The recently launched Umoja Incubator programme on renewable energy held a roadshow in Cape Town on August 31, to share information about the programme and encourage local renewable energy project developers to apply.

This forms part of a series of roadshows held across the continent. Serengeti Energy Operations communications and events manager Austin Ouma told Engineering News that, since the launch of the programme in June, roadshows have also been held in, for example, Kigali in Rwanda and in Côte d'Ivoire.

Moreover, the programme will be hosting a webinar on September 7 for countries it is unable to visit physically for roadshows. This can be accessed at https://meetinglab.zoho.eu/meeting/register?sessionId=1248397639.   

Ouma explains that the programme is being undertaken by Nairobi-based independent power producer Serengeti Energy, in collaboration with global network of climate and clean energy financing experts the Private Financing Advisory Network.

It aims to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in the renewable energy space to bring their projects to financial close, by improving the bankability of the most promising renewable energy projects through access to commercial and technical knowledge and then securing the required funding.

The application is open to any company with projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ouma noted that projects must be between 5 MW and 15 MW; past the prefeasibility stage; and at minimum, must have a memorandum of understanding or expression of interest with a government authority such as a utility in place, so that the project can proceed into development.

He encourages interested parties to visit the website for more information: https://www.serengetienergy.com/incubator/. Applications can also be undertaken here.

The online application period is open until September 23, after which a jury will evaluate the projects.

Following this closing, about a month or so later, the shortlisted candidates for the programme will be invited to a one-week workshop in Cape Town, where the projects will be refined and presented to a jury, and the winner will be selected.

Ouma said the winner would enter into a partnership with Serengeti, as a co-developer under a joint development agreement, with Serengeti to provide the tools needed to succeed and positively impact communities.

Ouma said the event in Cape Town had already attracted interest from prospective applicants.

Applications received thus far from the region span across the spectrum of renewable energy, however, the majority were solar projects.