Powering Clean Energy Investment

Unlocking investment into locally-led clean energy enterprises

Across the Global South, locally-rooted enterprises are building the clean energy solutions communities urgently need. But many fall into the “missing middle” because they are too advanced for grant funding, yet too early or too small for mainstream investment.

Ashden’s Powering Clean Energy Investment (PCEI) programme helps bridge that gap. Through flexible grants, tailored technical assistance and hands-on investor engagement, we help high-potential enterprises strengthen their business fundamentals, improve investability and access the finance needed to scale.

Our portfolio spans inclusive climate solutions including energy access, productive-use energy, clean cooking, cooling and circular energy systems.

Explore our cohort of climate enterprises or reach out to Emily Benson for more information:

Our portfolio of clean energy climate enterprises

AceleAfrica

Scalable battery recycling and manufacturing for Africa’s energy transition

Africa’s energy transition depends not only on generating clean power, but on storing it reliably and affordably. Across the continent, more than 600 million people lack dependable electricity and millions more face frequent outages. As solar and distributed energy systems expand, demand for battery storage is rising rapidly, particularly in mini grids, commercial facilities and residential markets.

AceleAfrica is a Kenya based battery manufacturer building the local capacity to meet that demand. The company assembles lithium battery systems in Kenya for mini grids, commercial and industrial users, residential customers and emerging e mobility applications. By assembling battery packs locally, rather than importing finished systems, AceleAfrica reduces lead times, strengthens after-sales support and builds regional technical expertise.

Alongside first life battery manufacturing, the company tests, refurbishes and repurposes used battery cells into second life storage systems for less intensive applications. This approach lowers costs for customers, extends battery lifespan and reduces environmental waste at a time when end of life solar and EV batteries are increasing across the region.

AceleAfrica’s compression assembly technology also enables faster production and repairable battery design, allowing systems to be maintained, upgraded and recycled rather than discarded. The company provides strong warranty terms and local servicing, addressing a key gap in markets where imported batteries often lack reliable long term support.

Solar Freeze

Solar powered refrigeration and connectivity infrastructure for underserved markets in Kenya.

BuraSolutions

An integrated engineering company providing reliable, cost-effective clean energy solutions in Nigeria.

EcoBora

Solar electric kitchens for climate smart schools

Across Africa, an estimated 7.5 million metric tonnes of firewood are burned each year to prepare meals for students. Cooking with wood costs schools between USD 10,000 and 30,000 per year and can generate up to 700 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per school annually, while accelerating deforestation.

EcoBora replaces firewood kitchens with solar powered electric cooking systems built specifically for institutional use. The company installs solar arrays, lithium battery storage and high capacity electric boilers capable of preparing staple foods such as ugali, rice and githeri at scale. Systems range from 50 to 650 litres in capacity, with power ratings up to 14 kW, ensuring reliability for daily meal preparation.

The cooking stoves are locally manufactured in Kenya. EcoBora’s patented technology integrates smart meters that monitor energy consumption and carbon emission reductions in real time, creating transparent data for performance tracking and potential climate finance alignment.

Rural and marginalised schools using EcoBora systems have reduced cooking costs by up to 80 percent, enabling some to offer free school meals while eliminating firewood use. Schools improve air quality and kitchen safety, cut operating costs and significantly reduce emissions. EcoBora offers a practical infrastructure model with clear cost savings, measurable climate impact and strong potential for scale as governments and partners expand school feeding programmes.

Vittoria Technology

Technical design and creative interventions to scale renewable energy across developing markets in Africa.

Across Africa, thousands of communities still lack reliable electricity, and mini-grids are one of the fastest ways to change that.

But there’s a major barrier: battery systems can account for up to 60% of a project’s upfront cost, making renewable energy infrastructure difficult for smaller developers to finance.

Battery Bank Africa, developed by Vittoria Technology, is helping solve this problem. The company purchases, installs and remotely monitors advanced battery systems, allowing mini-grid operators to pay over time through a lease-to-own model rather than covering the full cost upfront.

By reducing the financial burden at the start of a project, Vittoria enables more renewable energy systems to be deployed faster, powering schools, clinics, small businesses and rural communities while reducing reliance on diesel generation.

The business also helps extend the life of battery materials through the use of second-life lithium-ion systems, supporting a more circular and affordable clean energy transition alongside expanded access to electricity.

Baridi

Scalable solar cold storage for growing food markets

Across East Africa, smallholder farmers and dairy cooperatives face a critical gap in cold storage. Conventional systems often cost more than USD 30,000 per unit, placing them beyond reach for many rural producers. As a result, farmers typically allocate just 1.5 to 2.5 percent of produce value toward cooling, leading to spoilage, income loss and reduced market access.

Baridi addresses this challenge with solar powered cold rooms and bulk milk coolers built for farm gate aggregation and cooperative scale use. Its modular systems range from 5 to 100 metric tonnes, and can be containerised or assembled on site. The company’s solar bulk milk coolers can chill milk from 35°C to 4°C in under two hours and provide one full day of cooling autonomy during grid outages, eliminating the need for diesel backup

Baridi operates through a direct sale model, supported by bulk import efficiencies and an in house installation team that has reduced equipment costs by more than 14 percent and shortened implementation timelines significantly. In 2024, the company installed 12 solar cold rooms with 28 metric tons of storage capacity, and preserving over 1.5 million kilograms of food.

Demand is growing. Baridi has secured 22 letters of intent valued at USD 1.27 million, and reports a broader obtainable pipeline of USD 3.36 million. Baridi offers a model that reduces food loss, cuts emissions by replacing diesel cooling, and strengthens rural value chains. By making solar cold storage more affordable and deployable at scale, Baridi is building critical agricultural infrastructure for East Africa’s food systems transition.

OffGridBox

An integrated solution bringing clean water and renewable energy to clinics, schools, refugee camps and other settings.

Millions of people still lack access to two of life’s most basic essentials: reliable electricity and safe drinking water. This is especially acute in remote communities, refugee settings and areas affected by climate shocks, where traditional infrastructure is expensive, slow to build or simply unavailable.

OffGridBox is helping tackle both challenges at once through compact, solar-powered systems that provide renewable energy and purified water in a single modular unit. Designed for rapid deployment and difficult environments, the systems can support homes, schools, clinics and humanitarian settings with clean power, safe water and connectivity.

The company’s technology is already being used across multiple countries in Africa and beyond, helping communities reduce reliance on diesel generation, improve resilience and access essential services more reliably. By combining energy access, water security and climate resilience in one solution, OffGridBox offers a practical model for reaching underserved communities that are often left behind by conventional infrastructure investment.

GOGO Electric

Powering the rise of electric mobility for mass urban transport in Uganda, through vehicle assembly and repair, battery charging, training and more.

Mobility for Africa

Helping rural communities in Southern Africa get on the move with electric tricycles.

Patapia

Empowering refugee women in Uganda, through microfinance to launch clean energy businesses and other ventures.

Salpha Energy

Manufacturing high-quality clean energy products in Nigeria, with affordable finance that helps more consumers enjoy modern technology.

How are we powering investment?

Powering Clean Energy Investment supports enterprises that have proven their potential but need the right resources and networks to navigate the challenging path to scale.

The programme is designed to cater to the needs of clean energy innovators who are targeting a broad range of investments and funding — from philanthropic grants to debt-based financing

Powering Clean Energy Investment is giving social impact investors access to a diverse, high-impact portfolio of clean energy enterprises. These enterprises are empowering people and communities across the Global South — delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to those who need it most.

The programme offers:

Development grants that help organisations address key challenges, strengthen operations, and explore growth opportunities, positioning them for long-term success.
Access to expert support to enhance organisations’ financial management, governance, business strategy, legal status and investment readiness, ensuring they can effectively secure and deploy capital.
Strategic communications support to build our portfolio’s storytelling, build their brand presence, and connect them with funders and investors.
Funder and investor engagement through curated events, roundtables, and networking opportunities that create effective investment pathways.

Find out more

To find out more about the programme and our portfolio of innovators, contact Emily Benson – Investor Engagement Lead (international programmes)

The programme is supported by