Closing a chapter: SESA’s journey towards sustainable energy transitions in Africa
- Thamires Pecis
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Every project eventually comes to an end, and now the time has come for the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) project.
The SESA project came to a close after four years of collaboration having delivered a wide range of innovations, partnerships, and tangible impacts across nine African countries.
Funded under Horizon 2020, SESA focused on bringing answers to energy poverty, responding to climate challenges and creating new opportunities for local economies. What it leaves behind is a solid foundation of knowledge, partnerships and practical models that can keep growing and inspiring in the years ahead.
Building capacity and sharing knowledge
A central part of the project was strengthening local skills. SESA launched six online courses on solar PV, clean cooking, e-mobility, smart micro-grids, second-life batteries and rural internet access through the NUA Campus platform.
More than 200 students enrolled, with over 30 completing the training and receiving certificates. These resources were complemented by webinars, regional workshops in Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda, as well as exchanges that connected African practitioners with peers in Europe.
As Edmund Teko, part of SESA Project team, recalls:
“Through its capacity-building work, UEMI has made training widely accessible, integrating courses on e-mobility, smart microgrids, clean cooking and solar energy into the NUA Campus platform.These resources [...] have empowered practitioners, local governments and entrepreneurs to drive change in their own contexts.”
Supporting innovators and entrepreneurs
SESA also worked side by side with entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of clean energy in their communities. Through its Calls for Entrepreneurs, the project received 27 ideas, selected 10 to move forward and helped four reach pre-feasibility stage. Many of these initiatives were led by women or grew out of community needs, showing how inclusive innovation can create real impact on the ground.
UEMI played an active role in this process, contributing to the evaluation of small and medium-sized enterprises and to the SESA Catalogue of Sustainable Energy Solutions. The SESA Toolbox also grew into a knowledge hub with more than 70 resources, from technical guides and specifications to training materials and videos.
Living Labs: testing solutions on the ground
One of the most visible achievements of the project was the creation of Living Labs. These testbeds gave space for new solutions to be tried and adapted.
In Ghana, two rural solar micro-grids now supply power in Berdaabuo and Kwamedwaa, while schools have benefited from locally produced cookstoves. In Malawi, solar irrigation systems and clean energy cookers are helping agriculture and households. Morocco launched a rural solar micro-grid and expanded pilots for e-scooters. In South Africa, the Alicedale Living Lab combined an off-grid solar energy system with a fleet of electric vehicles.
Replication activities reached Rwanda, Namibia, Tanzania and Nigeria, showing that the solutions developed under SESA could travel across contexts and conditions.
Policy and scale-up for long-term change
The project also focused on creating the right conditions for scale-up. Roadmaps and policy briefs were developed to address barriers such as the use of second-life batteries in Ghana and solar irrigation in Rwanda. Procurement roundtables brought innovators, policymakers and financiers to the same table, making it possible for pilot projects to move towards large-scale deployment.
Reflecting on these efforts, Edmund added, “Through all of this, UEMI has ensured that SESA’s results are not only visible but ready for replication, helping to build a strong foundation for sustainable energy transitions across the continent.”
Looking ahead
SESA came to a close, but its legacy goes beyond that. The networks, skills and partnerships developed through the project will continue to support innovation and guide policies across Africa.
The end of the project is not the end of its journey. The knowledge, connections and solutions created under SESA will keep inspiring and shaping sustainable energy transitions well into the future.
Comments