The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) has awarded a €1 million grant to Solarise Africa to support the expansion of its renewable energy leasing operations in Uganda and Zambia.

The grant will be matched by €1 million in co-financing from Solarise Africa, bringing the total programme value to €2 million over 24 months.

The funding will support the establishment and expansion of operations in both markets and the deployment of decentralised renewable energy systems for commercial and industrial businesses and social institutions.

The programme targets 3 MW of new renewable energy capacity, including solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage and heat pump technologies where appropriate.

Founded in 2018, Solarise Africa provides renewable energy solutions through a leasing model that combines project financing, engineering, operations and maintenance, and energy management services.

The company operates across Southern and East Africa, providing businesses with access to renewable energy infrastructure without requiring them to finance the full upfront investment.

The EEP Africa grant will support the development of local partnerships, operating capabilities and a pipeline of projects in Uganda and Zambia.

“This grant represents much more than entry into two new markets. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that a model we have spent years building and refining can be successfully replicated across Africa,” said Jan Albert Valk, Co-Founder and CEO of Solarise Africa.

“Businesses across the continent face the same fundamental challenge: they need energy that is more reliable, more affordable and cleaner, but the capital and financing structures required to make that transition are not always readily available. Our role is to bridge that gap.”

Under the programme’s contractual milestones, Solarise Africa will report and verify at least 4.5 GWh of renewable electricity generation and 3,600 tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emissions.

Solarise Africa has previously secured equity and debt financing from African and international investors and development finance institutions to support its expansion beyond Kenya.

The EEP Africa funding is intended to help reduce the costs and risks associated with entering new markets, while establishing a platform for additional private investment in commercial and industrial renewable energy projects.

“The long-term opportunity goes far beyond this project,” said Sakkie van Wijk, Co-Founder and COO of Solarise Africa.

“Our objective is to build commercially sustainable operations in Uganda and Zambia that can continue deploying energy infrastructure well beyond the grant period.”

Solarise Africa plans to use the programme to expand its project portfolio in Uganda and establish its first portfolio in Zambia, with the aim of continuing investment and project deployment after the grant period ends.