Ayrton Fund

Exciting progress for this vital Ayrton Fund-supported initiative! Through the power of partnership, combining public and philanthropic funding, including this scale-up support from the IKEA Foundation, Zero Emission Generators can accelerate its mission to advance renewable energy alternatives in countries reliant on fossil fuel generators - a great step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Jolanda van Ginkel, Richa Goyal, Steven Hunt, Pedro Almeida, Lily Beadle, Bogi Højgaard CFA, Iain Meager, Richard Rugg, Paul Wedgwood, Ainslie MacLeod, Nicola Hibon-Jackson FRSA, Jennifer Walker The Carbon Trust Innovate UK James C. Transforming Energy Access

📢 Are you a local organisation with experience in the distributed renewable energy sector based in Nigeria, Kenya, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia, facing challenges in developing competitive proposals for grant funding?  📝📈 You can now apply for bespoke support through Transforming Energy Access - for guidance on developing grant applications that will be most valuable to your organisation’s needs. 🔋 This opportunity is aligned with the latest Zero Emission Generators open call for proposals based in Nigeria, Kenya, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia, launched today – and is open to selected organisations based in these countries that are considering applying for the Zero Emission Generators (ZE-Gen) open call.     🌍 The Transforming Energy Access TA Facility is open to applications from today (24 February). The deadline to apply is 2 March at 23:59 UTC.   Find the full details, eligibility criteria, and steps to apply: https://lnkd.in/eqzGV8jY 💡 The ZE-Gen open call is open from today (24 February) and will close on 16 April 2025 at 23:59 UTC.  Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e36HCPyK   EED Advisory Ayrton Fund Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Zero Emission Generators

🌍 Pilio - Unlocking clean energy access and reducing emissions within the fashion value chain 🌍 We are excited to share the latest innovator spotlight featuring Pilio, an Energy Catalyst supported company making strides in helping to improve clean energy access and emission reduction within the global fashion industry. 👏 Learn how Pilio is: 🪴 Supporting resilience of smallholder farmers: By providing clean, affordable energy solutions to cotton growers in Pakistan, Pilio is helping farmers adopt more resilient practices that reduce emissions and improve livelihoods. 🤝 Building partnerships: Pilio collaborates with fashion brands, microfinance institutions, and local partners to create a consortium dedicated to sustainable energy solutions. 💡 Innovating for impact: From solar microgrids to biomass clean cookstoves, Pilio's projects are transforming communities by improving health outcomes through improved indoor air quality, increasing energy access through clean energy finance solutions, and supporting sustainable agriculture through regenerative farming practices. Pilio's work is not only helping to address critical emission reduction in fashion value chains but works with Energy Catalyst to accelerate the innovation needed to realise a just and inclusive clean energy transition. 🌍   Watch the video case study below to learn more 👇 Transforming Energy Access, IKEA Foundation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, The Carbon Trust, Energy 4 Impact #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #Innovation #ClimateAction #SustainableFashion

This milestone represents the power of integrated solutions. Through this collaboration, supported by the Ayrton Fund, Malawian households could experience lower cooking costs, improved health outcomes, and significant time savings, while reducing deforestation and carbon emissions. Backed by an agreement between Switzerland and Malawi, through an Article 6.2 bilateral arrangement, this initiative is a good example of transformative climate action, through carbon and climate finance leadership.   #EnergyAccess #CarbonFinance #ClimateAction

🌡 With global temperatures rising, the need for innovative cold chain solutions has never been more critical. The UN Environment Programme estimates that if future cooling needs can be met sustainably, potential greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by as much as 60% by 2050 – just one of the many benefits sustainable cooling can offer. ❄️ Check out the latest report from Energy Catalyst (an Innovate UK programme) to explore how sustainable cooling can support economic development, disease reduction, and improving quality of life while boosting productivity, creating jobs, and reducing spoilage and waste.

👏 Congratulations to mopo (Mobile Power) on securing $7m financing with British International Investment (BII). The funding will accelerate the expansion of MOPO’s battery rental business in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - improving access to sustainable energy for households and businesses in off-grid and unreliable grid areas. Ayrton Fund programmes have supported MOPO on its journey to scale and commercialise, with projects and achievements including: 🔋 4 pilot projects supported by Energy Catalyst (an Innovate UK programme) from 2019-2023 - advancing innovative MOPO solutions in Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Plus, a project underway in Round 10 - seeking to integrate sustainable technologies to create a 'Distributed Renewable Energy System' for clean cooking, grain milling and sustainable cooling in Nigeria and DRC. 🏍 Successful testing of its e-motorbikes and battery swap model in Sierra Leone, with support from Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities. Making MOPO battery rentals flexible and accessible to provide a sustainable mode of transportation and freighting. ✨ Securing a $10m partnership with CrossBoundary Access in 2023, to provide energy access to 1.5m people in Nigeria via an innovative battery service. 🤝 Collaboration through the The Faraday Institution seed project NaBEDA - exploring sodium-ion batteries as a cost-effective sustainable alternative to lithium-ion in its MOPO batteries. ☀️ A project underway as part of the Zero Emission Generators Technology Accelerator - aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuel generators by developing solar-powered batteries. MOPO CEO Christopher Longbottom said: "MOPO’s mission has always been to become a leading provider of sustainable energy in Africa, leveraging pay-per-use battery technology. Since our inception, we’ve surpassed our 23 millionth battery rental and expanded our operations across 6 countries. This growth would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our partners, including the Transforming Energy Access platform and Energy Catalyst. Their recognition of our innovative technology and business model, along with the grant funding awarded, have been pivotal in supplementing our equity investment programs and accelerating our development. These partnerships have also significantly elevated our profile both nationally and internationally. Looking ahead, our mission compels us to go further as we continue collaborating with our partners, advancing our technology, expanding the business, and revolutionising access to sustainable energy for millions of households and businesses that face unstable or no grid infrastructure. Our story so far is just the beginning!” We’re proud to have been part of MOPO’s impressive growth and impact to date, and look forward to seeing how its latest investment will further advance MOPO technology and access to reliable, sustainable energy. Read more 👇 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

The Faraday Institution's 2023/24 Annual Report is out now! 🎉 💡From empowering industry with a 36-fold return on investment from supported start-ups to driving battery research and nurturing the next generation of talent -. The Fraday Institution is contributing to advancing research and development to shape the future of battery technology. The Faraday Institution also leads the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage (ACES). Dive-in to discover their the impact - full report here👇 https://lnkd.in/gFUMh2Bn #energystorage #SDG7 #renewableenergy #annualreport   The Faraday Institution Transforming Energy Access Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office The Carbon Trust

📢Exciting opportunity to drive impact in battery innovation! The Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage (ACES) is seeking innovative proposals to advance battery technology in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. If your project aligns with expanding energy access and reducing emissions, don’t miss this chance to secure funding to demonstrate innovative battery technology. Learn more and submit your proposal by February 27th, 2025.   Find out more here 👇 https://lnkd.in/efzceriN   #Energystorage #Innovation #Energytransition #Energyaccess #SDG7   The Faraday Institution Transforming Energy Access Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office The Carbon Trust

It's fantastic to see the Tanzania eCooking Scale and Support Programme in action, with the British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Marianne Young, and TaTEDO’s Project Officer, Shukuru Meena , demonstrating the possibilities of clean cooking through the fusion of British and Tanzanian flavours over the festive season 🧑🍳🍲! The initiative is backed by £3.5 million in UK Government funding and is a crucial step in promoting clean cooking solutions and supporting sustainable energy initiatives across Tanzania. It's great to see the collaborative efforts of MECS programme partners and the Tanzanian government in driving this impactful programme forward. #CleanCooking #SustainableEnergy #Tanzania MECS is a programme funded with UK aid from the UK Government via the Ayrton Fund MECS programme Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office The Carbon Trust Loughborough University ESMAP - Energy Sector Management Assistance Program UK in Tanzania https://lnkd.in/eYfpyRYd

🌍 3 weeks left to apply for catalytic grants – Deadline, 31 January 2025🌍     There’s still time to apply for catalytic funding - don't miss out on PREO's latest competitive open call for applications. We are inviting innovators in sub-Saharan Africa to apply for catalytic grants that support business models harnessing the productive use of renewable energy (PURE) to improve livelihoods, boost incomes, and enhance climate resilience.     Who can apply:   - Businesses or non-profit organisations legally registered and/or based in a sub-Saharan African country (excluding South Africa).     - Innovators piloting a new business model or pivoting an existing one focused on the productive use of renewable energy.     Funding details:   - Up to 20 grants available, each worth up to EUR 200,000.   - Projects should be 12-24 months in duration.     Key dates:   - Call closes: 31 January (23:59 UTC)   Find full details about the PREO Open Call Here: https://lnkd.in/gXGJ67C IKEA Foundation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Transforming Energy Access, Ayrton Fund, The Carbon Trust, Energy 4 Impact, #Innovation #Grants #Funding #Sustainbility #RenewableEnergy