THE Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has reaffirmed commitment to supporting efforts in accelerating Africa’s energy transition by being part of the recently unveiled Mission 300 initiative.

The mission, spearheaded by the World Bank (WB) and African Development Bank (AfDB), aims to connect 300 million more people to electricity across the African continent by 2030. 

In an exclusive interview with this paper recently, Woochung Um, CEO of GEAPP said collaboration is essential for aligning resources, expertise, and efforts to meet the goals of Mission 300. 

He said GEAPP’s work is focused on three core pillars: accelerating the uptake of Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE), deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and increasing the productive uses of electricity (PUE). 

The efforts aim to create a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy system that addresses both the growing demand for electricity and the need for resilience in energy infrastructure.

A key element of GEAPP’s strategy empowers governments to lead the way in achieving energy access goals. By offering technical assistance and policy advisory services, GEAPP helps governments design and implement energy transition programmes that are both practical and effective. 

This includes providing support for countries such as Malawi, where GEAPP assisted in updating the country’s Integrated Resources Plan (IRP), which is now developing a pipeline of grid and transmission investments. In Nigeria, GEAPP partnered with the government to establish the Energy Transition Office, which institutionalised the country’s Energy Transition Plan.

He said the alliance’s multi-faceted approach, which includes leveraging capital from philanthropic foundations, development finance institutions (DFIs), and private investors, helps to bridge the significant energy access gap that exists across Africa.

He said governments play a key role in establishing policies and frameworks, such as competitive tenders, pooled procurement, and long-term project timelines, which facilitate large-scale infrastructure projects and regional integration in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. 

For example, GEAPP supported the implementation of a tariff harmonisation pilot in Sierra Leone, which tested the impact of lowering tariffs on customers. 

The result was a 41 percent reduction in electricity costs over the span of a year, leading to a 58 percent increase in energy use and boosting mini-grid utilisation.

The private sector’s role in Mission 300 cannot be overstated. Private companies are vital in providing the innovation, finance, and resources needed to deploy DRE and utility-scale projects where electricity access is most needed. 

Progressive capital partnerships, which bridge local, regional, and global partners across public, private and philanthropic sectors, are key to mobilising the necessary investment to meet the targets of Mission 300. 

He said Mission 300 is truly a collective effort, with partners such as The Rockefeller Foundation, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) contributing to the success of this movement.

One of the most notable initiatives supported by GEAPP is the $10 million commitment alongside The Rockefeller Foundation to the Mission 300 Technical Assistance Facility (TA Facility), which introduced several new energy access projects in 11 African countries. 

By improving local skills, capacity and implementation efforts, GEAPP help to develop bankable projects that will accelerate electrification in key African markets. GEAPP also works alongside the AfDB and the World Bank to design and implement the electrification efforts across various regions.

In Southern Africa, GEAPP’s efforts are focused on just energy transition programs and fossil fuel decommissioning. In Malawi, for example, GEAPP partnered with the government to invest $20 million in constructing a 20 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will provide reliable electricity to nearly half a million people. 

The project is part of GEAPP’s broader ambition to roll out 5 GW of BESS projects in ten African countries by 2030 as part of the BESS Consortium. In Nigeria, GEAPP’s Distributed Access Renewable Transformation (DART) programme has helped reduce solar equipment costs by up to 30 percent, making solar energy more affordable and accessible to the population.

The prospects for renewable energy development in Africa, particularly under Mission 300, are immense. DRE systems, in particular, offer a practical, affordable solution for underserved communities, where extending the national grid may not be feasible in the short term. 

Utility-scale renewable energy projects are also crucial, providing reliable electricity to urban centres and industries, fostering economic growth and aiding Africa’s industrialisation. Furthermore, the integration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) offers the opportunity to stabilise grids and ensure consistent power supply, addressing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. This is particularly important for countries that experience frequent power outages, which affect productivity and hinder economic development.

Regional grid integration and cross-border energy trade are also significant opportunities for Africa. By integrating energy systems across borders, countries can lower electricity production costs and create a more robust pan-African regional electricity market. 

In addition, GEAPP encourages private sector innovation in green technologies, such as e-mobility and solar mini-grids, which will play an important role in addressing Africa’s energy needs and boosting climate resilience.

In order to reach its energy goals, Mission 300 will require innovative financing tools that attract both local and international investments. 

GEAPP’s diverse financial toolkit addresses the funding gap by leveraging philanthropic capital to back projects in emerging markets, where private finance is often scarce. 

“For example, GEAPP’s $50 million Naira-denominated facility with Chapel Hill Denham has unlocked financing to deliver affordable energy projects to low-income customers in Nigeria. Local currency lending, which addresses foreign exchange risks and reduces financial barriers for investors, has proven to be an effective approach for financing small-scale and rural energy initiatives,” he said.

Local communities are at the heart of Africa’s clean energy transition. GEAPP believes that community engagement and participation are crucial to the success of clean energy projects. By providing skills training, technical assistance, and empowering communities to manage energy projects, GEAPP enables individuals and businesses to benefit from the energy transition. 

Through programmes like the Energising Agriculture Programme (EAP) in Nigeria, GEAPP has revitalised agricultural value chains in underserved areas, increasing incomes by more than 30 percent.

Woochung said Mission 300 is not just about providing electricity, but about creating jobs, improving living standards, empowering women, and fostering economic growth. 

By implementing bold public sector reforms and attracting investments, Mission 300 can unlock Africa’s energy potential and set the continent on the path to sustainable development.

GEAPP’s work, alongside its many partners, continues to be a driving force in Africa’s energy revolution, bringing the dream of universal energy access closer to reality.