Country programme that expands rural household energy access by catalysing private sector innovation and investment and government support in Mozambique. It aims to increase domestic and business energy solutions through the supply of household solar, mini-grids, and improved cooking technologies. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is led by the World Bank and aims to support activities within the energy access sector globally by delivering critical international market data and sector tracking products, on a cost-sharing basis with multiple donor bilateral and philanthropic partners. ESMAP tools include the SDG 7 Tracking Framework, the Multi-Tier Framework for Energy Access, the Regulatory Index for Sustainable Energy (RISE), and the Global Electrification Platform. ESMAP develops and maintains specialised energy datasets and analysis relevant across the Ayrton Fund’s scope. ESMAP also delivers training and advice to World Bank Task Team Leaders and client Governments on emerging energy technologies and related policies, and capacity building for national statistical offices in monitoring and tracking SDG 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 indicators. ESMAP is supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform and the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme.
MGTS-AR is creating an enhanced standardised mini-grid tool to streamline the tariff process for regulators and developers. It aims to close the gap between regulators and developers through a consultation process. Through the tool, both regulators and developers can build a profile of projects, which enables them to benchmark the data. The tariff settlement process will also allow for off-grid energy tariffs that are attractive to investors. Led by the African Forum for Utilities Regulations (AFUR), this project is supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.
Support to innovative energy and agricultural technology businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia via the Shell Foundation Catalysing Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems (CASEE) project, strengthening energy, agriculture, and food systems, and boosting the productivity, income, and resilience of smallholder farmers. This project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. It will support UK researchers and innovators to work with international partners on some of the most pressing themes of our time. ISPF will give researchers and innovators access to global talent, large-scale facilities, research ecosystems and markets to swiftly move forward ideas to greater maturity, applicability, and commercialisation. It will stimulate research impact in line with the UK’s ambition to become a global science and tech superpower. This programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
ISPF funding opportunities are published on individual ISPF partner websites (available in the link above) and target regions vary from partner to partner.
Energy Catalyst, led by Innovate UK, is a well-established open call grant funding programme that runs in regular tranches to support innovators to develop new technologies and business models that can improve lives in Africa and Asia. Energy Catalyst accelerates the innovation needed to end energy poverty through both financial and advisory (incubation) support, and by building strategic partnerships and uncovering new insights. Energy Catalyst is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The Innovation Lab develops new cost-reducing innovations with the potential to significantly reduce mini-grid levelised cost of energy (LCOE). It seeks to demonstrate the impact of these innovations in the real world and raise funding for the innovations to achieve national scale impact. The Innovation Lab is delivered by CrossBoundary and supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.
The Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access (GGE-EA) project, part of the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, aims to accelerate the deployment of mini-grids in Africa, increasing the use of affordable decentralised clean energy options for poor households and enterprises. GGE-EA delivers peer-to-peer learning opportunities to build the capacity of rural electrification officials, improve understanding of challenges and opportunities for mini-grid deployment, and support the development of new bankable mini-grid projects. GGE-EA is coordinated by the African Association for Rural Electrification (CLUB-ER), in partnership with SouthSouthNorth.
Programme designed to build Ukrainian resilience to external threats to its energy security and lay the groundwork for a cleaner, more independent energy sector post-war. It includes a £16 million Energy Security Innovation Challenge Fund that will take forward UK-led innovations and proposals for applied research that can modernise Ukraine’s energy sector, launched in June 2023. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Follow the link provided to keep updated regarding future open funding windows.
The Transforming Energy Access Learning Partnership (TEA-LP) is a partnership of universities committed to delivering professional graduates ready to drive the transition to sustainable energy access for all. TEA-LP provides courses for local current and future professionals in the energy access sector and aims to build on its network of 30 higher education institutions in 18 countries across Africa and the Indo-Pacific and make linkages to other energy access organisations and the private sector. It is also provides continuous professional development (CPD) courses (including a dedicated ‘Future Female Leaders in Energy’ course). TEA-LP also seeks to strengthen ‘South-South’ academic networks for energy access. This initiative is delivered under the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform by the University of Cape Town.