US funding cuts have not dimmed African renewables so far

May 20, 2025

AXIAN Energy, a Madagascar-based energy company, has received a $5.6 million grant from the African Development Bank. This new funding builds on the company's previous success in raising $114 million in debt financing in two rounds over the last two years — mainly from private equity investors like the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.

  • AXIAN operates in 7 African countries through its subsidiaries, NEA, Welight, CGHV, JOVENA, EYDON, and MOCO. It has a renewable energy portfolio of 186 MW in operation and a pipeline of 800 MW and plans to reach 1,000 MW by 2030.

  • The renewables investment climate in Africa is heating up despite funding cuts from the US. Countries are racing to achieve universal electrification and are changing policies to facilitate this goal.

  • Our take: The grant will allow Axian Energy to compete with established players as it will enable the company to reduce the cost of energy… Read more (2 min)

Senior staff hiring in May registered over 46 new roles filled across 10 renewable energy firms. Renewables Rising's analysis of LinkedIn data shows that foreign firms such as Scatec, JA Solar and AMEA Power dominated the hiring, accounting for 76% of the total. Local companies like Mulilo Energy made significant moves, adding 9 staff in the same period.

  • Companies are competing fiercely to hire the best talent in the market. Over the last month, we tracked more than 200 vacancies for senior energy professionals across the continent.

  • Since January, the sector has received over $15 billion in project funding across the different clean technologies. As these projects move to the construction phase, more hires are expected to support their development.

  • Our take: Foreign firms are setting the pace in Africa’s renewable energy hiring and project execution, but local companies like Mulilo are proving they can scale… Read more (2 min)

Africa has the potential to finance its energy future. Ethiopia and Tanzania's mega-dams, constructed with domestic resources, are proof. As funding cuts from major donors like the US take effect, African countries should look inwards for capital. So says Beckham Siangani, an energy expert, in today's Renewables Rising opinion article.

  • Mr Siangani studied energy engineering and has worked in multiple energy sectors, including electrical building works and solar installations. He currently provides energy audits for Syrecon Services.

  • He argues that Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog fossil fuels and adopt renewables. This is already happening, with many switching directly from dirty fuels like kerosene for lighting to solar.

  • Click here to read more about his opinion.

Solar trainees put their skills to the test by setting up a PV System in Zimbabwe

Events

🗓️ Participate in the Tanzania Renewable Week event (May 27)

🗓️ Join experts for Solar PV Training workshop (May 28)

🗓️ Sign up for the upcoming Wind & BESS Training (Jun 1)

Jobs

⚙️ Become Sun King’s Senior Operations Associate (Uganda)

👨🏽‍💻 Clean Tech Hub seeks a consultant (Nigeria)

👩🏻‍💼 Apply for Zutari’s Project Financial Accountant (Namibia)

Various 

🔆 Get FiT restart aims to grow Zambian solar PV in 2 years

💸 Egypt's Mashat in talks with IMF for $1.3 billion RSF funding

♻️ Roadmap launched for Africa to lead global carbon market growth

🔌 NERSA greenlights NTCSA's congestion curtailment plans in South Africa

Seen on LinkedIn 

Cesar Barbosa, Founder and CEO at NuLife Power Services, says, “A bold prediction no one wants to hear: Half of all commercial solar systems installed before 2016 will be underperforming or non-operational by 2030.”