EDP brings clean energy to communities in five African countries
EDP will finance nine renewable energy projects that promote energy inclusion in Africa. The 6th edition of the A2E Fund, with a support of one million euros, is intended for initiatives in areas such as health and education, which will impact the lives of more than 5 million people.
More than 150 health facilities that provide primary care services and about 20 schools are among the main beneficiaries of the projects selected in the 6th edition of the A2E Fund (Access to Energy) in five African countries: Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Rwanda. In all, there will be nine projects that, through the use of renewable energy, will promote social, environmental and economic development in rural communities in these countries. In total, it is estimated that these new projects will benefit about 300 thousand people directly and more than 5.5 million indirectly.
"One in 11 people in the world still does not have access to electricity and two billion live without drinking water. We created the A2E Fund in viewing of mitigating these numbers. This is a programme that goes beyond a financial contribution – it represents, above all, a commitment to improving the quality of life of communities and a step towards a more sustainable future with greater energy inclusion", says Vera Pinto Pereira, executive board member of EDP and president of the EDP Foundation. "At EDP, we want to continue to lead a just energy transition, positively impacting communities with clean, safe and affordable energy, leaving no one behind."
Support for clean energy access projects has been a priority for EDP, within the scope of its global social impact strategy, EDP Y.E.S. – You Empower Society and in line with one of the core topics of discussion on the agenda of the recent COP29: the definition of new targets to finance the countries most affected by climate change.
Since it was launched in 2018, the A2E Fund has financed a total of 38 projects in 7 African countries, with support equivalent to 3.5 million euros, contributing to improving the lives of more than 230 thousand people directly and of about 2.5 million indirectly. With this initiative, EDP reinforces its strategy of social impact and just energy transition worldwide, especially in developing economies.
The projects, one by one
Selected from a total of 195 applications, the projects cover several areas, but have in common the use of decentralised solar production technologies. There of the nine projects of this 6thedition are focused on improving health care, four are aimed at educational institutions, one is directed to community development and one to water supply. With the support of the A2E Fund, they will be able to provide these services using renewable, secure and affordable energy.
As part of improving health care, projects to electrify rural health clinics have been selected. These include SAO Energy, which will power 45 clinics and 135 small businesses; Mesh Power, which will electrify 30 clinics, provide internet access points and offer three solar-powered ambulances, improving emergency response and transportation of vulnerable residents; and WeCareSolar, which will electrify 100 maternity wards, ensuring 24/7 emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
In the education sector, the Riley Orton Foundation will implement solar energy systems to power a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academy and a vocational training centre for out-of-school girls. Edukans will electrify 10 primary schools, improving teaching methods and access to educational materials, and create 10 school gardens and plant 10,000 trees.
In addition, two projects combine support for health and education institutions: the MIVA project, which will increase access to education and health care for 1,200 children with disabilities in three health centres and three special education schools in rural areas; and the E35 Foundation project, which will work in areas affected by internal displacement due to conflict, providing renewable energy solutions for three schools and one health centre, in order to reduce energy poverty. Finally, the APOIAR community project will install solar panels in a school and distribute 500 solar lamps to students, while the Give Power organisation will implement a project to provide drinking water to a community, promoting improvements in local health and quality of life.
To learn more about each of these projects, visit the A2E area on the EDP website.