Renewable Energy

Our Programmes

Renewable Energy

Today, sub-Saharan Africa is home to three quarters of the global population without electricity. Within the region, as of 2019, 580 million people had no access to energy.

Population growth in Africa continues to drive demand for alternative sources of light and power. These sources are necessary across a whole spectrum of uses, from basic electricity requirements to productive power technologies. Clean cooking solutions are also essential to household health and wellbeing.

Over the past ten years, we have supported 145 companies across three regions and 14 countries through our Renewable Energy and Adaptation to Climate Technologies (REACT) portfolio. In this time, our funding commitment has expanded from US$10.9 million in 2010 to US$80.48 million in 2020.

We are technology agnostic, but we focus our support on the manufacture and distribution of:

Productive use technologies including energy for agriculture, lighting, cooling, commercial and industrial use.
Electrical renewable and decentralised technologies including solar PV, biogas, pico-hydro, biomass technologies, and electrical hybrid systems powered by a renewable energy source.
Clean, cleaner and improved thermal solutions including LPG, ethanol, biogas and briquette-based applications, for domestic, social and productive uses.

Beyond capital, we provide technical support and market development towards realising systemic change. We also improve the operating environment for private sector delivery of access to energy, working closely with in-country, and regional partners.

Ongoing Programmes

Energy for Sustainable Growth in Somalia (ESGS)

The Energy for Sustainable Growth in Somalia (ESGS) is a four-year market development programme (2026–2029) funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented by the AECF. The programme accelerates sustainable socio-economic development and strengthens climate resilience in Somalia by expanding access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

REACT 2.0 Regional - Digital Innovation Fund for Energy & Climate Programme (DIFEC)

The Digital Innovation Fund for Energy and Climate (DIFEC) is a regional three-year programme designed to unlock the potential of digital technologies to accelerate clean energy access and strengthen climate resilience across Sub-Saharan Africa.

REACT 2.0 Ethiopia

REACT 2.0 Ethiopia programme aims to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development and improved climate resilience for underserved markets in Ethiopia.

The Energy Transition Challenge Fund (ETCF)

The Energy Transition Challenge Fund (ETCF) is a five-year programme supporting Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, which outlines pathways for transitioning the power, industry, and residential sectors.

REACT 2.0 Kenya

The Renewable Energy and Climate Technologies programme (REACT 2.0) is a 4-year initiative implemented by the AECF in Kenya and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), which aims to reduce energy poverty, environmental degradation and resource depletion, and contribute to economic growth and increased employment opportunities.

PROSSEV Burkina Faso

The Promotion of Solar Solutions to Stimulate Green Employment in Burkina Faso (PROSSEV-BF) is a EUR 1.7 million initiative, financed by the Luxembourg Cooperation through LuxDev, which provides a combination of grants and technical assistance to private companies with the ambition to green their production facilities.

Tanzania Clean Cooking Project

The Tanzania Clean Cooking Project (TCCP) is a US$3.75 million three-year project that aims to catalyse the clean cooking sector through enhanced private sector participation.

REACT SSA

Our REACT Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) programme aims to bring the benefits of clean energy to off-grid, low-income households.

REACT SSA Somalia and Somaliland

The REACT SSA Somalia and Somaliland programme is a US$ 8.5 million fund that seeks to reduce poverty through a transformational increase in the use of renewable energy by off-grid households in the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Somaliland.

REACT RBF

REACT Results-Based Financing (RBF) funded by Sida, is targeting energy companies in Kenya. It aims to expand access to low-cost clean energy for households across the country, with additional incentives for companies to reach the poorest families.

REACT Kenya Relief Fund

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in June 2020 we launched the Kenya REACT Relief Fund to award emergency finance to renewable energy companies that are meeting the energy needs of low-income off-grid households in Kenya.

Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund is a component of the AECF’s Renewable Energy and Adaptation to Climate Technologies Sub-Saharan Africa Programme (REACT SSA) a US$61 million project funded by Sida.

REACT EEP

REACT Efficient Electrification Project (EEP) is a partnership between the Ministry of Energy and The AECF, funded by the Swedish Embassy in Burkina Faso.

REACT Household Solar

Our REACT Household Solar (HS) Programme aims to increase energy access for low-income households, supporting private sector delivery of solar home system products and services.

Renewable Energy and Adaptation to Climate Change Window

Following the early success of AECF’s agriculture investment programmes, the same model was used to support the development of the private sector in renewable energy.