The United Kingdom has announced a significant investment of over £2 million in 10 clean energy projects across Nigeria and seven other African countries. These projects aim to provide reliable electricity for hospitals, telecommunications networks, agriculture, fishing communities, and small businesses. The initiative is backed by the UK Government's Ayrton Fund through the Transforming Energy Access platform.
The projects, announced by ZE-Gen, will be implemented in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Lesotho. They cover various sectors, including healthcare, telecommunications, food production, fisheries, rural electrification, mini-grids, and energy services for small businesses. In Nigeria, two projects have been identified: Farm Warehouse and KAMIM Technologies.
Farm Warehouse will deploy 100 solar-powered cold storage systems across major markets in Nigeria to help fish, meat, and dairy vendors reduce spoilage and improve incomes. The company's Chief Executive Officer, Kuma Mede, stated that reliable refrigeration should not be a luxury for small food businesses. The project combines solar power, refrigeration, and digital marketplace services to provide cold storage for small-scale food vendors.
KAMIM Technologies will establish four solar-powered agricultural hubs combining irrigation, cold storage, ice production, and grain processing. The project's goal is to help farmers and traders reduce losses and access wider markets without relying on diesel-powered equipment. The initiative is expected to demonstrate how clean energy can support essential services and businesses across Africa.
Other projects include Acele Africa's deployment of locally designed and assembled modular battery systems for healthcare facilities, schools, and small businesses in Kenya. In Uganda, Telford-based AceOn will deploy battery-first energy systems, including sodium-ion battery technology, for telecommunications infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and humanitarian operations.
The projects also involve SLS Energy's deployment of second-life electric vehicle batteries for telecom towers, healthcare facilities, and businesses in Rwanda; Simusolar's financed solar systems for rural businesses in Uganda and Tanzania; and Nanoé's expansion of interconnected solar nano-grids for households and businesses in Madagascar.
The 10 projects are expected to demonstrate how renewable energy and energy-storage technologies can provide more reliable power while supporting local businesses, essential services, and economic activity across weak-grid and off-grid communities. According to Lily Beadle, Programme Director of ZE-Gen, these projects show how clean energy can power the services and businesses people rely on every day.
Key points
- The UK has invested over £2 million in 10 clean energy projects across Nigeria and seven other African countries.
- The projects aim to provide reliable electricity for essential services and businesses, reducing dependence on fossil-fuel generators.
- The initiative is backed by the UK Government's Ayrton Fund through the Transforming Energy Access platform.
