RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPER & INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER
Renewable Power
From Idea To Operation
We develop renewable energy projects for businesses and utilities across Sub-Saharan Africa, bringing technical expertise, commercial thinking and personal involvement to every stage.
ABOUT UPGRADE ENERGY AFRICA
A Personal Approach to African Energy Projects
Upgrade Energy Africa is a renewable energy developer and independent power producer with team experience in Sub-Saharan Africa dating back to 2010. Backed by Belgium-based Upgrade Energy Holding, we develop projects for commercial and industrial businesses, mines and utilities, working with project partners and investors.
Our team brings land rights, environmental approvals, grid access and power purchase agreements together with financial structuring, supporting projects from the initial opportunity through to financial close.
Decision-makers are accessible, conversations are straightforward and the team stays personally involved. We take an entrepreneurial approach to opportunities, supported by careful technical and commercial assessment.
As we grow as an independent power producer, we also support customers who choose to own their energy assets. Whether you buy electricity or own the system, our approach centres on careful development, clear responsibilities and a lasting working relationship.
EXPERIENCE AT A GLANCE
Development Experience & Practical Delivery Knowledge
Our experience combines renewable energy development in South Africa with the team’s prior delivery of distributed and remote power systems across African markets. The development record demonstrates our work on generation projects. The team’s delivery experience brings practical knowledge of installation and operation to that process.
OUR SOLUTIONS
Solutions For Where & How You Operate
An industrial site, a utility supply requirement and a remote operation each need a different approach to electricity. We develop renewable energy projects around those differences, considering the demand, existing infrastructure and conditions in which the system will operate.
Our work spans on-site generation, grid-connected supply and power beyond the grid. We bring the development and technical work together with the commercial model, helping you understand what the project can achieve and what is needed to implement it.
ON-SITE POWER SOLUTIONS
Renewable Electricity Generated at Your Premises
Behind-the-meter systems supply electricity directly to your operation. We assess your demand, available space and existing infrastructure to develop an appropriate solar PV, storage or hybrid solution.
GRID-CONNECTED & WHEELING
Renewable Electricity Supplied Well Beyond Your Site
Access electricity from a generation project elsewhere through eligible grid networks and agreed supply arrangements. We bring project development, grid access and offtake agreements together.
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
Store Electricity For When It Is Needed Most
Battery storage can shift energy use, manage demand peaks and support continuity. We assess its role alongside generation, controls and your operating requirements and longer-term operational priorities.
OFF-GRID & HYBRID POWER
Power For Remote Operations & Isolated Grids
Combine renewable generation, batteries and complementary power sources around your electricity demand. We consider site access, local conditions and ongoing maintenance from the outset.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Built Around Our Partners
TECHNOLOGIES
Technology Matched To The Need
Technology selection starts with the electricity requirement. We consider the available resource, when power is needed and how the system will connect to existing infrastructure. We assess generation, storage and controls together to establish a configuration suited to the project.
SOLAR PV
Renewable generation for on-site, grid-connected and remote applications.
WIND POWER
Generation developed around the wind resource, site conditions and grid access.
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE
Energy shifting, demand management and continuity where the system design supports it.
HYBRID SYSTEMS
Generation and storage working together around a defined electricity requirement.
Hydro, biomass and green hydrogen can also be considered where the resource, application and commercial case justify their use. We focus each recommendation on what is suitable for the project.
HOW WE WORK
From Idea to Operation
We bring technical development, commercial structuring and financing together, supporting your project from the initial opportunity through delivery and long-term operation.
Assess Requirements
Develop Projects
Choose Ownership
Co-ordinate Financing
Co-ordinate Delivery
Establish Operations
TRACK RECORD
Experience From Development to Delivery
Our track record brings together pioneering wind projects and large-scale solar development in South Africa, with experience spanning land, approvals, grid access and commercial milestones.
OUR STORY
European Roots. A Growing Ambition in Africa.
2004–2012 | Wind Energy Foundations
2008 | Entering South Africa
2009 | Leadership Takes Shape
2010 | A Pioneering Renewable Energy Project
2008–2019 | International Experience
2015 | Establishing Upgrade Energy Africa
2018 | Focusing on Southern Africa
2019–2026 | Growing the Development Portfolio
Today | Developing Towards Long-Term Ownership
An active development pipeline of 348 MW across six countries supports the move towards long-term ownership and operation as an independent power producer.
FAQS
Questions About Developing Your Project?
We carry the full project development cycle and can assist throughout the process, including feasibility, engineering, approvals, commercial arrangements and procurement coordination. We also support the transition into delivery and operation. Construction and O&M are delivered through partners, with responsibilities agreed upon for each project.
No. A PPA allows you to buy electricity from a system owned by Upgrade Energy or the relevant project entity. Outright purchase is also available for customers who want to own the asset. We consider both options against the project and your organisation’s priorities.
That depends on the configuration and supply arrangement. A system designed with suitable storage, controls and backup can support continuity. A grid-connected renewable supply or wheeling agreement serves a different role and does not, by itself, keep a site powered during an outage. We establish the reliability requirement early and assess what the design needs to deliver it.
Yes. Upgrade Energy Africa operates across African markets, with a strong presence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our team brings cross-border experience, including remote power applications. Each opportunity is considered against local requirements, the site and the delivery arrangements it needs.
We introduce and coordinate suitable funding partners where financing is required. The appropriate route depends on the project, borrower, ownership structure and lender assessment. Funding availability and terms are agreed with the relevant parties.
Start with the location and what you want the project to achieve. Electricity bills or demand data are useful for an operating site. For a project opportunity, share the technology, proposed capacity, current stage and any existing land, grid or offtake arrangements. You can start the conversation before you have a complete project brief.
CONTACT US
Let’s Talk About Your Project
Whether you are seeking electricity for an operation, developing a generation opportunity or considering a project partnership or investment, we would welcome a conversation. Tell us where the project stands and what you want to achieve. We can then discuss the appropriate next step with you.
Johannesburg
155 West Street, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2031
Brussels
Rue du Cirque 23, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Cape Town
80 Strand St, Cape Town City Centre, 8001
Get in Touch
info@upgrade-energy.com
+27 10 865 0293