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By Josfyn Uba
Africa’s energy sector is set to experience a boost following a special US$1.5 million grant awarded to 19 companies in Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia, to accelerate the adoption of productive-use solar appliances.
The grant, facilitated by the Productive Use Financing Facility (PUFF) with support from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and managed by CLASP was unveiled during the Adaptation Investment Summit 2026 held in Nairobi.
It is designed to bridge the gap between electricity access and business growth. The list of beneficiaries showed that Nigeria got the highest number of slots with eight companies: Asolar System Nigeria Limited, Ceesolar Energy Limited, Cloud Energy Photoelectric, Consistent Energy Ltd, D@ech Nig Ltd, Ecotutu, Sosai Renewable Energies and GreenPower Overseas Limited.
Similarly, six companies from Kenya including – SunCulture and Agsol Limited and five Ethiopian companies, including Zicon Trading and Green Scene Energy Plc, also benefited from the initiative.
Collectively, the funding aims to deploy 3,800 pieces of productive-use equipment, which is expected to support over 3,000 green jobs across the three nations.
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While efforts like Mission 300 have made progress in expanding electricity access, many small-scale entrepreneurs remain unable to maximize this power due to the high upfront costs of essential equipment. These include solar-powered water pumps for farmers, refrigeration units for traders, and milling machinery for small processors.
“Africa’s economic future depends not just on expanding access to electricity, but on ensuring that energy powers businesses, creates jobs, and improves livelihoods,” said Emmanuel Aziebor, Senior Director, Africa at CLASP. “The technologies already exist. The challenge is making them accessible to the entrepreneurs who need them most.”
The sector is currently at a critical juncture; the market for income-generating appliances currently reaches less than 1 per cent of the serviceable African market.
According to industry projections, if this market gap is successfully bridged, it could yield an annual income potential of US$16 billion and contribute to the creation of 50 million new jobs over the next decade.
Carol Koech, Vice President for Africa at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), which supports the initiative, emphasized the necessity of accessible capital.
“Our goal is to empower African entrepreneurs with the tools to grow their businesses by aligning finance, technology, markets, and enabling policies that accelerate an equitable energy transition across the region,” Koech said.
The first round of funding (2022–2024) supported the sale of nearly 16,000 appliances and impacted over 53,000 people. This new capital injection signals a sustained commitment to powering Africa’s economic future through renewable energy.
