Programme focused on the development, testing, and deployment of methodologies that encourage innovation and use of technologies to address development challenges, including in the clean energy access sector. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Mini-Grid Funders Group (MGF) consists of ~30 sector funders and financiers (representing a total committed investment of around $1.8bn into mini grids globally) coordinating efforts and sharing lessons. The MGF is chaired by the World Bank, African Development Bank, and FCDO, with the Carbon Trust (through the Transforming Energy Access platform) acting as the Secretariat. The group’s objective is to deploy committed funding quickly and effectively to deliver clean energy access to as many unserved communities as possible via clean energy-based mini-grid electrification.
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.
The Mini-Grid Partnership (MGP), supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, aims to foster deeper collaboration and coordination amongst the mini-grid sector’s key players, to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy mini-grids in communities facing energy poverty challenges. It does this through:
– implementation and facilitation of the MGP Secretariat
– development, coordination and dissemination of two State of the Global Mini-Grids Market Report updates
– by connecting the MGP to wider distributed renewable energy sector efforts.
The Transforming Inclusive Energy Markets (TIME) partnership is led by the Shell Foundation and supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. TIME supports a just, inclusive, clean energy transition by accelerating the impact of pioneering enterprises and enabling intermediaries. The partnership takes an “ecosystem” approach, addressing core market barriers and bottlenecks for the sector (i.e., supply, demand, finance and institutions). It helps to de-risk the sector for new and emerging innovators and enterprises, by scaling up existing proven models and enterprises, piloting new models for market opportunities, reducing market barriers that constrain growth, and catalysing private investment. TIME offers much needed catalytic capital, combined with venture and market building support, to enable enterprises to progress from grant/repayable grant through to concessionary financing (including through partnerships with the likes of the US Development Finance Corporation and the UK’s British International Investment) and ultimately to commercial capital.
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).
Five-year regional programme focused on priority countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that includes a £50m contribution to the High Impact Partnership for Climate Action (HIPCA) – managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with an estimate of at least £25m for clean energy innovation/demonstration. The objective of HIPCA is to unleash investments and solutions that reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen resilience, including through clean energy innovations. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) is a demand-led, productive use of renewable energy (PURE) programme which stimulates partnerships, innovation and learning to address needs and improve livelihoods of sub-Saharan African communities. PREO has three key service functions: Action Learning Projects, Partnership Services, and Technical Assistance. These functions induce and support innovations that address current industry needs, consolidate fragmented efforts, and disseminate knowledge and learnings for the betterment of rural sub-Saharan African communities. PREO aims to grant-fund around 30 Action Learning Projects through open calls, seeking to create 3,500 jobs and benefiting more than 11,000 rural households.
Organisations wishing to be kept up to date on future rounds of PREO grant funding should visit the website to subscribe to the PREO newsletter. PREO is part of the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.