Climate Finance Accelerator South Africa announces 2026 cohort

As South Africa accelerates efforts to strengthen energy security, drive industrial decarbonisation and build a more inclusive and resilient economy, climate-focused businesses are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the country’s future. 

The UK Government funded Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) South Africa is proud to announce the selection of its 2026 cohort, featuring nine groundbreaking businesses developing scalable solutions to support South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy.  

Following a rigorous selection process, these businesses were selected for their potential to deliver meaningful climate impact while contributing to economic growth, job creation and social inclusivity. The cohort spans sectors including renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuel, circular economy solutions, electric mobility, water resilience, waste beneficiation and land restoration. 

British High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson said:  

“The new CFA cohort showcases the depth of South African ingenuity. From renewable electricity and sustainable aviation fuel to circular economy homeware and electric mobility, these businesses are not just reducing emissions, they are creating jobs and building the infrastructure of a Just Transition.”  

From 2021 to 2024 CFA in South Africa has supported over 43 climate-focused businesses. Collectively, participating businesses have secured over ZAR2 billion in catalytic finance to help them grow and scale. 

Introducing the 2026 CFA South Africa cohort 

The selected businesses represent a diverse range of sectors, each offering economically viable low carbon solutions that also has the potential to create jobs in South Africa.  

• BioVest Holdings (Pty) LTD: Convert agricultural waste into renewable biomethane and biogenic CO2 to displace fossil fuels in industrial heating. 
• Innotegy Renewable Fuels: Are establishing a vertically integrated biorefinery to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD). 
• M Squared Energy Group: Developing a 500 MW solar PV facility in Limpopo to supply renewable electricity to the national grid. 
• Mo’s Crib: A women-led business transforming discarded PVC waste into high-end, handcrafted homeware and furniture. 
• Nova Moto: An energy-as-a-service model for electric motorcycle fleets, featuring battery-swapping technology. 
• Peco Power: Provide modular, plug-and-play solar DC grids to households and small businesses through a network of local youth entrepreneurs. 
• STROOM: Rent locally manufactured cargo e-bikes to township youth for zero-emission delivery jobs through a micro-hub model. 
• TaylorMade Water: Integrates industrial wastewater treatment with hydroponic farming to produce food crops while saving freshwater. 
• TERRAGRN: Restoring 10 000 hectares of degraded landscape in Mpumalanga through invasive species clearance, community-led agroforestry, and nature-based value chains for sustainable materials and bioenergy. 

Through the programme, participating businesses will receive tailored technical support aimed at strengthening investment readiness and improving access to finance. The National Business Initiative (NBI) and GreenCape, CFA South Africa’s implementing partners, will provide strategic support through capacity building workshops and one-on-one guidance from financial, technical, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) experts, increasing their chances of securing funding. 

Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBI) said: 

“South Africa’s transition will be determined by how quickly we scale practical, investable solutions that deliver both climate impact and real economic opportunity. The 2026 CFA cohort showcases the strength of innovation across the country, from clean energy and sustainable mobility to circular and inclusive enterprise models. These businesses are not only reducing emissions, but they are also building new industries, creating jobs and shaping a more resilient and inclusive economy.” 

Mike Mulcahy, CEO of GreenCape said:  

“Entrepreneurs are the catalytic engine for growth. Supporting these firms to raise capital and to grow will create jobs and investment in the green economy. Good luck to the entrepreneurs, your effort, energy and determination are driving the Just Transition” 

Following the support phase, the businesses will engage directly with investors and financial institutions at a match-making event in October. This will allow project developers to further refine their financial structuring through personalised discussions with interested financial institutions. The event will also provide an opportunity for participants to network and for policymakers and others involved in the climate finance space to learn from the insights and recommendations of the CFA landscape mapping. 

As South Africa continues to advance it’s Just Transition ambitions, initiatives such as the Climate Finance Accelerator remain critical in helping unlock the pipeline of investable projects needed to drive long-term economic resilience, competitiveness, and inclusive climate action.