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Connected Power: Ensuring Africa is Not Left in the Dark — or Offline
Sub-Saharan Africa has both the highest energy access and digital connectivity gaps in the world. As Ravi Suchak at Helios Towers explains, this is due not to a lack of demand, but to fundamental infrastructure barriers: Telecom towers and mobile networks require a reliable power supply, which is often absent or prohibitively expensive in rural areas, and electricity providers need consistent demand to de-risk rural energy investments. He explores a solution that addresses both of these needs: "connected power," a development approach that aligns energy and telecom infrastructure by positioning telecom towers as anchor customers for electrification projects.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology, Telecommunications
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South African Startup Secures $1.8 Million to Transform Energy Market with AI
The round will accelerate product development and customer growth as the company scales to meet rising demand for flexible, decentralised energy infrastructure.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Cape Town’s Open Access Energy Raises $1.8 Million to Scale AI-Driven Electricity Trading
Cape Town-based startup Open Access Energy (OAE) has secured $1.8 million (R32.3 million) in seed funding to expand its AI-powered platform for electricity trading.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Private Sector Developers Sign Funding Agreement to Fast-Track Rural Electrification in Zambia
This round of funding will stimulate and incentivize end-use demand for energy supplied by 43 existing and new mini-grids across Zambia, bringing reliable and affordable energy to underserved areas.
- Categories
- Energy, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Report: World is Off Track to Achieve Universal Energy Access by 2030
"While almost 92% of the world’s population now has basic access to electricity – an improvement since 2022 – over 666 million people remain without access . . . "
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Global
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African Development Bank’s SEFA and Partners Sign $26.5 Million Deal for Zambia’s Ilute Solar Project
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank, has committed to contribute $8 million toward a $26.5 million financing package to support the 32 MWp Ilute Solar Project in Zambia.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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South Africa Energy Startup Wetility Raises $27.8 Million Funding to Solar Power Thousands of Homes
South African solar-as-a-service provider Wetility has secured a ZAR500 million (US$27.8 million) structured capital partnership with Jaltech, a leading funder of solar energy projects, to help provide clean, reliable, and cost-effective solar energy to over one million homes and businesses across the country.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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CLASP and GEAPP Expand Access to Affordable, Energy-efficient Appliances in Africa
CLASP and GEAPP scale up their innovative financing program to support more African businesses and farmers with affordable, energy-efficient appliances.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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