Ignite Energy Access

Ignite Energy Access
FormerlyIgnite Power
TypePrivate
IndustryRenewable energy
Founded2014; 12 years ago (2014)
FoundersYariv Cohen, Angela Homsi
Headquarters
Abu Dhabi
,
United Arab Emirates
Area served
Sub-Saharan Africa
Key people
Yariv Cohen (CEO)
Websiteigniteaccess.com

Ignite Energy Access is a renewable energy company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It develops distributed solar energy systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.[1][2] The company operates in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, and Zambia.[3]

History

Yariv Cohen and Angela Homsi founded Ignite Power in 2014.[1][2] The company began operations in Rwanda, where it deployed solar home systems using pay-as-you-go financing.[1][2] By 2023, it operated in several African countries and reported about 1.1 million customers.[4]

In 2023, the company acquired Pawame, a solar home system provider in Kenya, and Mwezi Solar, a distributed solar company in East Africa.[5][6] In 2024, it acquired Oolu, a Senegal-based off-grid solar company founded in 2015, adding operations in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Nigeria.[7][5]

In 2025, the company acquired ENGIE Energy Access, the off-grid subsidiary of ENGIE, and changed its name from Ignite Power to Ignite Energy Access.[8][9] After the acquisition, it operated in 14 African countries and served more than 15 million people.[8][9] It established its headquarters in Abu Dhabi in 2025 under an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.[10]

Operations

Ignite Energy Access develops solar home systems, mini-grids, and commercial solar installations, and offers solar home systems on a pay-as-you-go basis.[1][11] It sells the MySol product line, which it acquired with ENGIE Energy Access.[12] The company has also developed solar-powered irrigation pumps for agricultural use.[4]

In 2025, the company installed solar systems in 34 schools in rural Nigeria.[13]

Mini-grids

Through its subsidiary PowerCorner Zambia, the company develops and operates solar mini-grids in Zambia.[5][14] In 2025, it commissioned 15 mini-grids in Chadiza District, Eastern Province, in cooperation with Zambia's Rural Electrification Authority and Ministry of Energy.[14][15]

Commercial installations

Through its subsidiary Westa Solar, the company develops commercial and industrial solar projects in West Africa. In 2024, Westa Solar secured $15 million in senior debt financing from the Afrigreen Debt Impact Fund for these projects.[16]

Partnerships

In Mozambique, the company took part in the World Bank–supported Pro Energia+ programme with Bamboo Capital Partners and Mozambique's Fundo de Energia, which used results-based financing.[14][17] In Rwanda, it worked with government ministries on a project to supply solar-powered internet connectivity to schools.[18]

In Nigeria, the company was among the firms onboarded in 2026 into the financing pipeline of the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) programme, a $750 million World Bank–supported rural electrification initiative implemented by Nigeria's Rural Electrification Agency.[19]

Awards

In 2023, Ignite Power received the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the energy category.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sharma, Gaurav. "How Startups Are Bringing Affordable, Clean Energy To Africa". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  2. ^ a b c Gallagher, Chris (2026-05-27). "The Infrastructure Behind Africa's Energy Shift". Time Africa. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  3. ^ "Financing Electricity Access in Africa – Analysis". IEA. 2025-10-20. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  4. ^ a b Silverstein, Ken. "African Agricultural Sector Is Sunnier Because Of Solar-Powered Pumps". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  5. ^ a b c "Financing Electricity Access in Africa" (PDF). International Energy Agency. 2025-10-20. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  6. ^ "Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2024" (PDF). World Bank Group. 2025. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  7. ^ Ndoye, Amadjiguéne (2024-04-26). "The Senegalese energy startup Oolu is now under the umbrella of Ignite Power". Financial Afrik (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  8. ^ a b Markosyan, Martina (2025-09-25). "Ignite Power closes buy of Engie's Africa-focused off-grid solar unit". Renewables Now. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  9. ^ a b "Ignite Power acquires 100% of ENGIE Energy Access". Green Building Africa. 2025-01-30. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  10. ^ "ADIO partners with Ignite Energy Access for global expansion". Economy Middle East. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  11. ^ "Mission to Electrify Africa Underway". Bloomberg. 2025-03-28. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  12. ^ "ENGIE Energy Access's journey to transform energy poverty through carbon markets". GSMA. 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  13. ^ Nzeako, Ikechi (2025-11-02). "Ignite Energy Access Empowers 34 Schools With Solar Systems In Rural Nigeria". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  14. ^ a b c "The Mission to Electrify Africa Might Finally Be Under Way". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  15. ^ "Ignite Energy Access Commissions 15 Solar Mini-Grids in Eastern Zambia". Ecofin Agency. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  16. ^ "Ignite Power secures $15m from AFRIGREEN to drive solar energy transformation in West Africa" (PDF). 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  17. ^ "Mozambique: Ignite Power joins Pro Energia+ to expand rural electrification". Africa News Agency (in French). 2025-09-27. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  18. ^ "Rwanda Partners with Ignite Power to Bring Solar-Powered Internet to Schools". TechAfrica News. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  19. ^ Agbajileke, Owede (2026-04-18). "Nigeria's off-grid energy firms secure $83m IFC-backed funding". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  20. ^ España, Forbes (2023-12-04). "11 award winners at the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony held during COP28 UAE". Forbes España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2026-07-24.

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