The Africa Renewables Investment Summit (ARIS) is a marketplace for renewable energy investment opportunities in Africa, with a conference, exhibition, project pitching platform, startup pitching platform and AI powered business matchmaking. ARIS seeks to help accelerate renewable energy investment in Africa by connecting investors with potential renewable energy project investment opportunities in Africa. 

Despite having the world’s largest renewable energy potential, the continent receives less than 2% of all global renewable energy investment. ARIS seeks to help play a role in cataylsing investment for Africa, to help plug the continent’s energy supply gap. With almost half of Africa’s 1,2 billion population is still not electrified, renewable energy presents the best opportunity to accelerate energy access, and end energy poverty on the African continent.

An estimated US$70 billion in yearly renewable energy investments is required for Africa to meet its electrification targets by 2030, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

At ARIS, key renewable energy stakeholders from across the globe connect with an aim to help catalyse investment for Africa. Attendees include African governments, utilities, regulators, large electricity off-takers, development finance institutions, investment funds, pension funds, major banks, asset managers, venture capital firms, independent power producers, original equipment manufacturers, project facilitators etc.

ARIS is not just another talk shop, a US$74 million dollar C&I solar transaction was closed at the inaugural ARIS in 2022 by Norway’s Norfund, Climate Fund Managers (CFM), and Empower New Energy. This represents the single largest C&I solar transaction in Africa to date, and will benefit 10 African countries!