Up to £7 million in grant funding is now available for companies advancing clean energy access across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and Latin America. This funding forms part of the Energy Catalyst Round 11 programme, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to supporting innovative clean energy technologies that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, and 13 – Climate Action. Applications for this round close on 25 March 2026.
Energy Catalyst, delivered by Innovate UK, aims to accelerate innovation that enables a just and inclusive energy transition, improving livelihoods, incomes, and energy access in some of the world’s most underserved communities. Since 2014, the programme has awarded over £160 million to more than 300 energy access projects across 46 countries, covering technologies such as next-generation solar, smart green grids, hydrogen solutions, clean cooling, and renewable alternatives to fossil fuel generators.
Round 11 funding is part of the International Science Partnerships Fund and supported by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology under the UK’s Ayrton Fund commitment. The funding is structured across early, mid, and late-stage projects, with awards ranging from £50,000 to £5 million depending on project maturity. Eligible projects must focus on improving energy access in Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries, and applications are encouraged from UK-registered companies partnered with international organisations to deliver impactful business models.
Jillian Henderson, Innovation Lead at Innovate UK, highlighted that the addition of Latin America to this round strengthens the programme’s commitment to global clean energy access. She emphasized that funding will support transformative projects addressing the urgent need for reliable, clean energy for healthcare, education, and local businesses, while championing innovation and inclusivity to accelerate a just and sustainable energy transition.
