Gridworks Partners

What Gridworks Partners does

Gridworks Partners (legal entity: Gridworks Development Partners LLP) is a London-headquartered development finance institution and investment platform that develops and invests in electricity transmission, distribution, and distributed energy infrastructure across Africa. Founded in 2019 and wholly owned by British International Investment (BII), the UK government's development finance institution, the company operates a portfolio of six core assets spanning high-voltage transmission projects (Amari Power Transmission in Uganda, LTEC in Mozambique, Gamani Power Transmission in Uganda, and two Ethiopian transmission lines) and distributed energy utilities (Moyi Power in DRC, Sustainable Power Solutions across Southern Africa, and Anzana Electric Group across East and Southern Africa). Underlying technologies include high-voltage substations, 400kV/220kV transmission lines, solar PV with battery storage (including Tesla Powerpack-based off-grid systems), and run-of-river hydropower.

Gridworks' business model centers on equity investment in electricity network assets structured through public-private partnerships, concession agreements, and Independent Transmission Projects. The company develops projects from origination through financial close in partnership with African governments and national utilities (such as UETCL, Ethiopian Electric Power, EDM, and the Government of DRC), then holds equity stakes as projects are constructed and operated. Returns accrue through portfolio company equity appreciation, dividends, and future exits. Gridworks does not raise capital from external limited partners; its own funding flows from BII, and in turn it deploys equity into portfolio companies alongside co-investors such as Siemens Energy (EPC), Eranove, AEE Power, New GX Capital, and Convergence Partners Energy Finance. The company's go-to-market is relationship-driven enterprise and government field sales, relying on industry conferences, direct bilateral engagement with ministries and utilities, and co-investment with other development finance institutions (African Development Bank, PIDG, FCDO). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and pricing is determined via negotiated project agreements rather than market rates.

Name

Gridworks Partners

Legal name

Gridworks Development Partners LLP

Website

https://gridworkspartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gridworks Partners is a London-headquartered development finance institution, wholly owned by British International Investment, that develops and invests in electricity transmission, distribution, and distributed energy utilities across Africa through equity stakes in public-private partnerships and concession agreements with African governments and national utilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electricity Infrastructure Investment

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Finance & Capital Structuring (Debt/Tax Equity/Project Bonds) (EUAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Permitting, Environmental & Stakeholder Engagement (EIA/ESIA, Community Relations) (EUAMAAAB), Commercial Structuring & Offtake (PPAs, CfDs, Corporate PPAs, Merchant Strategy) (EUAMAAAE), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Electricity infrastructure investment
• Transmission network development
• Renewable energy financing
• Development finance institution
• Public-private partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Equity Investment Returns: Gridworks makes equity investments in transmission, distribution, and distributed energy utilities across Africa. Returns are generated through the appreciation of portfolio company values, dividend income, and exit proceeds when investments mature or are sold.
2. Transmission Services Revenue: Through Independent Transmission Projects like Amari, Gridworks earns revenue from transmission services agreements with national utilities, providing grid upgrade and capacity services under long-term contractual arrangements.
3. Concession Fees and Utility Operating Revenue: Long-term concession agreements for electricity distribution and distributed energy utilities generate revenue through electricity sales to end users, including residential, commercial, and industrial customers in both grid-connected and off-grid settings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gridworks Partners is a development finance institution and investment platform that develops and makes equity investments in electricity transmission, distribution, and distributed energy utilities across Africa. The company structures, finances and operates independent transmission projects, concession-based distribution utilities, and off-grid solar-hybrid power systems through a portfolio of six core projects spanning Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, DRC, and other African markets.

Product overview

Gridworks Partners operates as an investment and development platform for electricity network infrastructure across Africa. The company offers a portfolio of six core products spanning Independent Transmission Projects (ITPs) and distributed energy utilities. The transmission portfolio includes Amari Power Transmission (Uganda), LTEC (Mozambique), and Gamani Power (Uganda), which develop high-voltage transmission infrastructure to improve grid reliability and enable renewable energy integration. The distributed energy portfolio includes Moyi Power (DRC solar hybrid utility), Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS - commercial/industrial solar and battery storage), and Anzana Electric Group (hydropower and rural distribution). These products collectively address Africa's electricity access gaps through investments in transmission, distribution, and off-grid renewable energy solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amari Power Transmission A US$50 million Independent Transmission Project in Uganda upgrading transforming capacity at four high-voltage substations (Tororo, Nkenda, Mbarara North, Mbarara South) to improve electricity reliability, support renewable energy integration, and enable regional power trade with Kenya and DRC.
• LTEC (Linha de Transporte de Energia Chimuara-Nacala) A US$450 million, 460km high-voltage transmission project in Mozambique connecting central and northern regions via 400kV and 220kV lines with new substations at Namialo and Nacala-a-Velha, developed in partnership with Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM).
• Gamani Power Transmission Project An 80km high-voltage transmission line and two new substations in eastern Uganda connecting Mbale, Bulambuli and Kween to improve electricity access and support industrial development.
• Moyi Power A US$500 million greenfield solar-powered utility in the Democratic Republic of Congo providing electricity to three off-grid cities (Gemena, Bumba, Isiro) through 59MW of PV panels, 117 MWh battery storage, and 12 MW diesel backup under 22-year concession agreements.
• Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) A distributed renewable energy company providing solar and battery storage solutions to commercial and industrial customers across sub-Saharan Africa, with projects in South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Indian Ocean islands, including some of Africa's largest off-grid battery storage systems using Tesla Powerpacks.
• Anzana Electric Group A renewable energy company developing, investing in and operating run-of-river hydropower projects and rural electricity distribution networks across East, Central and Southern Africa, with operations in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Independent Transmission Project in Africa to reach financial close
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026UETCL is Gridworks' key partner for the Amari Power Transmission project in Uganda. Gridworks works in close collaboration with the national transmission utility, which signed the Transmission Services Agreement enabling the project to proceed to construction.
• Siemens EnergymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2026Siemens Energy has been appointed as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the Amari Power Transmission project, responsible for constructing the substation upgrades in Uganda.
• Ethiopian Electric PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Ethiopian Electric Power is Gridworks' partner for developing Ethiopia's first privately financed transmission projects - the Degehabur-Kebridehar and Hurso-Ayisha lines under a Joint Development Agreement signed in February 2026.
• Energy Council of South AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Gridworks joined the Energy Council of South Africa in November 2025 to advance investment in South Africa's energy transition, particularly focusing on transmission infrastructure development to address the country's grid capacity challenges.
• EranovecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Eranove is a key consortium partner in the Moyi Power project. The West African utility company brings extensive experience operating power plants and utilities in Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, and Togo.
• AEE PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021AEE Power is a Pan-African EPC contractor and energy developer with extensive experience in sub-Saharan Africa, including in the DRC. Partner in the Moyi Power consortium.
• Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDM is Gridworks' partner for the LTEC (Chimuara-Nacala) transmission project - Mozambique's first privately financed transmission project, connecting central and northern regions of the country.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Africa Finance Corporation: Africa Finance Corporation is a pan-African infrastructure investor providing development capital and equity across power, transport, and natural resources. It is the closest direct peer to Gridworks in scale, mandate, and African infrastructure focus, including transmission and utility-scale projects.
• Actis: Actis is a global investor in energy and infrastructure with significant African exposure, including renewable energy platforms and transmission-related assets. Its long-hold infrastructure funds are directly comparable to Gridworks' patient-capital, project-development model.
• Meridiam: Meridiam is a long-term infrastructure investor developing and operating public-private partnership assets, including energy networks in Africa. Its PPP/concession-based development model and DFI-style mandate closely parallel Gridworks' ITP and concession approach.
• Eranove: Eranove is a West African utility operator and power developer — Gridworks' consortium partner on Moyi Power. It directly competes in the African greenfield utility and IPP space and is a comparable developer-operator of electricity distribution concessions.
• InfraCo Africa / CrossBoundary Energy: CrossBoundary (including the InfraCo Africa heritage) develops and finances distributed energy and infrastructure projects across sub-Saharan Africa. It is comparable to Gridworks in early-stage project development, renewable distributed utilities, and African-focused mandate.

Emerging players

• Climate Fund Managers (CFM): CFM manages blended-finance vehicles investing in climate infrastructure in emerging markets, including renewable energy in Africa. Its development-plus-equity model and DFI partnerships overlap with Gridworks' project development and capital structuring activities.
• BioTherm Energy: BioTherm is a South African renewable energy independent power producer with wind and solar assets across sub-Saharan Africa. It is comparable as an emerging Africa-focused renewables developer with grid-connected generation adjacent to Gridworks' transmission thesis.

Broad incumbents

• Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG): PIDG is a multi-DFI infrastructure platform funding and de-risking infrastructure in frontier markets, including power transmission and distribution in Africa. It is broader in scope than Gridworks but operates an analogous DFI-funded project development model.
• Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF): EAIF, managed by Ninety One and backed by DFIs including BII, provides debt financing for African infrastructure including power. It is a peer in capital provision for African T&D and a frequent co-investor with Gridworks-aligned developers.
• Azura Power West Africa: Azura Power is one of the largest independent power producers in Africa. Alan Muir, Gridworks NED, is Azura's chairman. It is comparable as an IPP developer-operator in African generation, with adjacent relevance to Gridworks' transmission and distribution strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gridworksllp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gridworks Partners