BY JENNIFER EZIMAKOR 

The European Commission has announced a €545 million package to accelerate Africa’s shift toward clean energy, marking a major step in the continent’s renewable transition.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the initiative on Saturday in a video address during the Global Citizen Festival, held alongside the United Nations General Assembly. The funding is part of the “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, co-hosted with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and aims to raise global awareness and mobilize public and private investment for clean energy projects across Africa.

“A clean energy transition on the continent will create jobs, stability, growth and the delivery of our global climate goals,” von der Leyen said. “The European Union, with the Global Gateway investment plan, is fully committed to supporting Africa on its clean energy path.”

Africa has vast renewable energy potential, yet nearly 600 million people still lack access to electricity. The EU’s package focuses on projects that expand electrification, modernize power grids, and improve access to solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.

The funding will support new and ongoing projects in several countries across the continent, including: Côte d’Ivoire (€359.4 million) with the construction of a high-voltage transmission line (Dorsale Est) to strengthen regional energy distribution;

Cameroon (€59.1 million) with rural electrification for 687 communities, reaching more than 2.5 million people; the Republic of Congo (€3.5 million) by expanding access to solar, wind, and hydropower;

Lesotho (€25.9 million) by developing wind and hydro energy through the Renewable Lesotho programme; Ghana (€2 million) through laying the groundwork for a large-scale solar park and regional energy trade;

Central Africa (€3.3 million) through technical assistance and infrastructure funding for the Central African Power Pool, plus a feasibility study for a cross-border transmission line linking Pointe Noire, Brazzaville, and Kinshasa;

Madagascar (€33.2 million) through expanding rural electrification through mini grids; Mozambique (€13 million) through supporting low-emission energy transition and encouraging private investment; and Somalia (€45.5 million) by expanding renewable energy access, promoting circular economy practices, and strengthening climate-resilient food systems.

Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said the investments would have a tangible impact on communities across Africa. “Renewable energy is one of the main focus areas under Global Gateway,” he said. “From rural electrification in Cameroon to large-scale solar in Ghana or hydro energy in Lesotho, this package will help bring electricity to millions of people in Africa.”

The “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, supported by the International Energy Agency and Global Citizen, encourages governments, financial institutions, private investors, and philanthropies to commit funding, expertise, and technical support. The initiative aims to contribute to the global targets set at COP28 to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency.

Momentum is expected to build in early October at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, where governments and private sector leaders will gather to expand support for Africa’s energy transition. The campaign will conclude at a high-level event during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on November 22–23, where world leaders and investors are expected to make new commitments to power Africa’s renewable future.