Overview
The UK government has committed up to 1 billion through the Ayrton Fund to support clean energy research, development and demonstration RDD between April 2021 and March 2026. This is part of the wider UK commitment to tackle climate change and spend 11.6 billion of International Climate Finance ICF over the same period. The Ayrton Fund aims to accelerate the clean energy transition in developing countries, by creating and demonstrating innovative clean energy technologies and business models. It will demonstrate UK leadership and expertise in cutting global emissions through world-leading innovations. It seeks to make clean energy options the most affordable, accessible and attractive options in developing countries. This supports Sustainable Development Goal SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG13 Climate Action.
Ayrton thematic challenges target technology priorities that are important for the achievement of SDG7 and SDG13, including
Use the Ayrton Fund Explorer Tool to find more information about the funds programmes and projects across these thematic challenges. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy reassembles a Hinckley Recycling second life battery in Nigeria. Photo credit Transforming Energy Access platform. Ayrton platforms and programmes
The Ayrton Fund supports 34 clean energy RDD platforms and programmes. These include, for example
Transforming Energy Access TEA
This FCDO research and innovation platform supports early-stage testing and scale-up of innovative technologies and business models that accelerate access to affordable, clean energy. It helps poor households, enterprises, and social institutions in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Climate Compatible Growth CCG
This FCDO research and innovation platform develops evidence and global public goods to help countries develop and implement economic strategies and plans. It also works on policies to attract investment into low-carbon growth opportunities across various sectors, including grid-scale energy and transport. Accelerate to Demonstrate A2D
This DESNZ Facility aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies in developing countries, in critical minerals, clean hydrogen, and cross-cutting energy transitions themes, such as industrial decarbonisation and smart energy. Clean Energy Innovation Facility CEIF
This DESNZ platform aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies in developing countries in key themes. These include industrial decarbonisation, sustainable cooling, smart energy, and energy storage. Ayrton Challenge Programme
This DSIT programme funds a portfolio of research projects that seek to accelerate the clean energy transition in developing countries. It supports both the development of innovative technologies, and the generation of knowledge needed for long-term sustainable change. Global Challenges Research Fund GCRF
This DSIT research and innovation Fund supports UK and international researchers and innovators to address important issues affecting developing countries, including access to clean energy. UK Research and Innovation UKRI run GCRF Ayrton Fund activities. Modern Energy Cooking Services MECS
This FCDO programme develops clean cooking research products and supports clean cooking scale-up and innovation. Through a consortium of world-leading UK universities and innovators, it aims to support the transition from biomass to genuinely clean cooking fuels in developing countries. Low Energy Inclusive Appliances LEIA
This FCDO research and innovation programme focuses on improving the efficiency, performance, and availability of electrical appliances and solar technologies for off-grid and weak-grid settings. At the same time, it aims to lower their cost for consumers, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Catalysing Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems CASEE
This FCDO research and innovation project supports innovative energy and agricultural technology businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It aims to strengthen energy, agriculture, and food systems, boosting the productivity, income, and resilience of smallholder farmers. It is part of the wider Strengthening Impact Investment Markets for Agriculture SIIMA programme and follow-on Scaling Agriculture Investment in Digital, AI and Innovation SAIDAI programme. Africa Regional Climate and Nature ARCAN
This regional FCDO programme supports the World Banks Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation Initiative SMRI and the Africa Development Banks Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa SEFA. These initiatives are scaling-up proven renewable energy technologies and demonstrating the integration of energy storage, smartmini-grids and new guarantee instruments. The programme contributes to sustainable and environmentally sound economic development and low carbon green energy generation and access across Africa. Accelerating Smart Power and Renewable Energy in India ASPIRE
This FCDO country programme supports Indias clean energy transition. It focuses on key areas such electricity distribution, e-mobility, industrial energy efficiency, solar energy, offshore wind energy, energy storage and green hydrogen. BRILHO Mozambique
This FCDO country programme is expanding rural household energy access by catalysing private sector innovation and investment and government support in Mozambique.
It aims to increase domestic and business energy solutions through the supply of household solar, mini-grids, and improved cooking technologies. Mitigation Action Facility MAF
This DESNZ-supported Facility is a UK-German multi-donor fund that drives lasting policy and technology change in developing countries. It focuses on hard-to-abate sectors, offering high-value grants and technical assistance to projects in areas such as energy and transport. Pacific Clean Energy Programme PCEP
This FCDO regional programme aims to improve access to affordable clean energy in Pacific Island Countries by increasing investment into renewable energy. It includes a Regional Clean Energy Investment Fund that mobilises funding and supports local developers to build a pipeline of viable renewable energy projects. It also includes the Papua New Guinea Clean Energy Investment Fund in partnership with Australia. This provides grants to civil society organisations to scale-up clean energy access in remote and marginalised communities not served by government systems. Pioneer Outcomes Fund POF
This FCDO programme includes a 13.5 million contribution to the World Banks Clean Cooking Fund. It seeks to drive private sector investment into the clean cooking sector by using outcome-linked financing to incentivise the innovation, adoption, and scaling of modern cooking technologies across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region. Pioneering a Holistic approach to Energy and Nature-based Options in MENA for Long-term stability PHENOMENAL
This regional FCDO programme supports innovations and investment in renewable energy, transport, hydrogen and low carbon industry in the Middle East and North Africa MENA. This includes green hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation, and e-Mobility. Powering Sierra Leones Hospitals
This FCDO country programme funds the installation of stand-alone solar systems in off-grid hospitals and on-grid referral facilities that have unreliable grid power in Sierra Leone. It ensures the availability of referral services that are crucial to ending the preventable deaths of women and children. Private Enterprise Programme Zambia
This FCDO country programme includes a 15 million contribution to the World Bank, to support interconnector and green grids projects. It seeks to improve energy supply security and reduce energy costs for the people of Zambia.
Photo credit Powering Sierra Leones Hospitals. Further information about the fund
Ayrton Fund Explorer
The Ayrton Fund Explorer Tool enables you to find relevant knowledge, initiatives, funding opportunities and partnerships. It includes many of the programmes and projects that the Ayrton Fund supports. You can search by need, interest and region. For example, the Explorer Tool can help you find relevant Ayrton Fund programmes and projects if youre
Solar home system owner in Mozambique. Photo credit BRILHO programme. Access to funding
The Ayrton Fund combines and co-ordinates a range of funding platforms and programmes targeting different RDD needs. Through them, it supports the clean energy transition in developing countries. You may access Ayrton Fund support through one of the funded platforms or programmes. These include those listed on this page, and where applicable their calls for proposals and funding windows. However, not all programmes will include a direct route to access funding. You can use the Ayrton Fund Explorer Tool to find relevant programmes and projects. You can also keep up to date on calls for proposals and opportunities for engagement on the relevant programme websites and social media. You can also follow the Ayrton Fund XTwitter and LinkedIn accounts. BURN induction cooker manufacturing facility in Kenya. Photo credit Modern Energy Cooking Services programme.