Accelerating Clean Energy Transition in Africa: Highlights from the Sankalp Africa Summit 2026
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 28 – The Sankalp Africa Summit 2026, held in Nairobi, convened clean-energy innovators, investors, and organizations, emphasizing the urgent need for a just and inclusive energy transition across the continent. Organized by Energy Catalyst, the two-day event focused on scaling affordable and reliable clean-energy solutions in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and rural enterprises.
Engagement for Energy Solutions
“Our presence at the Sankalp Africa Summit 2026 is driven by a clear purpose: to accelerate a just and inclusive clean energy transition by engaging directly with innovators, investors, and partners across the continent,” explained Jillian Henderson, Energy Catalyst Lead at Innovate UK.
Energy Catalyst, a flagship initiative by Innovate UK, aims to support market-ready clean-energy innovations that not only enhance access but also generate economic opportunities in underserved communities.
Powering Agriculture Through Clean Energy
A pivotal session titled Powering the Food Systems – Energy as Infrastructure for Agriculture delved into how decentralized renewable energy can reduce operational costs and enhance productivity within farming value chains.
Matt Carr, CEO and founder of Agsol, highlighted the financial strain of diesel-powered milling in Kenya. “In Kenya, the cost of milling can vary significantly based on location. For instances relying on diesel mills, nearly half of the service fee—approximately 10 to 20 shillings—is spent directly on fuel,” he stated. Agsol specializes in solar-powered agri-processing equipment designed specifically for off-grid farming communities, thereby decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and stabilizing costs.
Expanding Cold-Chain Infrastructure
Another noteworthy participant was Gommyr Power Networks, which is implementing solar-battery microgrid hubs to facilitate cold-storage and transport solutions in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mozambique.
Arnaud Henin, Managing Director, noted, “We emphasize renewable-based, on-site energy systems that catalyze productive activities in rural areas.” In Mozambique, the firm is launching GoHubs in Nova Mambone and Pomene, aimed at providing ice production, cold storage, and cold-chain transport services to artisanal fishing communities. This initiative is anticipated to minimize spoilage, enhance processing, and broaden market access for over 300 fishermen and resellers.
South-South Innovation Momentum
The theme of this year’s summit, “South-South Rising,” highlights a transformative shift in global innovation flows. Scalable climate and energy solutions are increasingly springing from regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
This theme emphasizes how African entrepreneurs are transitioning from merely adopting technology to designing, manufacturing, and deploying solutions tailored for local markets. It also signifies stronger regional collaboration, investment channels, and knowledge-sharing among developing economies facing similar energy and climate-related challenges.
Additional participants at the summit included Compact Syngas Solutions and Hubl Logistics/Coolrun, who showcased innovative clean-energy and logistics solutions.
Energy Catalyst’s active engagement at the summit is pivotal to strengthening partnerships necessary for scaling commercially viable solutions that address Africa’s energy access challenges while fostering inclusive growth.
For more insights into the clean energy transition in Africa, visit Energy Catalyst.
