French Agency for Development(AFD) Digital Energy Challenge 2024

The Digital Energy Facility launched the Digital Energy Challenge in 2021 for a four-year term, with an annual call for projects. 

The aim of the Challenge is to support the development of innovative solutions for greater energy access, to facilitate the integration of renewable energies and improve energy operators' performance.

• Table of Content
• About France Government
• Digital Energy Challenge
• Aim and Benefits of Digital Energy Challenge
• Requirements for Digital Energy Challenge Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About France Government

Digital Energy Challenge

Aim and Benefits of Digital Energy Challenge

Each year the Challenge will award 2 to 3 utility and technology/service provider partnership projects and 5 to 8 start-up projects. An annual budget of €1.8 M will enable grant-based funding, technical assistance and strategic guidance. 

Challenge winners can benefit from:

• A financial contribution in the form of a grant for equipment and software purchases, training, recruitment costs for start-ups, and product/service purchase costs linked to technology/service providers for utilities.

• Technical assistance for all utilities and certain start-ups on a case-by-case basis, such as project management support, strategic and technical expertise, and accounting/reporting assistance.

• A bootcamp run by cross-sectorial experts to support project implementation, foster synergies between project winners and share best practices.

• Increased visibility for the project through widespread social media communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp and for a period of time after these events.

Requirements for Digital Energy Challenge Qualification

The 2024 Call for Projects targets projects based in Africa and owned by:

Start-ups in the pre-seed phase or with early-stage activities. NGOs can apply under the Start-up category (see more details on the eligibility criteria for Start-ups).

Public utilities (public power utilities and public Independent System Operators, private companies under a public service concession, power pools, regional organisations, energy regulators, rural electrification authorities) in partnership with technology/service providers (see more details on the eligibility criteria for Utilities).

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit Digital Energy Facility website.