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The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is advancing clean cooking solutions in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia through a $4 million reimbursable grant to the Burn Electric Cooking Expansion Program (BEEP).
The program aims to reduce dependence on charcoal by deploying 115,000 electric induction cookers to low-income, grid-connected households that currently rely on biomass for cooking.
At the core of BEEP is BURN Manufacturing, a Kenya-based company known for producing clean cookstoves and developing carbon credit projects across more than 10 African countries.
Through this initiative, BURN will provide Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled electric induction cookers that offer a zero-emission alternative to charcoal and firewood.
Innovative Carbon Finance Model
To make the cookers affordable and accessible, the program adopts a pioneering financing model. It uses carbon credits from reduced emissions to offset costs for consumers.
BURN pre-finances the appliances and recovers part of the costs by selling verified carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market.
The model also incorporates mobile-enabled Pay-As-You-Cook payment plans, allowing users to pay in small, manageable installments, removing the financial barrier that often prevents adoption of clean cooking technologies.
The program is capitalized through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that pools funding from multiple sources:
- $5 million in senior debt from the Spark+ Africa Fund
- $4 million reimbursable grant from SEFA
- $1 million in equity from BURN Manufacturing
The SPV will work alongside BURN to oversee sales, distribution, and after-sales service of the cookers. Revenues generated from the sale of carbon credits, owned by the SPV, will be distributed among the participating investors, creating a sustainable business model that incentivizes private sector engagement in clean energy.
AfDB’s First-Ever Carbon Finance Investment in Electric Cooking
Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank, highlighted the significance of this initiative, pointing out that it’s a great stride the bank marks in its first carbon finance transaction of its kind, with SEFA playing a critical role in mitigating carbon market risks and enhancing the program’s financial sustainability.
The initiative directly supports SEFA’s Energy Efficiency pillar by encouraging investment in energy-saving appliances and promoting scalable clean cooking solutions.
A Scalable Model with Broader Impact
According to Peter Scott, Founder and CEO of BURN Manufacturing, receiving this catalytic investment from SEFA, the first-ever support for carbon projects focused on electric cooking.
He added that this milestone enables the scaling of smart induction stoves across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, offering a clean, affordable alternative to traditional cooking fuels.
Scott emphasized that the integration of cutting-edge technology, carbon financing, and flexible payment plans demonstrates the viability of electric cooking as a scalable and impactful solution across Africa.
Beyond emissions reductions, the program will generate wide-ranging co-benefits. Transitioning to electric cooking reduces indoor air pollution, a leading cause of respiratory illnesses, and curbs deforestation driven by charcoal production.
At the same time, the initiative is expected to create local jobs and strengthen supply chains, contributing to economic development and energy resilience in participating countries.
In prioritizing clean, affordable cooking alternatives, the BEEP initiative presents a replicable model for other countries aiming to address both the energy access gap and the climate crisis.
