Energy

Schneider Electric opens Africa’s first innovation hub in Johannesburg

Midrand-based facility showcases smart, sustainable solutions for Africa’s digital energy transition. (Image source: Schneider Electric)

Schneider Electric, a global frontrunner in energy management and automation, and a widely recognised sustainability champion, has inaugurated its inaugural innovation hub in Africa

This marks a key development in the company’s broader investment strategy across the continent. Situated within Schneider Electric’s new English-speaking headquarters in Midrand, Johannesburg, the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art features.

Now part of a global network of over 40 innovation hubs, the new Johannesburg site is designed to demonstrate the company’s commitment to sustainability and digital transformation to customers, partners, and stakeholders across Africa.

The innovation hub offers an immersive experience, allowing visitors to engage with Schneider Electric’s integrated technologies spanning core sectors such as energy, buildings, industry, data centres, and, power infrastructure.

“We are building an ecosystem that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and relevance to the African context; one that values local talent, fosters local partnerships, and drives local solutions. The innovation hub enables us to create a truly dynamic experience that embodies Schneider Electric’s purpose: enabling all to maximise energy and resources while bridging progress and sustainability," commented Canninah Dladla, cluster president for Anglophone Africa at Schneider Electric.

"Indeed, Africa holds immense potential, and this hub is designed to help our customers and partners unlock it through digitalisation, innovation, and collaboration."

Interactive and sector-specific experiences

The hub provides a guided and bespoke experience for each visitor, beginning with Schneider Electric’s story, told through an interactive touchscreen, and transitioning into a deeper look at the company’s end-to-end offerings.

Visitors explore multiple customised zones, such as:

The Software Portfolio, with AVEVA Operations Control, eTAP, and EcoStruxure software.
Industrial Automation, featuring real conveyor systems and EcoStruxure Plant and Machine tables with smart devices and sensors.
Building Management, showcasing building control options for lighting, HVAC, access, and room automation.
Power and Grid, with low/medium voltage equipment, SF₆-free AirSet switchgear, protection relays, and microgrid systems.
Secure Power, including a live data centre room with UPS systems.

The space is modular and dynamic to align with Schneider Electric’s innovation hub standards, ensuring that the most recent technologies and solutions are always on display.

Partners, consultants, and system integrators can also pre-book the venue to tailor the set-up to specific client needs or industry verticals. It is supported by dedicated innovation hub managers and an operations specialist, with plans to expand visitor engagement through the company’s global innovation hub Ambassador Programme.

A model for sustainable operations

Located within Schneider Electric’s newly built headquarters, the innovation hub also reflects the company’s commitment to eco-friendly building practices.

Compared to its previous facility, the new site offers significant sustainability improvements:

20% smaller physical footprint
37% monthly reduction in energy usage
34% decrease in water consumption
32 tonnes of CO₂ emissions saved each month

Further enhancing its environmental footprint, the facility incorporates a 200 kWp rooftop solar array, reducing carbon emissions by 15 tonnes monthly. Plans are underway to integrate a full microgrid with battery energy storage (BESS), further reinforcing Schneider Electric’s sustainability ethos.

Weza Power to accelerate Burundi electrification

Weza Power is driving electrification in Burundi

Weza Power has secured additional funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to advance its Burundi electrification plans

The company is the first national-level electricity distribution firm of its kind operating across Burundi.

Privately owned and operated by Nairobi-based Anzana Electricity, with support from British International Investment and Gridworks, it also represents the first privately operated national electricity distribution company in sub-Saharan Africa in over a decade.

Weza Power hopes to connect nine million people across Burundi, with plans to step up its efforts after landing a further US$600,000 grant from the AfDB.

“Weza Power represents a bold new model for accelerating access to electricity for all Burundians,” said Burundi’s Minister of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines, Ibrahim Uwizeye.

“We are proud to partner with the private sector to bring innovative solutions to our energy challenges and expand electricity access to millions of our citizens.”

Weza Power has also received support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank.

“Our goal is to unlock the opportunity that power enables for every Burundian. This support… will help accelerate project development and deliver on Burundi’s energy ambitions,” said Brian Kelly, CEO of Anzana Electric Group.

“This grant represents another major step forward for our team and the many communities across Burundi who will benefit from reliable, affordable power.”

The AfDB is also keen to explore similar working models across sub-Saharan Africa, to enable private sector participation in developing and financing transmission lines and grid expansion projects, with the goal of increasing renewable energy integration.

“This support to Weza Power aligns with our commitment to scale innovative business models that can help us reach universal access,” said Daniel Schroth, AfDB’s director of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The announcement comes as Burundi unveiled its National Energy Compact at a M300 (Mission 300) private sector consultation, hosted by the World Bank and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

This outlines key reforms and investment priorities to reach universal energy access and serves as a cornerstone of the Mission 300 initiative — a joint effort by the World Bank and the AfDB to connect 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

Read more:

East Africa: a region on the rise

New electricity utility to connect the people of Burundi

Gridworks and Uganda government work on private investment in electricity transmission sector

Aed Energy pilots on-site power clean energy solution at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos

Pan_Atlantic_University_Lagos_Aed_Energy

Aerial view of Pan-Atlantic University’s main campus in Lagos. (Image source: Aed Energy)

Aed Energy has announced a new thermal battery pilot project at Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) in Lagos, which it hopes will open up new clean energy on-site power options in Nigeria and other territories

The UK-based company is a developer of next-generation thermal energy storage, with solutions to displace fossil fuel generators and accelerate clean energy access in weak-grid regions.

The pilot project tackles one of Nigeria’s critical challenges — the widespread use of fossil fuel generators across education, healthcare, manufacturing and remote infrastructure in energy-constrained markets.

Developed with PAU and a local clean energy integrator, FaithLink Ltd, the project combines rooftop solar with Aed Energy’s proprietary modular thermal battery.

The system stores renewable electricity as high-temperature heat in energy-dense composite bricks and delivers dispatchable power or industrial-grade heat for up to 24 hours, without lithium, combustion, or fragile supply chains.

PAU’s main campus consumes approximately 6,570 MWh of electricity annually, much of it currently supplied by fossil fuel generators, or gensets.

When run on diesel, this equates to over 1.8 million litres per year, the equivalent of filling nearly three-quarters of an Olympic swimming pool full of diesel, for one site alone.

“It moves our technology out of the lab and into the field, showing what’s possible when innovation is paired with local partnerships and real-world demand,” said Aed Energy’s CEO, Rayan Kassis.

“This deployment lays the foundation for clean energy systems that serve critical institutions, power industrial growth and open up new export opportunities for UK innovation.”

The MWh-scale units are designed for rapid deployment across industrial sites, microgrids, and critical infrastructure where fossil fuel gensets, remain the default for primary energy supply.

“This project’s distinction lies in its silent operation, a significant shift from the noise of diesel and gas plants,” added Dr Peter Bamkole, PAU’s deputy vice-chancellor.

Aed Energy is in discussions with investors and energy users across Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East to develop commercial pilot deployments.

The pilot forms part of ZE-Gen’s international innovation programme, a collaborative initiative by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK.

It forms one of six new ZE-Gen demonstrator projects funded through Innovate UK.

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GE Vernova, L&T to develop Kenya’s National System Control Centre

Consortium to build modern control centres enhancing Kenya’s electricity transmission infrastructure. (Image source: GE Vernova)

GE Vernova Inc. has announced that, in partnership with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), it will develop a next-generation National System Control Centre (NSCC) for the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO)

The consortium will deliver a comprehensive solution to enhance monitoring, control, and management of Kenya’s national electricity grid, with the order secured in the first quarter of 2025.

As part of the project, a Main Control Centre will be constructed in Embakasi and equipped with advanced grid software and automation systems. An Emergency Control Centre will also be built in Suswa, featuring the same systems, along with an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system to support grid operations. Together, these centres are expected to significantly improve the stability, reliability, and efficiency of Kenya’s electricity transmission network.

The initiative supports Kenya’s national energy goals of achieving universal electricity access by 2030 and transitioning to a more sustainable and efficient energy system. To realise this ambition, the country is investing in grid expansion, clean energy integration, and the adoption of smart technologies that enhance energy efficiency across the value chain.

GE Vernova, through its French entity Grid Solutions SAS, will lead the consortium and supply key grid technologies from its Electrification Software and Grid Automation portfolio. These include GridOS orchestration software — specifically Advanced Energy Management Systems (AEMS) and Wide Area Management Systems (WAMS)—as well as EAM systems, GridBeats Asset Performance Management, condition monitoring devices, substation automation systems, and telecommunication systems.

Larsen & Toubro will be responsible for civil works, including the construction of both greenfield control centres, installation of equipment, and support for system configuration, testing, and commissioning. The entire project is expected to be completed within three years.

The project is backed by financing from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Treasury, with additional grant support from the European Union for capacity building. This financial partnership reflects a broader commitment to strengthening Kenya’s energy infrastructure and accelerating the energy transition.

Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s electrification systems businesses, commented, “GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to handle projects of this scale and complexity, requiring both advanced software solutions and grid automation equipment, as well as unique financing solutions. With our comprehensive capabilities in managing such projects end-to-end, we believe KETRACO will significantly benefit from GE Vernova’s expertise, ensuring seamless integration and operational efficiency from project inception to completion. By providing Kenya with an advanced electricity control centre, we’re aiming to enhance the reliability and efficiency of its national grid. This is a pivotal step in paving the way for a more sustainable future that supports the country’s electrification and decarbonisation goals.”

Once operational, the new system will enhance Kenya’s grid management capabilities, improve power quality, and support the integration of renewable energy sources—laying the foundation for a smarter, more resilient national grid.

EWIA to unlock on-site solar in Nigeria, Cameroon

On-site solar power growth in Africa

EWIA Green Investments, which operates in the commercial renewable energy space in West Africa, has launched a fund raising to accelerate its growth plans across the region

The company provides solar financing and operation for commercial and industrial users in Ghana, but is keen on expanding into the Nigeria and Cameroon markets.

“Power generation is too expensive and dirty in large parts of Africa, and blackouts are a daily occurrence,” said co-founder and managing director Ralph Schneider.

”EWIA is helping to meet Africa's growing energy needs with clean, affordable and reliable solar power.”

In 2020, EWIA launched in Ghana as a dedicated solar financier, helping medium-sized businesses transition from diesel generators to clean, cost-effective solar energy.

By analysing electricity demand and refinancing potential across various industries, it designs tailored solar solutions that meet the specific needs of each client.

Today, EWIA also installs PV systems in-house, acting as an EPC project developer responsible for engineering, procurement and construction.

A subsidiary division also builds solar-powered telecom towers for mobile network operators.

The new financing round, released on the digital funding platform Conda, will raise additional equity for its growth ambitions.

It follows the acquisition of SunErgy GmbH in April this year, which gave EWIA entry into the Cameroon market.

SunErgy has been licensed by Cameroon to establish solar power supplies for 92 villages with approximately 600,000 people, as well as schools, health centres and private and public companies in the southwestern region of the country.

At the same time, EWIA is keen to expand into the Nigerian market.

Over the next five years, it aims to grow its project portfolio to over €63 million (US$72mn) and significantly increase its footprint in West Africa.

"By transferring capital and know-how to sub-Saharan Africa, we help local businesses operate more successfully, become more competitive and create jobs — all crucial factors for both the economic and social development of a continent with the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world," said co-founder and managing director Timo Schäfer.

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