South Africa’s Open Access Energy Raises $1.8M to Advance AI-Powered Clean Energy Platform
With support from climate-focused investors E3 Capital, Equator VC, and Factor E Ventures, the funding will drive the expansion of OAE’s core product, EnergyPro. This cloud-based software facilitates energy wheeling transmitting electricity from distributed renewable sources to consumers using the existing power grid.
Established in 2021, OAE is tackling South Africa’s energy reliability issues while contributing to the country’s shift from coal to renewable energy. Its EnergyPro platform streamlines metering, forecasting, and risk management, enabling real-time alignment between electricity generation and consumption.
“Open Access Energy has developed a software-first approach to a pressing challenge,” said Andrew Darge of E3 Capital. “The platform enables municipal wheeling, supports embedded generation, and ensures transparent settlement at scale—key elements for advancing Africa’s clean energy transition.”
Morgan DeFoort, partner at Equator VC, noted that the company is establishing the groundwork for private clean energy distribution in South Africa. “We’re supporting a team that combines strong technical expertise with deep market insight to drive lasting impact,” he said.
CEO Gerjo Hoffman stated that the funding will enable the company to scale its tools, empowering independent power producers and energy traders to succeed in an open market. Board Chairman James Irons added that Open Access Energy plans to bring in a local investment partner to help drive its next phase of growth.
With the new funding, Open Access Energy plans to expand the tools essential for independent power producers and energy traders to operate successfully in a liberalized electricity market. According to CEO Gerjo Hoffman, these enhancements are critical for scaling operations. Board Chairman James Irons also noted that the company is preparing to engage a local investment partner to support its continued growth.
