European Commission announces €545 million package to scale up renewables in Africa

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled last September 27 a €545 million Team Europe package to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition. This announcement, made at the Global Citizen Festival via video message in the context of the United Nations General Assembly, is an important milestone in the ‘Scaling Up Renewables in Africa’ campaign, co-hosted with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This campaign raises global awareness and mobilises public and private investments for clean energy generation and access across Africa.

“The choices Africa makes today are shaping the future of the entire world. A clean energy transition on the continent will create jobs, stability, growth and the delivery of our global climate goals. The European Union, with the Global Gateway investment plan, is fully committed to supporting Africa on its clean energy path” said President von der Leyen.

Africa’s renewable energy potential is huge, yet nearly 600 million people still live without access to electricity. How this clean energy transition unfolds will play a big role in shaping future development, regional stability, and progress on climate change.

Investing now in solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power is not just a moral and development imperative, it is also a strategic choice that strengthens supply chains, creates up to 38 million green jobs by 2030, and makes energy systems more resilient. Through the Global Gateway investment strategy, the European Union is helping accelerate this transition, delivering major investments in generation, transmission, and cross-border electricity trade, while building stable international partnerships.

An acceleration of clean energy projects across Africa

Last September 27’s €545 million package expands the EU and Team Europe’s clean energy efforts in Africa, with new projects supporting electrification, modernise power grids, and improve access to renewables.

Projects announced include:

• Côte d’Ivoire (€359.4 million): A high-voltage transmission line (‘Dorsale Est’) to boost regional energy distribution;
• Cameroon (€ 59.1 million): Rural electrification for 687 communities, reaching more than 2.5 million people;
• Republic of Congo (€ 3.5 million): Expanding access to renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydropower;
• Lesotho (€25.9 million): Unlocking wind and hydro energy through the Renewable Lesotho programme;
• Ghana (€2 million): Laying the groundwork for a large-scale solar park and regional energy trade;
• Central Africa (€3.3 million):
  • A technical assistance mission to the Central African Power Pool (CAPP), (€1.6 million);
  • A facility for funding research and infrastructure for the Central African Power Pool (CAPP) (€0.5 million);
  • A feasibility study for the Friendship Loop (‘Boucle de l’Amitié’), a cross-border transmission line linking Pointe Noire, Brazzaville and Kinshasa (€1.2 million);
• Madagascar (€ 33.2 million): Expanding electrification with mini grids in rural areas;
• Mozambique (€13 million): Supporting a low-emission energy transition and encouraging private sector involvement;
• Somalia (€45.5 million): Increasing access to affordable renewable energy, advancing circular economy practices, and building climate-resilient agri-food systems.

Scaling up Renewables in Africa campaign

The ‘Scaling Up Renewables in Africa’ campaign is carried out with the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen and relies on the policy support of the International Energy Agency. It aims to drive new commitments on policy and finance from governments, financial institutions, the private sector and philanthropists. They are encouraged to pledge capital or provide support such as expertise and technical assistance. The campaign will conclude with a high-level event around the G20 summit in South Africa, on 22-23 November 2025.

The campaign also keeps the momentum more broadly towards the ambitious targets of tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency worldwide, set at COP28.

In early October, the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels will bring together governments, financial institutions, and private sector leaders to provide additional support for Africa’s clean energy transition. This momentum will carry into the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. World leaders and investors will come together to commit to the partnerships and financing needed to power Africa’s renewable future.

More information: European Commission