Applications are now open for PREO to support the implementation of Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (PURE) in sub-Saharan Africa. This open call will accept applications from enterprises seeking to pilot innovative PURE business models in sub-Saharan Africa in sectors including (but not limited to) solar water pumping for irrigation, cold storage for food, agro processing of crops (e.g. milling, drying, oil press), food value chain processing activities, electric mobility for taxi drivers and fishing boats, and more. These can be start-ups at advanced concept stage or operational small and medium-sized enterprises.
Description
PREO promotes the productive use of renewable energy (PURE) in sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Island Countries to stimulate local economic development and support global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG7, SDG8 & SDG13). By bolstering investment and engagement in the PURE sector, PREO strives to realise the potential of PURE as a key driver in a just and inclusive global clean energy transition. The PREO programme supports collaborative partnerships that are designed to meet the specific needs of local communities.
Energy sources
Energy sources should be renewable for example biogas, geothermal, hydropower, solar PV, solar thermal, wind power.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to applications for projects to be delivered in sub-Saharan Africa countries, excluding South Africa.
Any legally registered and physically established business or non-profit organisation based in a sub-Saharan Africa country may apply.
Up to 20 grants are available, for up to EUR 200,000 each (though applications up to EUR 300,000 will be considered).
Projects should be 12-24 months in duration, and must be completed by the end of June 2027.
The call will open on 9 December and will close on 31 January 2025at 23:59 UTC.
To be eligible, applicants must be piloting a new, or pivoting an existing, business model and be able to demonstrate the viability of a solution that focuses on the productive use of renewable energy, with the grants used to scale these business models and innovations.
Section
Description
Weighting
Innovation
How innovative is the project proposal?
15%
Scalability of Solution
How scalable/replicable is the project proposal?
20%
Impact
How impactful is the project proposal (in itself)?
20%
Inclusivity
How inclusive is the project proposal?
20%
Public Research Benefits
What wider research outputs and benefits does the project proposal include?
5%
Project Credibility
How credible is the project proposal?
10%
Value for Money
How good value is the project proposal?
10%
Geographical Eligibility
Countries/regions eligible for funding
The PREO Open Call 2025 is only eligible for projects based in sub-Saharan Africa. While PREO has issued calls for proposals regularly in recent years, this will be the final funding round in this phase until 2027.
Regional restrictions
Currently, only projects implemented in sub-Saharan Africa (with the exception of South Africa) will be considered. This includes countries like Burundi, Nigeria, Somalia, Madagascar, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Pacific/Asian region eligibility
Projects from Pacific Islands, Asia, or other regions outside sub-Saharan Africa are not eligible for this funding round. For projects in other regions, consider exploring other UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office funded programmes like Energy Catalyst.
Organisation/Entity Eligibility
New startup eligibility
Newly registered startups (2024) without prior grant funding are eligible to apply, provided they can secure the required co-financing (either from internal or additional sources).
UN agency/international organisation eligibility
PREO accepts applications from: private/public companies, not-for-profit organisations, NGOs, community-based organisations, and state-owned entities.
Sub-Saharan African ownership definition
Sub-Saharan African ownership means the organisation or business is based in a sub-Saharan African country, with majority ownership (over 51%) held by citizens, diaspora citizens, refugees, migrants, or forcibly displaced people from the region.
Female ownership criteria
Female ownership refers specifically to the organisation’s ownership and leadership structure, not beneficiaries or participants. The entity must be majority owned by women in terms of its legal and financial structure.
University/Educational institution eligibility
Educational institutions are eligible to apply. They should clearly demonstrate their organisational structure and how they meet ownership criteria in their application.
Technical Assistance & Support
Pre-application technical support
While one-on-one pre-application technical assistance is not available, PREO provides: 1) A comprehensive webinar guiding applicants through the application process 2) Detailed FAQ and guidance documents 3) Referrals to PREO delivery partner, E4I, for specific technical assistance needs.
Project development assistance
Technical assistance requests for project development are forwarded to E4I for support.
Meeting/presentation requests
To ensure fairness, PREO cannot schedule individual pre-application meetings or presentations. Applicants are encouraged to review the provided guidance materials and webinar.
TEA Program Support
For TEA-specific inquiries, register at TEA Technical Assistance Facility website to receive notifications about application windows. Available webinars include “Developing Compelling Proposals” and “Navigating the Grant Application Process”.
Grant Amount & Co-financing
Maximum grant amount
Applications can request up to EUR 300,000. The exact amount of co-financing required (50-75%) depends on whether the organisation is Sub-Saharan African owned or internationally owned.
Co-financing requirements
Organisations must provide between 50-75% additional co-financing based on ownership structure:
Future funding rounds
This is anticipated to be the last round of funding in this phase of PREO, until 2027. While PREO has issued regular calls previously, no additional rounds are planned in the immediate future.
Application timeline
The current application window closes on January 31, 2025. All applications must be submitted by this deadline using the official Excel application form.
Project Type and Scope
Definition of Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE)
PURE is defined as agricultural, commercial and industrial activities that generate income and are powered by renewable energy sources, OR an activity requiring electricity as a direct input for the production of goods or provision of services.
Innovation and scalability assessment
Projects are evaluated based on criteria detailed in the guidance document (page 9), which includes full definitions and weightings for innovation and scalability metrics.
Inclusivity requirements
All PREO projects must have an equity and inclusivity plan. Section 6 of the application form addresses inclusivity specifically, though it should be a theme throughout the application if central to the project.
Incubation/multiple project proposals
While incubation programs themselves may not directly qualify, individual projects at commercialization stage with MVP ready may be eligible. Focus is on projects ready for implementation rather than early-stage development.
Project examples
Eligible projects may include solar energy initiatives, biogas projects, renewable energy for agricultural use, and other productive uses of renewable energy. All projects must demonstrate clear income-generating potential.
Employment and Career Opportunities
Job opportunities
PREO is a grant funding program and does not directly offer employment opportunities. Those seeking jobs in the renewable energy sector are encouraged to: 1) Monitor LinkedIn and other job boards 2) Connect with PREO-funded organisations 3) Explore opportunities with renewable energy companies in their region.
Career development
While PREO cannot provide direct employment, we encourage professionals to: 1) Develop project proposals if they have viable ideas 2) Network within the renewable energy sector 3) Consider opportunities with organisations working on PREO-funded projects.
