Digital Energy Challenge For Utilities - Annual Call for Projects

The 2021 Challenge for Utilities is open to projects owned by sub-Saharan African public electricity power utilities (including public Independent System Operators, power pools, regional organisations, energy regulators, rural electrification authorities and public organisations in charge of biomass resource preservation) in a partnership with an innovative technology/service provider.

As a reminder, the three themes of the 2021 edition were:

Universal energy access such as innovative off-grid solutions (mini/micro grids with energy management or storage systems for optimal use of clean, renewable energy, interconnections with the main grid or micro grids, energy metering or revenue collection); stand-alone systems (solar kiosks or kits); on-grid solutions (power capacity optimisation tools, grid extension tools, tools to increase customer connections). 

Improvement of grid management and quality of service for reduction of losses and power outages such as digital tools that: reduce technical or non-technical losses (blackout risk analysis, reduction or management), improve power supply continuity or enhance quality service management.  

Solutions enabling a high integration rate of renewable energy (RE) into the power system such as digital tools to connect RE to grid, manage RE production sites, implement interconnection dynamic line rating, mix renewable and non-renewable sources to optimize RE use, control and manage grid flexibility and stability, connect/disconnect RE capacities, forecast RE production or other services to the grid needed for higher RE penetration.

For every annual Call for Projects, 2-3 winning utility partnerships will each benefit from:

• A grant of €100K-€700K to support costs for equipment, software, products and services provided by the innovative technology/service provider, and training.
• Technical assistance for project management assistance, strategic and technical expertise.

In addition, both utility partnership and start-up winners can take advantage of:

• A joint boot camp run by cross-sectorial experts, which will support project implementation, provide sectorial insights, foster synergies between project winners and encourage best-practice sharing
• Widespread communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp and for a period of time after these events.

The project owner must be a sub-Saharan African public electricity power utility or organisation. This definition includes public ISO (Independent System Operators), power pools, regional organisations, energy regulators, rural electrification authorities and public organisations in charge of biomass resource preservation.

The project owner must be in a partnership with a technology/service provider who must meet the following criteria:

• Less than 15 years existence or have already developed an innovative solution to be tested
• National or international registered company
• More than 5 employees
• Annual turnover of less than €50M

The collaborative project must have digital technology as a core element (telecom, computer or cloud-based technology); be innovative either intrinsically or in relation to the local market/country; and be local i.e. have project management activities in the country where the project is based. 

1. Download the Utilities Application Pack (email address required)

2. Watch the information webinar recording from 28th April here

3. Complete the application form and prepare the required documents 

4. Submit your project before 16th July 2021 23:59 CET

• Launch of the Call for Projects: 6th April 2021
• Deadline for submission: 16th July 2021 23:59 CET
• Announcement of results: September-October 2021

For more information:

• Watch the information webinar recording from the 28th April here
• Consult the FAQ which will be updated regularly
• Join the Challenge mailing list and ask any questions by contacting us

Download the Challenge brochure