Strathmore University to benefit from US$2.6M for renewable energy projects

KENYA – Strathmore University is among 14 organizations in sub-Saharan Africa selected to participate in the fourth round of the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) program.

The program has allocated £2 million (KES 336.8 million) in catalytic grant funding to support regional renewable energy initiatives.

Joining Strathmore University as grant beneficiaries are a diverse range of companies, including Simusolar, AG Energies, Jokosun, SLS Energy, Farm Warehouse, Chaji, Hinckley E-Waste, ICE Solar, Drop Access, Acele Africa, Mazi Mobility, Ecobora, and Inter Ethiopia Solutions.

These companies focus on harnessing clean energy to promote an inclusive transition throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

The PREO program, supported by the IKEA Foundation and UK Aid through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, aims to foster climate resilience and economic development by accelerating the adoption of renewable energy solutions. The program partners with the Carbon Trust and Mercy Corps’ Energy 4 Impact.

“We are excited to announce the latest cohort of companies to receive support in the next phase of PREO,” said Rhiannon Turner, PREO Programme Lead at the Carbon Trust.

“The diversity of sectors and technologies involved shows the immense potential to create business models that generate income and improve livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa.”

Each of the 14 companies will receive grants ranging between £86,000 and £237,000 (US$14.5m and US$39.9m) over 1-2 years, alongside technical support to help implement their projects.

The funding will empower these organizations to scale their innovative business models and enhance access to clean energy solutions in underserved communities.

PREO received over 240 applications from 29 countries, demonstrating significant demand for funding to accelerate the renewable energy transition in the region.

The total funding requested was 17 times higher than the amount available, highlighting the strong need for financial backing in this sector.

This round of funding aims to promote renewable energy adoption while fostering job creation and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

The selected companies will be critical in advancing clean energy technologies, supporting sustainable development, and driving a just energy transition across the region.

This follows recent investments in renewable energy in Kenya. In August, Kenya announced plans to construct a new solar photovoltaic power plant near the Seven Forks hydroelectric scheme, with financial backing from the French Development Agency (AFD).

The project, developed by Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), aims to address the frequent droughts that impact electricity production in the region.

The planned solar power plant will have a capacity of 42.5 MWp. While the exact amount of AFD’s financial contribution has not been disclosed, KenGen anticipates that this project will help shield Kenyans from rising electricity costs by supplementing hydroelectric production during daylight hours and conserving water for nighttime electricity generation, especially during drought periods.

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