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By Chinenye Anuforo
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has committed $16 million to accelerate Africa’s clean energy future through technology-enabled solutions, announced on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
The new investment supports Mission 300, a World Bank and African Development Bank initiative aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. At the heart of the funding is a push for digital innovation and scalable clean energy systems capable of overcoming market barriers and delivering reliable power at speed and scale.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, over $7 million will support the Mwinda Fund to expand decentralized renewable energy projects, with Castalia providing technical expertise to strengthen institutional capacity and develop viable project pipelines. In Nigeria, $2 million is being channeled into interconnected mini-grids with RMI, combining renewables with smart grid systems to deliver 100MW while building a 500MW pipeline of future projects. South Africa will benefit from $1.5 million directed to its Just Energy Transition Programme Management Unit, where technology-driven finance tools will help attract new investment capital.
A major share of the funding, $5 million, goes to Odyssey Energy Solutions for the expansion of its Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (DART 3.0) platform. The digital tool pools equipment demand across multiple countries, enabling developers to access bulk procurement, standardized technologies, and lower costs. By reducing deployment timelines by half and unlocking as much as $125 million in investment, DART demonstrates how technology is reshaping Africa’s renewable energy landscape.
Executives stressed the central role of digital and data-driven approaches in unlocking energy access. Jon Creyts, CEO of RMI, described interconnected mini-grids as a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy future, noting that digital systems ensure reliable, affordable electricity while reducing dependence on diesel.
Emily McAteer, CEO of Odyssey, emphasized that the company’s platform “uses data aggregation and digital procurement to create a more efficient and investable market for distributed renewable energy.”
Woochong Um, CEO of GEAPP, said the Alliance’s approach shows “what’s possible when governments, business, and philanthropy act together with urgency and purpose, turning ambition into real power, real jobs, and real opportunity for millions across the continent.”
Since its launch at COP26 in 2021, GEAPP has awarded $503 million in catalytic funding, unlocking $7.8 billion in total investment. Many of its projects increasingly rely on digital platforms, smart grid technologies, and tech-enabled financing, underscoring the convergence of clean energy and information technology in Africa’s development.
