NAIROBI/LONDON, July 16 – Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) has announced €4.26 million in grant funding to 22 clean tech companies across sub-Saharan Africa, marking its sixth and largest funding round to date.
Delivered by the Carbon Trust and Mercy Corps’ Energy 4 Impact, and backed by UK aid and the IKEA Foundation, the programme aims to accelerate the productive use of renewable energy (PURE) in underserved markets.
The selected companies are developing solutions in food value chains, e-mobility, water systems, clean cooking, and digital platforms.
This latest call attracted 613 eligible applications—over 150 percent more than the previous African round—requesting over €115 million in total funding and offering €73 million in co-financing, reflecting rising interest in clean energy entrepreneurship on the continent.
Kenya Leads in Innovation
Kenya-based projects featured prominently. Agsol Kenya and Synnefa Green will roll out solar grain mills and smart solar dryers, respectively.
E-mobility firms like Kiri EV, Stima Mobility, and Ecobodaa are testing battery-swapping models and financing platforms for electric boda bodas.
In water access, Irri Hub Ke, Delish & Nutri, and SunCulture will deploy solar irrigation and purification systems.
Clean cooking innovators Feion Green Ventures and Zuhura are piloting new electric and hybrid solutions for institutional kitchens and street vendors.
Other notable projects include SolarWorks Energy’s night fishing finance model in Malawi, Novel Farm’s milk cooling systems in Uganda, and ZED Motors’ e-mobility expansion in Benin.
Focus on Scale and Resilience
Grants range from €100,000 to nearly €300,000, with selected firms expected to pilot new business models or adapt proven ones over 12 to 24 months. The aim is to test scalability, attract private capital, and deliver measurable livelihood and climate benefits.
“High-quality submissions underscore Africa’s growing clean tech capacity,” said Richa Goyal of the IKEA Foundation. “This funding round reflects the sector’s growing maturity and potential to attract more investment.”
