Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) has announced Sh639m (€4.26 million) in new grants to 22 clean technology companies across sub-Saharan
Africa, marking its largest funding round to date.
The announcement follows a record-breaking number of
applications—613 in total—demonstrating a surge in demand for support in
scaling productive use of renewable energy (PURE) solutions on the continent.
The latest round drew over €115 million in funding requests,
with entrepreneurs committing an additional Sh11bn (€73 million) in co-financing.
The selected companies span sectors such as solar-powered
food processing, water access, electric mobility, digital platforms, and clean
cooking. Individual grants range from Sh15.2m (€100,000) to nearly Sh45.6m (€300,000,) with
projects expected to run between 12 and 24 months.
The programme, implemented by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4
Impact (part of Mercy Corps), is funded by UK aid through the Transforming
Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation.
Eight of the selected projects focus on reducing
post-harvest losses and boosting food value chains.
In Kenya, for instance, Agsol Kenya will deploy
solar-powered grain mills under a pay-as-you-go model, while Synnefa Green is
offering solar-powered dryers with digital tracking tools.
In Uganda and Nigeria, women-led companies like Novel Farm
and Green Eden Farms are rolling out solar cooling systems and cold storage
hubs for smallholder farmers.
Another five projects target climate-smart water solutions.
In Kenya, startups such as Irri Hub Ke and Delish &
Nutri are introducing solar irrigation systems with flexible repayment plans.
Nigeria’s Spunvertek will offer solar pumps under lease-to-own
models with repayments in-kind.
Meanwhile, Kijani Testing is setting up a dedicated quality
assurance facility for solar pump users.
In the e-mobility space, five companies are advancing
electric motorcycle and three-wheeler solutions.
These include Kenya’s Kiri EV, which will support boda boda
riders with credit and charging infrastructure, and Stima Mobility, which is
piloting an interoperable battery-swapping network. Ethiopia’s S&Y
Electrical Material will focus on local assembly of electric tuk-tuks.
PREO also selected innovations in digital platforms and
clean cooking. Kenya’s GreenBay Market will launch a marketplace for certified,
energy-efficient appliances, while Feion Green Ventures will provide electric
cookers to institutions through a cooking-as-a-service model.
Richa Goyal of the IKEA Foundation said the projects
supported through PREO reflect “innovative, climate-smart solutions that
improve incomes and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.”
UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte added:
“The clean energy transition is the greatest economic
opportunity of our time. Through PREO, we’re backing local innovators to
deliver the clean energy solutions their communities need.”
The selected projects are expected to build evidence for
scalable business models that drive rural development, support livelihoods, and
attract private investment into Africa’s growing clean energy sector.
