Energise Africa, a leading UK crowdfunding platform that funds solar energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa, is delighted to announce an extension of its framework agreement and ongoing partnership with CEI Africa. This extended collaboration will see Energise Africa further access a credit facility of EUR 2.5 million that will provide co-financing for qualified solar energy companies alongside UK retail investors who invest through Energise Africa’s platform.
This significant commitment from CEI Africa will play a crucial role in strengthening trust and de-risking investments for individual investors looking to support impactful clean energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa. By providing blended finance, which may be used as a subordinated loan or pari-passu loan alongside crowd investors, CEI Africa’s funding will mitigate the risk associated with these vital investments, encouraging more individuals to help bridge the energy access gap.
Ray Coyle, CEO of Energise Africa, commented: “The CEI Africa Framework Agreements strengthen Energise Africa’s ability to execute on the joint pipeline and continue the growth of the platforms’ off-grid energy portfolios. Energise Africa is committed to financing companies in the access to electricity sector. CEI Africa’s funding will help us to de-risk the investments on our platform, which has the potential to benefit our community of investors.”
This innovative approach to financing is set to catalyse at least EUR 5 million of private capital into the off-grid energy sector. By unlocking greater investment, Energise Africa and CEI Africa are driving significant positive impact, providing clean and reliable electricity to rural and peri-urban households and enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa. This increased access to energy is transforming lives, cutting carbon emissions, and boosting economic development in Africa. The partnership will also provide a valuable Technical Assistance grant to enhance Energise Africa’s operational capabilities, including technical and legal due diligence, enabling the platform to explore new markets and sectors.
Claudia Vroom, member of the Executive Board of CEI Africa, stated: “We are delighted to announce an extension of our framework agreement and continued partnership with Energise Africa. This credit facility will further leverage investment in access to clean energy in rural sub-Saharan Africa. CEI Africa is also further excited by the new management team to drive Energise Africa’s deployment targets and strategy and to increase its investment in off-grid energy and GMG projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
This extended partnership underscores the power of institutional match funding in mobilising private capital for sustainable development. By demonstrating confidence in the off-grid energy sector and sharing the risk, CEI Africa’s commitment is paving the way for more people to invest with confidence and contribute to a brighter, cleaner future for communities across Sub-Saharan Africa, while taking positive climate action. Furthermore, CEI Africa’s funding can be further deployed into Green Mini-Grids projects, helping Energise Africa achieve their deployment objectives and maximise their impact.