Energy Catalyst supports the development of technologies and business models in order to provide clean, modern and affordable energy in Africa and Asia. It works to create partnerships, promote learning, and fund the testing and demonstration of innovations.

Despite significant progress in recent years, it is unlikely that Sustainable Development Goal 7 ‘to deliver universal access to energy by 2030’ will be met. Without sustained efforts, 650 million people will still be left without access to electricity in 2030, and nine out of 10 of them will be in sub-Saharan Africa.

Energy Catalyst is addressing this challenge by:

• Acting as a springboard for innovators to de-risk, accelerate and demonstrate their solutions for ending energy poverty
• Building partnerships to maximise the potential for commercialising new technologies and business models
• Embedding and promoting the principles of gender equality and social inclusion to enhance commercial sustainability and maximise societal impact

The programme website provides guidance and information, as well as an online platform – the Energy Catalyst Community – to enable peer to peer networking for innovators. 

Energy Catalyst is an Innovate UK programme with co-funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Global Challenges Research Fund, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. It is delivered in cooperation with partners including the Carbon Trust, Energy 4 Impact, Power for All, Intellecap and Open Capital Advisors.