Ayrton Fund
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

The Ayrton Fund supports clean energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) to accelerate the clean energy transition in developing countries.

Overview

The UK government has committed up to £1 billion through the Ayrton Fund (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-scientists-to-help-tackle-climate-change-through-new-1-billion-fund) to support clean energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) between April 2021 and March 2026. This is part of the wider UK commitment to tackle climate change (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-aid-to-double-efforts-to-tackle-climate-change) and spend £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/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 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7) (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG13 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal13) (Climate Action). It also supports the ambitions of important initiatives such as the COP26 Glasgow Breakthroughs (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cop26-world-leaders-summit-statement-on-the-breakthrough-agenda-2-november-2021/cop26-world-leaders-summit-statement-on-the-breakthrough-agenda) and Green Grids Initiative (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-india-launch-new-grids-initiative-to-deliver-clean-power-to-the-world).

Specifically, it supports RD&D around 3 themes:
- lower-cost, flexible clean energy supplies suited to the resources of developing countries
- super-efficient demand via innovative services, processes and equipment meeting the needs of poor consumers and enterprises
- smart delivery systems and resources to manage variable clean energy and reduce the costs of delivering reliable clean energy
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology) jointly manage the Ayrton Fund. They do this through a portfolio of ongoing, new, and scaled-up clean energy platforms and programmes, including thematic challenge programmes, and country and regional demonstrators.

Ayrton thematic challenges target technology priorities that are important for the achievement of SDG7 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7) and SDG13 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal13), including:
- next generation solar
- sustainable cooling for all
- modern cooking
- energy efficiency
- industrial decarbonisation
- clean transport
- smart energy systems
- energy storage
- clean hydrogen
- critical minerals
- inclusive energy and leave no-one behind
Use the Ayrton Fund Explorer Tool (https://ayrtonfund.info/) to find more information about the fund’s 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 RD&D platforms and programmes. These include, for example:

Transforming Energy Access (TEA) (https://tea.carbontrust.com/)

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) (https://climatecompatiblegrowth.com/)

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) (https://a2dfacility.unido.org/)

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) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-13-ICF-0037-CEIF/summary)

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 (https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/the-ukri-ayrton-challenge-programme-outlines/)

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) (https://www.newton-gcrf.org/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 (https://www.ukri.org/what-we-offer/international-funding/global-challenges-research-fund/) (UKRI) run GCRF Ayrton Fund activities.

Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) (https://mecs.org.uk/)

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) (https://efficiencyforaccess.org/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) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-1-300632/summary) programme and follow-on Scaling Agriculture Investment in Digital, AI and Innovation (SAIDAI) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-400153/summary) programme.

Africa Regional Climate and Nature (ARCAN) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-1-300808/summary)

This regional FCDO programme supports the World Bank’s Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation Initiative (SMRI) (https://www.esmap.org/sustainable_renewables_risk_mitigation_initiative#:~:text=SRMI%20helps%20governments%20develop%2C%20finance,connected%20and%20off%2Dgrid%20projects) and the Africa Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) (https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/initiatives-partnerships/sustainable-energy-fund-for-africa). These initiatives are scaling-up proven renewable energy technologies and demonstrating the integration of energy storage, smart/mini-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) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aspireta/?originalSubdomain=in)

This FCDO country programme supports India’s 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 (https://brilhomoz.com/)

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) (https://mitigation-action.org/)

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) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-400021/summary)

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) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-300539/summary)

This FCDO programme includes a £13.5 million contribution to the World Bank’s 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) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-1-301142/summary)

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 Leone’s Hospitals (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-301526/summary)

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 (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-300635/summary)

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.

Ukraine Resilience and Energy Security Programme (URES) (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/countries/UA/)

This FCDO country programme includes an Energy Security Innovation Challenge Fund that will support UK-led innovations for applied research that can modernise Ukraine’s energy sector.

Doctors performing surgery in 1 of 6 newly electrified hospitals in Sierra Leone. Photo credit: Powering Sierra Leone's Hospitals.

Further information about the fund

Ayrton Fund Explorer

The Ayrton Fund Explorer Tool (https://ayrtonfund.info/) 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 you’re:
- an innovator looking for funding for an energy storage project in Africa
- writing a research report covering energy access in the Indo-Pacific
- looking for training opportunities in South Asia
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 RD&D 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 (https://ayrtonfund.info/) 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 X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/ayrton_fund) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ayrton-fund/) accounts.

BURN induction cooker manufacturing facility in Kenya. Photo credit: Modern Energy Cooking Services programme.

Government departments

The Ayrton Fund is a cross-government collaboration led by 3 departments. Find out more information on the work of these departments:
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office)
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero)
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology)
Ampersand electric taxi motorbike in Rwanda. Photo credit: Mitigation Action Facility.

Contact details

For further details or questions about the Ayrton Fund, email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

You can subscribe to the Ayrton Fund newsletter (https://carbontrust.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c358c85bac04572540c636e92&id=5d0f9c4e45) to receive news, updates, and events information.