ENERGY CATALYST (Round 8)

1.1bn people globally have no access to modern energy provision and a further 1bn have only intermittent access. Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst programme aims to support businesses to develop innovative, sustainable energy technologies and business models to accelerate clean energy transition in developing and emerging economies.

A key focus is to address the clean energy access challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/South East Asia. Energy Catalyst Round 8 will launch in June 2020 and is likely to follow similar scope and eligibility to Round 7 which had an early, mid and late stream. These brokerage visits form part of the collaboration-building to enable businesses to develop equitable partnerships between the UK and overseas organisations.

Energy Catalyst is currently funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and Department for International Development (DfID) as part of their Transforming Energy Access programme who have invested more than £60m.

AIM OF THIS VISIT

The key objectives of the international brokerage trips are to help organisations applying for the Energy Catalyst Round 8 to gain an understanding of the energy access issues in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/South East Asia and find links to potential partners who would be interested in submitting an Energy Catalyst Application.

There are three key parts to the visit:

• Getting Ready: Pre-visit briefing to provide background information on the market and training on how to improve your business and technology pitch for in-country brokering. Hints and tips session on applying to Innovate UK.

• The Visit: Access to NGOs, local businesses, academics and governments who will be able to provide information about local opportunities. They may also become potential partners to apply into Energy Catalyst Round 8.

• Helping you make the best of the opportunity: Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) support to help you prepare your application.

WHY GHANA?

Ghana has a population of 28.9 million, and an economy that grew 6.3% in 2018. With English as the official language and similar business and legal systems to the UK, it provides a friendly business environment for UK companies. Services form the bulk of the economy, followed by industry and agriculture. Ghana’s Government has set out a plan for industrialisation and economic diversification providing opportunities for UK companies. Government policy in the energy sector pushes for a significant increase and diversification in its energy resources. This includes a Renewable Energy Master Plan, an investment-focused framework for development and promotion of Ghana’s rich renewable energy resources to propel economic growth, improve social life and reduce effects of climate change. This energy policy is embodied in the Strategic National Energy Plan 2006-2020.

ENERGY SECTOR IN GHANA

Ghana’s power supply sources are from hydroelectricity, thermal fuelled by crude oil, natural gas and diesel, solar and imports from La Cote D’Ivoire. Ghana also exports power to Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso. Ongoing grid expansions would allow further exports to other neighbouring countries in the sub region. Ghana currently has six 127MW turbines, which are the main source of electricity in the country. Currently, almost 30% of the population do not have access to electricity, according to the latest World Bank data.

Many Ghanaians, particularly in rural areas, rely on traditional biomass and waste for household cooking and heating. The power sector is mainly government regulated but the government has opened the sector to allow private sector participation in electricity generation to address erratic power supply.

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify, organisations must be interested in applying for Energy Catalyst Round 8. They must also be working within technology that addresses all three areas of the energy trilemma and aiming to increase energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. They must also be one of the below:

• UK-based micro or SME business (given priority)

• research technology organisation (RTO)

• academic organisation

• charity

• public sector organisation

This programme employs funding through State Aid General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER), with eligibility subject to financial checks.

Companies that have joined previous GCRF visit may only apply if they can demonstrate:

• positive impact of their previous participation in applying for the Energy Catalyst Round 7

•clear additional benefit and impact through the application process

The maximum number of GCRF visits an organisation can attend is 2.

BENEFITS OF THE VISIT

• Pitching to companies and organisations to find potential partners

• Group meetings with key industry players to help understand the energy landscape and energy access issues

• Group site visits and potential linkages to local companies, renewable energy plants and villages that use outstanding renewable energy technologies

• Pre-visit workshop in London, week commencing Monday 1 June 2020, providing market information and pitching training

• Your organisation’s profile in the visit brochure

• In-market help and advice

COSTS

On acceptance to the visit, a commitment fee of £500+VAT will be taken from you, which will be returned on completion of the visit and feedback form.

Non-attendance after formal acceptance will result in forfeiting the commitment fee.

TRAVEL

This visit is part of GCRF. For approved organisations Innovate UK will fund flights, visas, (5 nights) accommodation, in-country transport, and group meals.

GCRF does not cover travel and health insurance for the mission. This must be obtained individually.

Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK including for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. Recent evidence of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), have been reported so an up to date polio vaccine is highly recommended. Malaria, Dengue fever and other tropical diseases are common in Ghana, additionally day-biting mosquitos carry Zika virus. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. There are occasional outbreaks of cholera. You will need a yellow fever vaccine certificate. Medical facilities are poor outside towns. For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation will be necessary. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

HOW TO APPLY

It is a competitive process; places are limited, and applications will be evaluated by a panel of experts from the organisers.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information on the Energy Catalyst Round 8, please contact: Alice Goodbrook, Innovation Lead – Energy, Innovate UK, T: +44 (0)782 6513 670, E: Alice.Goodbrook@innovateuk.ukri.org or Dr Nicola Lazenby, Innovation Lead – Energy, Innovate UK, T: +44 (0)7342 088736, E: nicola.lazenby@innovateuk.ukri.org.

For any additional information related to the visit, please contact: Thierry Delange, thierry.delange@rtcnorth.co.uk 0191 516 4400

Energy Catalyst Round 8 Brokerage Visit to Ghana

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