- ZE-Gen, led by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, has backed over 35 clean energy projects across Africa and Asia.
- UK and African partners aim to boost energy access, cut pollution, and drive investment in critical sectors.
UK and African innovators are intensifying efforts to replace fossil fuel generators with renewable energy solutions, as highlighted at the ZE-Gen: Powering Productivity, Accelerating Investment event held during London Climate Action Week.
Addressing participants, UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte underscored the transformative potential of clean energy partnerships, citing benefits such as economic growth, improved health outcomes, and reduced environmental harm in communities struggling with unreliable power.
ZE-Gen — a joint initiative between the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, supports clean energy deployment in Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and the UK. The programme works with over 50 organisations to replace diesel generators in critical sectors, including small businesses, healthcare, telecommunications, and humanitarian services.
To date, ZE-Gen has unlocked £39.75 million in investment, backed by the IKEA Foundation and the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund. Over 35 projects across Africa and Asia have already launched, showcasing scalable off-grid renewable energy solutions.
Globally, around 1.5 billion people lack access to reliable electricity. In many regions, diesel generators fill the gap, though at a steep cost to health and the environment. These units emit harmful pollutants and pose risks such as respiratory disease and hearing damage while burdening users with high fuel costs.
Despite representing two-thirds of the global population, emerging markets receive just 15% of global clean energy investment. ZE-Gen aims to close that gap by de-risking early-stage innovation and bolstering local implementation capacity.
Representatives from the World Health Organisation, Vodafone, Mirova Asset Management, the Tony Blair Institute, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) spoke at the event, signalling a cross-sector commitment to accelerating clean energy access in underserved areas.
By supporting innovation and investment, ZE-Gen is helping to reshape energy systems in regions most affected by energy poverty, delivering electricity and new opportunities for sustainable development.