The Carbon Trust-led ZE-Gen initiative has announced support for ZERO, a project piloting a renewable energy-as-a-service model with UN agencies in Chad. The project aims to help humanitarian agencies replace diesel generators with solar and battery power. The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo in Kigali, Rwanda, which runs from 27 to 29 October.
ZERO, which stands for Zero Emissions Utility, is backed by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund through seed funding from the Transforming Energy Access platform via ZE-Gen. According to the initiative, the pilot is cutting energy costs by at least 25%, reducing emissions and creating a blueprint for wider adoption across humanitarian operations.
The cost of diesel in humanitarian operations
Diesel generators remain widely used across humanitarian operations, powering offices, water and sanitation facilities, accommodation and camp infrastructure. Humanitarian agencies are estimated to spend more than US$100 million each year on generator fuel.
According to ZE-Gen, that reliance leaves agencies exposed to volatile prices, fragile supply chains, high maintenance costs and avoidable emissions.
How the energy-as-a-service model works
Under the model being tested in Chad, humanitarian agencies pay an agreed tariff only for the electricity they use. They do not finance, procure or maintain the renewable energy systems themselves. ZERO combines solar and battery systems with smart metering and digital monitoring, which are intended to improve energy planning, performance and investment readiness.
The project is delivered by the Access to Energy Institute (A2EI), an independent non-profit research and development institute focused on sustainable energy access. A2EI finances, builds and operates the systems through local partners. The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA), whose secretariat is hosted by UNOPS, supports engagement and partnerships with humanitarian and UN agencies.
First site operating in N’Djamena
The first system is operating at a UN agency’s country office in N’Djamena and is projected to reduce generator runtime by 73-85%. A second site is under development.
The initiative said the first two sites together are expected to save around US$1 million over ten years.
Evidence and expansion plans
ZERO aims to show that humanitarian organisations can gain access to more reliable and affordable renewable electricity without the upfront cost, specialist procurement or long-term maintenance responsibilities that can hold back renewable energy projects in humanitarian settings.
The project will also generate open evidence on the economics and performance of renewable energy in difficult operating environments for humanitarian agencies, investors and funders. The aim is to develop an investable project pipeline, with the potential to deploy additional systems by early 2027. Countries identified in the project material include Chad, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Nigeria.
ZE-Gen seeks funders to scale up
ZE-Gen was launched at COP27 and is led by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK. It works to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel generators with renewable alternatives across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, and aims to unlock £100 million of funding.
Lily Beadle, ZE-Gen Programme Director at the Carbon Trust, said: “Humanitarian agencies need reliable power to deliver water, healthcare, protection and other essential support, but many remain dependent on expensive diesel generators – costing millions of dollars in polluting fuel. At the Carbon Trust, we work with partners to identify and scale practical solutions to complex energy challenges. ZERO is a strong example of that approach, testing a model that could help humanitarian agencies access cleaner, more affordable power without taking on major upfront costs.”
“ZE-Gen has backed the first phase of ZERO with funding from Ayrton Fund via Transforming Energy Access because the model has the potential to move beyond individual solar installations and create a route to wider, commercially sustainable change. Every pound spent on generator fuel is money that cannot be used elsewhere in the humanitarian response. We are now looking for funders and investment partners that can help ZE-Gen take ZERO to more humanitarian sites and support other high-potential solutions that can replace fossil fuel generators at scale.”
Thomas Gottschalk, managing director and founder of A2EI, said the approach could be used beyond humanitarian settings: “ZERO is a model that allows every organisation that is relying on large fuel generators to switch to solar without the burden of an initial investment. We piloted ZERO in humanitarian settings, but it can be applied to any fuel generator. The logic is simple: We provide an Energy-as-a-Service model that is reliable, clean and makes economic sense from day one.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the ZERO project?
ZERO, short for Zero Emissions Utility, is an energy-as-a-service model for humanitarian operations. Agencies pay an agreed tariff for the electricity they use instead of buying and maintaining their own solar and battery systems.
Who funds and delivers ZERO?
ZERO is backed by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund through seed funding from the Transforming Energy Access platform via the ZE-Gen initiative. It is delivered by the Access to Energy Institute (A2EI), with support from the Global Platform for Action.
Where is the ZERO pilot taking place?
The pilot is running with UN agencies in Chad. The first system is operating at a UN agency’s country office in N’Djamena, and a second site is under development.
How much could the ZERO pilot save?
The initiative says the pilot is cutting energy costs by at least 25%. The first site is projected to reduce generator runtime by 73-85%, and the first two sites are expected to save around US$1 million over ten years.
Will ZERO expand to other countries?
ZE-Gen is seeking funders and investment partners to take ZERO to more humanitarian sites, with the potential to deploy additional systems by early 2027. Countries identified include Chad, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Nigeria.
