Open call for Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) Programme

This year’s open call will accept applications from enterprises that have innovative PURE business models in sub-Saharan Africa in numerous areas including solar water pumping for irrigation, cold storage for food, agro processing of crops (e.g., milling, drying, oil press), 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.

The Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) programme is a demand-led, productive use of renewable energy (PURE) programme stimulating partnerships, innovation and learning to address the needs and improve the livelihoods of sub-Saharan African, Asia and the Indo-Pacific communities. PREO’s mission is to help businesses harness clean energy to improve incomes, build climate resilience and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

PREO has been supported by the IKEA Foundation and UK aid via the Transforming Energy Access platform and delivered by the Carbon Trust and Mercy Corps Energy 4 Impact.

PREO also provides technical assistance through the PREO Technical Assistance Facility to help innovators execute PURE-related initiatives and enterprise development, and to improve their activities’ viability, efficacy, and local impact. They draw on the pool of experts involved in the Transforming Energy Access platform to address key knowledge gaps and offer advice.

Priority Sectors

• Agriculture
  • Applicants should focus on the use of renewable energy for cooling (refrigeration and freezing), drying, egg incubation, irrigation, milk chilling, oil press, pulping, milling, grinding, food processing, and more.
• Commercial
  • Applicants should focus on the use of renewable energy for activities including making garments, retail cooking, transport (commercial or personal transport).
• Services
  • Applicants should focus on the use of renewable energy in areas including ICT, health, education, street lighting,
• E-Waste Recycling
  • Applicants should focus on the use of renewable energy technology (e.g. batteries, solar home systems) for the recycling of electronics and technology.
• Energy sources
  • Energy sources should be renewable for example biogas, geothermal, hydropower, solar PV, solar thermal, wind power.

Funding Information

• The Call for Applications welcomes submissions from sub-Saharan Africa for PURE enterprises or concepts requesting PREO catalytic grants of up to $300,000 in value for a duration of two years.

Geographic Scope

• PREO will only accept applications from sub-Saharan Africa in this funding cycle.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be from one of the countries mentioned in the geographic scope.
• The enterprise must propose a business model or concept centred around the productive use of renewable energy sources as described in the energy sources section.
• Applicants must clearly outline their business model including co-financing opportunities, the novelty of the concept or business model, how the grant will enhance job creation and promote gender inclusion, equity ownership including local ownership and involvement of local manufacturing, and the expected emission reduction.

For more information, visit Carbon Trust.