demonstrating a 10 MWh modular thermal energy storage system at an Impala Platinum site in South Africa. The system will use electricity to store energy as heat and deliver it on demand, replacing coal-fired heat in existing industrial processes while maintaining a continuous thermal supply. Working with CENEC, CPE and Impala Platinum Mines, with independent validation from DNV UK, the project will integrate and operate the technology under real industrial conditions. The pilot aims to establish a standardised, replicable model for lower-carbon and more resilient heat across mining, manufacturing, food processing and other heat-intensive sectors.
Eco Research Ltd
Integrated torrefaction BioHub producing bio-coal, heat, electricity and wood vinegar from agricultural waste
PARTNERS:
Eco Research Ltd; Northumbria University; Prime EuroTech Limited; University of Kamalia
COUNTRY:
Pakistan
TECHNOLOGY:
Other energy access technology
STAGE:
Mid Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
Eco Research Ltd is leading SAFER Plus, an integrated torrefaction BioHub that will convert cotton sticks and sugarcane bagasse into engineered bio-coal, thermal energy, electricity and wood vinegar. Located at the University of Kamalia in South Punjab, the demonstrator will test a locally repairable system designed to replace imported coal in brick kilns and industrial boilers, supply surplus heat to textile dyeing businesses and generate power for nearby users. The project will also establish a women-led agricultural waste supply chain, creating value from residues that are otherwise burned and contributing to cleaner air, energy security and rural livelihoods.
Electrogenos
Geothermal-coupled thermoneutral electrolysis for low-cost green hydrogen
PARTNERS:
Electrogenos; GEODESA – Geotérmica para el Desarrollo
COUNTRY:
Mexico
TECHNOLOGY:
Other energy access technology
STAGE:
Mid Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
Electrogenos is investigating whether geothermal heat and electricity can be combined with thermoneutral electrolysis to produce lower-cost green hydrogen. The GeoH2-Flex project will design and build the electrolyser system in the UK before installing and operating it at GEODESA’s Domo de San Pedro geothermal site in Nayarit, Mexico. By using geothermal heat to reduce the electrical energy required for electrolysis and testing flexible operating modes, the project will generate evidence on performance, durability and commercial viability. The approach could provide a replicable model for geothermal regions across Latin America and other emerging markets.
i-Renewable Energy
High-performance solar freezers with thermal storage and PAYGo finance
PARTNERS:
i-Renewable Energy; Amped Innovation; Upya; Wana Energy; Energising Africa
COUNTRY:
Uganda
TECHNOLOGY:
Sustainable cooling
STAGE:
Late Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
i-Renewable Energy is deploying EasyFreeze, a high-performance solar freezer designed to make reliable cold storage affordable for rural enterprises in Uganda. Developed by Amped Innovation, the system combines a high-power compressor with phase-change material thermal storage, reducing reliance on costly lithium battery banks while delivering rapid cooling in high ambient temperatures. The project will deploy and test new freezer formats through Wana Energy, integrate Upya’s pay-as-you-go software and use co-financing from Energising Africa to address upfront cost barriers. A local repair hub will support maintenance, green jobs and longer product life, with a focus on women-led enterprises and female technicians.
InvestinGreen
Modular biogas-to-power systems converting pig farming waste into reliable electricity
COUNTRY:
Colombia
TECHNOLOGY:
Other energy access technology
STAGE:
Early Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
InvestinGreen is supporting BioPower_PIG, a decentralised bioenergy system that converts pig manure into reliable electricity for small and medium-sized farms in Colombia’s Meta Department. The modular system integrates anaerobic digestion, low-cost biogas purification, predictive controls and power generation in a farm-adapted, plug-and-play design. Delivered with Universidad Santo Tomás and SPEAL S.A.S., the project will validate the technology under real operating conditions and develop an Energy-as-a-Service model to reduce upfront costs. It aims to improve farm productivity, strengthen waste management and reduce reliance on diesel and uncontrolled methane emissions.
Mobile Power (MOPO)
Next-generation smart batteries and simplified solar battery-swap infrastructure
PARTNERS:
Mobile Power; University of Sheffield; Mobile Power Liberia; Mobile Power Nigeria
COUNTRY:
Nigeria; Liberia; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Sierra Leone
TECHNOLOGY:
Leave no one behind
STAGE:
Late Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
Mobile Power is commercialising its next generation of smart battery systems for off-grid and weak-grid customers across sub-Saharan Africa. The project will advance MOPO Duo for electric two-wheelers, MOPO Plus for permanent household and business power, and the supporting MOPO Grid architecture. Its ‘dumb rack, smart battery’ design places bidirectional power-management intelligence inside each battery, simplifying charging hubs and enabling batteries to manage charging, solar integration and load balancing. Working with the University of Sheffield and MOPO’s African operations, the project will optimise the system and test lithium iron phosphate and sodium-ion batteries under real-world tropical conditions.
Pilio
Solar energy, microfinance and entrepreneurship for lower-carbon cotton production
PARTNERS:
Pilio; Sociedade Algodoeira do Niassa JFS
COUNTRY:
Mozambique
TECHNOLOGY:
Leave no one behind
STAGE:
Late Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
Pilio is working with Sociedade Algodoeira do Niassa JFS to design the Affordable Clean Environment Cotton programme in Mozambique. The project will expand access to on-farm and off-farm solar technologies across cotton-growing communities by combining clean energy with microfinance and local entrepreneurship. It will explore how productive-use technologies can reduce emissions associated with cotton production while strengthening farm resilience, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. By developing an approach tailored to conditions in Niassa Province, the partnership aims to establish a scalable model for decarbonising cotton value chains and widening access to affordable clean energy across African cotton-growing regions.
Pluto Manufacturing
Digitally monitored composite pipelines for hydrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide transport
PARTNERS:
Pluto Manufacturing; Hive Composites; Fuel Flex
COUNTRY:
South Africa
TECHNOLOGY:
Other energy access technology
STAGE:
Mid Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
RE5
Mobile solar DC energy services for rice-growing communities
PARTNERS:
RE5; Brunel University London; SAMA^Verte
COUNTRY:
Pakistan
TECHNOLOGY:
Leave no one behind
STAGE:
Early Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
RE5 is developing Clean & Affordable Energy for Rice (CAER), a supply-chain-linked model that enables food companies to support clean energy access in the rice-growing communities on which they depend. Working with Brunel University London and SAMA^Verte, the project will assess local energy needs and design and test a mobile solar DC unit for services including water pumping and filtration, phone charging and other productive uses. By linking UK rice buyers with communities in Sindh and Punjab, CAER aims to strengthen supply-chain resilience while establishing a scalable route to affordable, reliable and low-carbon energy.
University of Exeter
Appliance-level smart controls for guaranteed, subscription-based energy services
PARTNERS:
University of Exeter; ERAC Energy Limited; Rural Electrification Authority
COUNTRY:
Zambia
TECHNOLOGY:
Leave no one behind
STAGE:
Early Stage
FUNDING ROUND:
Round 11
The University of Exeter is working with ERAC Energy to develop Time-Responsive, Inclusive, and Appliance-Level Guaranteed Energy Services (TRIAGE), a new model for delivering affordable and reliable electricity through appliance-level service guarantees. Enabled by ERAC Energy’s Flexiload controller, households, businesses and community institutions will subscribe to defined outcomes, such as daily lighting, phone charging or continuous refrigeration, rather than paying for kilowatt-hours. The project will test the approach on a solar-battery microgrid in Mukunku, Zambia, co-designing service packages with the community and assessing whether demand prioritisation can reduce system size and cost while protecting essential services.