About Gridworks
Gridworks makes equity investments in transmission, distribution and distributed renewable energy in Africa. Wholly owned and supported by British International Investment, the UK Government’s development finance institution, we develop and invest in critical power infrastructure, both on and off-grid. We are a partner to governments, utilities, and companies in the African power sector.
Our Impact
Without reliable and well-run power infrastructure, companies don’t invest and grow, and economies fail to reach their potential. In Africa today, almost 600m people have no access to electricity. For those that do have a connection, their consumption is only 20% of the global average. Our impact comes from building financially sustainable companies that can deliver power to businesses and households across the continent.
News
Gridworks appoints Robert Wasson as Non-Executive Director
March 26, 2025
We are delighted to welcome Robert Wasson to the Gridworks Board as a Non-Executive Director. Robert’s background is in utility...
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Gridworks-backed hydropower projects in Burundi raise US$35m in debt funding
February 11, 2025
Our portfolio company, Anzana Electric Group, has raised US$35m in debt funding from Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB) for...
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From our new CEO: Improved grids are crucial to delivering Mission 300
January 24, 2025
African Heads of State will gather in Dar es Salaam for the Africa Energy Summit next week where the focus...
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Gridworks to deliver Mbale-Bulambuli-Kween transmission project in Uganda
December 17, 2024
Gridworks and Government of Uganda agree to develop high voltage transmission line and substations to evacuate up to 250MW of...
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Moyi Power appoints African Development Bank as mandated lead arranger for its three metro-grid projects in DRC
December 6, 2024
The Moyi Power consortium, formed by Gridworks, Eranove and AEE Power, has appointed the African Development Bank as the mandated...
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Gridworks appoints Erik Knive as its new CEO
October 22, 2024
Gridworks, the UK government-backed investor in Africa’s electricity networks, today announced the appointment of Erik Knive as its new Chief...
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US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) finances Gridworks-backed distribution company in Burundi
October 16, 2024
DFC – the US Government’s development finance institution – has announced it is providing a US$3.1 million grant to Weza...
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Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) is powering sustainable abalone farming
September 19, 2024
Our portfolio company, SPS, is providing an innovative solar power and battery storage solution to one of South Africa’s leading...
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Gridworks saddened by death of Non-Executive Director, Graham Nicoll
September 12, 2024
The Board, shareholder and employees of Gridworks are deeply saddened by the recent death of Graham Nicoll. Graham’s contribution to...
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Welcoming a new Project Director to lead our Mozambique transmission project
September 3, 2024
We’re delighted to welcome Bruno Batista to the Gridworks team to lead our power transmission project in Mozambique. Based in...
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Sustainable Power Solutions welcomes new CEO
August 27, 2024
Our portfolio company, Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS), has welcomed Paul Mansour as its new CEO. Paul has extensive senior leadership...
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SPS announces two innovative new solar projects
July 11, 2024
Our portfolio company, SPS, has announced two innovative new solar projects in South Africa that will help tackle the energy...
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Virunga Power is now Anzana Electric Group
June 13, 2024
Our portfolio company Virunga Power is now Anzana Electric Group. The name Anzana is rooted in the Swahili language, where...
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Gridworks and Electricidade de Moçambique announce independent power transmission project
June 3, 2024
Landmark project will boost electricity transmission between central and northern regions of Mozambique An agreement to deliver Phase II and...
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IFC partnership for Gridworks-backed utility in Burundi
April 23, 2024
Weza Power – a new private-sector utility created by our portfolio company Virunga Power and the Government of Burundi -...
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CEO’s letter: Simon Hodson reflects on his leadership of Gridworks
March 1, 2024
Dear friends and colleagues, Last year, I made the difficult decision to inform the Gridworks Board of my desire to...
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Simon Hodson to step down as CEO of Gridworks
March 1, 2024
Simon Hodson has decided to step down from his position as Chief Executive of Gridworks at the end of March...
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SPS launches first-of-its-kind solar power wheeling project in Namibia
January 24, 2024
Our portfolio company, Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS), is leading the development and funding of an innovative new 10MW solar plant...
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CEO’s letter: Simon Hodson reflects on progress in 2023
December 13, 2023
2023 has been an exciting year for Gridworks, and as we approach the end of the year, I would like...
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Focus on transmission at COP28
December 8, 2023
We’ve been at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates over the past week, where there was an increased focus on...
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Perspectives
From our new CEO: Improved grids are crucial to delivering Mission 300
January 24, 2025
African Heads of State will gather in Dar es Salaam for the Africa Energy Summit next week where the focus...
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CEO’s letter: Simon Hodson reflects on his leadership of Gridworks
March 1, 2024
Dear friends and colleagues, Last year, I made the difficult decision to inform the Gridworks Board of my desire to...
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Focus on transmission at COP28
December 8, 2023
We’ve been at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates over the past week, where there was an increased focus on...
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Investment in Transmission: A report from Gridworks and Hunton Andrews Kurth
August 10, 2023
In recent decades, there has been a major increase in investment in power generation across Africa. However, investment in transmission...
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What is Moyi Power and why are we developing the project?
April 25, 2023
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), only around 19% of people have access to power. And that figure falls...
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Gridworks Perspectives: Private investment in transmission – concessions (part 3)
October 6, 2022
By Ryan Ketchum and Chris Flavin. Ryan is a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Chris is Gridworks' Head of...
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Gridworks Perspectives: ‘Allocating Risks in Independent Transmission Projects’
April 20, 2022
By Chris Flavin and Ryan Ketchum. Chris is Head of Business Development at Gridworks. Ryan is a partner at Hunton Andrews...
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Gridworks Perspectives: Investing in transmission – the role of concessions
March 30, 2022
This is part of a series of articles on private investment in Africa's transmission infrastructure by Chris Flavin and Ryan...
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Gridworks Perspectives: How to Boost Private Investment in Transmission
January 25, 2022
Africa’s energy transition depends not only on generating power, but on moving it into homes and businesses. However, the shortage...
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Inspiratia:
Q&A: Gridworks on the Africa grid conundrum
October 13, 2021
See full article here: Inspiratia: https://gridworkspartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Inspiratia-interview-on-Africa-grid-august-2020.pdf
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Investment Monitor Magazine:
Investors’ focus on SDG7 means Africa’s energy infrastructure is falling short
June 3, 2021
In trying to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals, is foreign investment aimed at increasing electricity access in Africa doing more...
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Gridworks at the Power Africa Partners Week
May 14, 2021
Last month we attended the Power Africa Partners Week. This year’s event was online and brought together companies, political organisations...
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‘The Future of the African Grid’ – a blog from our Technical Director, Joe Corbett
March 31, 2021
Wherever you look around the world, electricity, whether in its generation, distribution, or marketing, is being disrupted by new technology...
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Investing for Green Growth – a blog on Gridworks’ new climate change policy
August 5, 2020
We are all acutely aware that urgent action is required to prevent irreversible climate change. We also know that urgent...
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New Video: A quick Q&A on development impact with Alice Chapple
May 26, 2020
Our Development Impact Adviser, Alice Chapple sets out the development impact that can come from well-run electricity networks. She also...
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African Business Magazine:
UK investor Gridworks eyes African utilities overhaul
April 18, 2020
In too many countries, transmission and distribution remain the responsibility of badly managed state utilities. Gridworks CEO Simon Hodson explains...
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Watch our new video – An introduction to Gridworks with Chief Executive, Simon Hodson
April 17, 2020
If you want to find out more about the Gridworks mission: what we’re doing to invest in and develop electricity...
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“What is the Impact of Investing in Power?” – New report on how electricity affects development outcomes
February 12, 2020
What’s the best way to measure the social, economic and environmental impacts of power projects? Which type of development indicators...
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Devex:
Gridworks: Why the UK is taking a risk on investing in power transmission in Africa
November 21, 2019
A new company backed by the British government is channeling support to energy transmission and distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, an...
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