Powering Africa beyond the grid
The SA Trade Desk Podcast – Episode 3
The SA Trade Desk continues its series in interviewing South African green economy entrepreneurs participating in the UK-backed Climate Finance Accelerator. In our third interview, Kia Jacklin speaks to Dorian Wrigley, CEO of Peco Power, about the challenge of energy access across South Africa and the continent – and how locally developed solutions could help bridge the gap.
Across South Africa, more than 3.4 million households still live without electricity. Across Africa, that number rises to more than 600 million people. For many communities, traditional grid expansion remains too costly, too slow, and too complex to offer a near-term solution – and Peco Power is taking a different approach. In this interview, Dorian discusses the opportunity to rethink how energy access can be delivered, the challenges facing entrepreneurs developing solutions for the African market, and the potential for South African innovation to contribute to a more inclusive green economy.
About Peco Power
Peco Power is a South African energy company born out of research at Wits University’s School of Electrical and Information Engineering. Its award-winning PowerBrick™ is a modular, plug-and-play energy system that lets households, small businesses, and communities start small, simply by powering a small light and expand over time to support larger appliances like refrigeration. Designed to be tough, affordable, and scalable for African conditions, the PowerBrick requires no technician for setup and is already being used to bring reliable electricity to underserved communities across the country.
About The Climate Finance Accelerator
The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a global technical assistance programme funded by the United Kingdom to directly support climate innovators and entrepreneurs in becoming investment-ready. Rather than acting as a transaction adviser or broker, the CFA provides tailored, independent advice to help businesses align with investor requirements, prepare compelling investment documentation, navigate policy and regulatory considerations, and build relationships with potential financiers. The SA Trade Desk supports this work by giving CFA participants like Peco Power visibility – through profiles, interviews, and features like this podcast series – helping connect investment-ready businesses with the investors, partners, and stakeholders who can help them scale.
Watch the episode
In this conversation, Dorian unpacks what it takes to rethink energy access for the African market – and how South African innovation is helping close the electrification gap at home and beyond.
Watch the full interview here
