Global South Utilities
Global South Utilities is an Abu Dhabi-based, privately held developer of renewable energy and water infrastructure for governments and utilities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It finances, builds, and operates utility-scale solar, battery storage, hydroelectric, and water projects via wholly owned EPCM and O&M subsidiaries and equity stakes in host-country utilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Global South Utilities does
Global South Utilities (GSU) is an Abu Dhabi-headquartered, privately held utility infrastructure developer that delivers sustainable energy and water infrastructure to governments and state-owned utilities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The company is a subsidiary of Resources Investment and operates a portfolio spanning utility-scale solar PV (2 MW to 120 MW capacity), battery energy storage systems (notably a 70 MWh BESS paired with 12 MWp solar at Berbera Phase II), run-of-river hydroelectric (via its 51% stake in 40Capital, focused on Kyrgyzstan), and water treatment and desalination facilities. Underlying equipment is sourced primarily from Chinese technology partners including JA Solar and Weiheng, with a partnership announced in April 2026 to domesticate clean-energy technology manufacturing in Abu Dhabi.
GSU executes and operates projects through a vertically integrated structure: GSTS (Global South Technical Services) is a wholly owned asset-management and O&M platform managing solar, wind, storage, and thermal assets across the portfolio, while GSUC (Global South Utilities Construction) is a wholly owned EPCM execution vehicle. Long-duration value capture is achieved through equity stakes in host-country utilities — 45% in Berbera Electricity Company (Somaliland), 51% in Yashil Energiya (Uzbekistan), and 51% in 40Capital (Kyrgyzstan) — alongside consortium participation in upstream manufacturing (ATUM Solar, a $220M solar cell and module complex in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone). Revenue is generated via long-term power purchase agreements with sovereign and quasi-sovereign offtakers, managed-services O&M contracts through GSTS, and EPCM pass-through revenue through GSUC. Marketing and project origination leverage GSU's status as Headline Partner of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 and direct alignment with UAE's stated 100 GW clean-energy expansion target by 2030.
Global South Utilities firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Global South Utilities
- Legal name
- Global South Utilities
- Website
- https://www.gsu.ae
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Global South Utilities is an Abu Dhabi-based, privately held developer of renewable energy and water infrastructure for governments and utilities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It finances, builds, and operates utility-scale solar, battery storage, hydroelectric, and water projects via wholly owned EPCM and O&M subsidiaries and equity stakes in host-country utilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Global South Utilities industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Renewable Energy Utility Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utility System Construction (2371)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydropower Project Development & Permitting (Greenfield, Licensing, Water Rights) (EUAMADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydropower EPC & Civil Construction (Dams, Weirs, Tunnels, Penstocks) (EUAMADAB), Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Refurbishment (R&M/Life Extension) (EUACAEAG)
Keywords
Where Global South Utilities is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abu Dhabi
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
Global South Utilities business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Power Generation Projects: GSU develops, constructs, and operates solar PV and other renewable energy power plants. Revenue is generated through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with governments and utilities, providing steady recurring revenue from electricity sales.
- Utility Operations: Through subsidiaries like Global South Technical Services (GSTS), GSU provides asset management and operations services for energy projects across solar, wind, storage, and thermal assets, ensuring reliable long-term performance.
- EPCM Services: Through GSUC (Global South Utilities Construction), the company serves as the execution vehicle for engineering, procurement, and construction management, delivering energy and infrastructure projects from concept through commissioning.
- Water Infrastructure: Development of water supply infrastructure including advanced water treatment plants and desalination facilities to deliver clean, reliable water to underserved regions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Global South Utilities product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Global South Utilities develops, constructs, and operates renewable energy and water infrastructure projects across the Global South, with a focus on solar PV power plants, battery energy storage systems, water treatment and desalination facilities, and end-to-end utility operations. Projects are delivered as long-term concessions or build-own-operate arrangements with governments and state-owned utilities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, ranging in capacity from 2 MW to over 120 MW, with the company currently managing more than 500 MW across three continents.
Product overview
Global South Utilities (GSU) is a utility infrastructure company that delivers sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy and water infrastructure to the Global South. The company operates a portfolio-based model consisting of core service offerings (Solar PV Power Generation, Battery Energy Storage Systems, Water Supply and Management, and Utility Operations) supported by wholly owned subsidiaries Global South Technical Services (GSTS) for asset management and Global South Utilities Construction (GSUC) for EPC execution. GSU's product portfolio includes acquired subsidiaries Yashil Energiya (Uzbekistan distributed solar and EV charging), Berbera Electricity Company (Somaliland power utility), 40Capital (Kyrgyzstan hydroelectric), and consortium projects like ATUM Solar (Egypt solar manufacturing). Projects span solar PV from 2-120 MW capacity across Africa and Middle East, with battery storage integration and water infrastructure services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Power Generation (Solar PV and Renewable Energy Projects) Utility-scale solar PV and other renewable energy power generation projects developed, constructed, and operated for governments and state-owned utilities in emerging markets under long-term PPAs.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Battery energy storage integrated with solar PV projects to provide grid stability, dispatchability, and reliability for renewable energy solutions in emerging markets.
- Water Supply and Management Development of modern water supply infrastructure including advanced water treatment plants and desalination facilities for underserved regions, using cutting-edge technology for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
- Utility Operations and Maintenance Long-term operation and maintenance of power plants, water treatment facilities, and distribution networks using advanced technologies and eco-friendly methods, ensuring highest efficiency and durability.
- Global South Technical Services (GSTS) — Asset Management and Operations Wholly owned asset management and operations platform managing and optimizing GSU's energy assets across solar, wind, storage, and thermal projects from handover through the full operating lifecycle.
- Global South Utilities Construction (GSUC) — EPCM Services Engineering, procurement, and construction management services delivering energy, utility, and infrastructure projects across emerging markets from concept through commissioning.
- Berbera Phase I — 5 MWp Solar PV Plant Grid-connected 5 MWp solar photovoltaic power plant in Berbera, Somaliland, delivering renewable electricity to approximately 28,000 households annually.
- Shabwa 53 MW Solar Power Plant 53 MW solar power plant in Ataq City, Yemen, delivering electricity to approximately 330,000 households and avoiding an estimated 62,727 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
- Yashil Energiya (Uzbekistan Distributed Solar, EV Charging, Mini-Hydro) Vertically integrated renewable energy developer in Uzbekistan delivering commercial and industrial distributed solar, EV charging infrastructure, and mini-hydropower solutions, in which GSU holds a 51% stake.
- Berbera Electricity Company (BEC) — Integrated Power Utility Integrated power utility providing electricity generation and distribution services in Berbera, Somaliland, in which GSU holds a 45% stake to support reliable and sustainable energy supply.
- ATUM Solar Complex (Solar Manufacturing, Egypt) Consortium-led industrial solar manufacturing complex at the TEDA industrial zone in Ain Sokhna, Egypt, producing 2 GW solar cells and 2 GW solar modules annually with JA Solar as the technology partner.
- 40Capital (Run-of-River Hydroelectric, CIS/Kyrgyzstan) Renewable energy company specializing in run-of-river hydroelectric projects across CIS countries with a focus on Kyrgyzstan, acquired at 51% by GSU in January 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- 67,000 households powered by Berbera 12 MWp project annually
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Global South Utilities
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Global South Utilities technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Global South Utilities partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Weiheng (China)coreGSU partnered with China's Weiheng to domesticate clean energy technology manufacturing in Abu Dhabi. This partnership aims to establish local manufacturing capabilities for renewable energy technology in the UAE.
- 40CapitalminorGSU acquired 51% stake in 40Capital, a renewable energy company specializing in run-of-river hydroelectric projects across CIS countries with focus on Kyrgyzstan. This is GSU's first involvement with run-of-river hydro technology.
- AH for Industrial Management and ConsultationflagshipPart of the consortium led by GSU for the $220 million ATUM Solar complex in Egypt. The consortium includes UAE, Egyptian, Chinese, and Bahraini stakeholders in the TEDA Egypt industrial park.
- JA SolarcoreJA Solar serves as technology partner for the ATUM Solar complex in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone. JA Solar provides solar cell and panel technology for the manufacturing facility.
- Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company)flagshipMasdar and GSU are both UAE entities pursuing renewable energy projects in the Global South. They are mentioned together as key players in UAE's clean energy expansion strategy targeting 100 GW capacity by 2030.
- Yashil EnergiyacoreGSU acquired 51% of Yashil Energiya, a vertically integrated renewable energy developer in Uzbekistan focused on commercial and industrial distributed solar, EV charging infrastructure, and mini-hydropower.
- Berbera Electricity CompanycoreGSU holds 45% stake in Berbera Electricity Company, an integrated power utility providing electricity generation and distribution services in Berbera, Somaliland.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Global South Utilities competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Enel Green Power: Global renewable energy developer and operator with substantial emerging market presence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Enel's full-lifecycle renewable project model and emerging market footprint overlap with GSU's three-continent strategy.
- Brookfield Renewable Partners: One of the world's largest publicly traded renewable energy platforms with global hydro, wind, solar, and storage operations. While not focused exclusively on the Global South, Brookfield's vertically integrated model and emerging market exposure make it a relevant incumbent peer.
- Iberdrola: Global renewable energy utility with substantial wind, solar, and hydro capacity across the Americas, Europe, and Australia. Iberdrola provides a benchmark for what an at-scale, vertically integrated renewable utility looks like, with comparable generation, grid, and water infrastructure business lines.
Direct peers
- Masdar: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, a UAE state-backed renewable energy developer targeting the same Global South geographies. Masdar and GSU are explicitly identified as twin UAE vehicles for the country's 100 GW clean energy target by 2030, making them the closest direct peer in mandate, geography, and capital structure.
- ACWA Power: Saudi Arabia-headquartered developer, owner and operator of power generation and desalinated water plants across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. ACWA's utility-scale renewable and water infrastructure model in emerging markets is highly comparable to GSU's integrated energy-water offering.
- Globeleq: UK-based power company focused on developing, building, and operating renewable energy projects across Africa. Globeleq's geographic focus and project-development-driven emerging market mandate closely mirror GSU's Africa-first strategy and utility infrastructure approach.
- Scatec ASA: Norwegian renewable energy developer with a strong emerging market focus on solar, wind, and storage in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Scatec's PPA-based utility-scale model in frontier markets directly parallels GSU's renewable project development approach.
- Lekela Power: Africa-focused renewable energy platform backed by Actis and Mainstream Renewable Power, developing utility-scale wind and solar across the continent. Lekela's Africa-only, project-development focus makes it a strong peer to GSU's African operations.
Emerging players
- Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet): Global leader in pay-as-you-go solar home systems serving off-grid households across Africa and Asia. Sun King shares GSU's emerging market energy access mission but operates in the off-grid distributed segment rather than utility-scale generation.
- BBOXX: UK-headquartered distributed solar and energy access provider focused on off-grid and mini-grid solutions across Africa. BBOXX addresses similar end-customer pain points (diesel displacement, energy access) as GSU but at the distributed rather than utility scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Global South Utilities social profiles
Digital presenceGlobal South Utilities financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Global South Utilities leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Global South Utilities subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Global South Utilities funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Global South Utilities M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Global South Utilities
What does Global South Utilities do?
Global South Utilities develops, constructs, and operates renewable energy and water infrastructure projects across the Global South, with a focus on solar PV power plants, battery energy storage systems, water treatment and desalination facilities, and end-to-end utility operations. Projects are delivered as long-term concessions or build-own-operate arrangements with governments and state-owned utilities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, ranging in capacity from 2 MW to over 120 MW, with the company currently managing more than 500 MW across three continents.
Is Global South Utilities a public or private company?
Global South Utilities is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Global South Utilities founded?
Global South Utilities was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Global South Utilities based?
Global South Utilities is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Global South Utilities make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Power Generation Projects are the primary driver. The others are utility Operations, EPCM Services and water Infrastructure.
Who are Global South Utilities's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Enel Green Power, Brookfield Renewable Partners and Iberdrola. Direct peers are Masdar, ACWA Power, Globeleq, Scatec ASA and Lekela Power. Emerging players are Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet) and BBOXX.
Does Global South Utilities have an API?
No public API is recorded for Global South Utilities.
What industry is Global South Utilities in?
Global South Utilities's product category is Renewable Energy Utility Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMADAA, Hydropower Project Development & Permitting (Greenfield, Licensing, Water Rights), with a secondary code of EUAMADAB, Hydropower EPC & Civil Construction (Dams, Weirs, Tunnels, Penstocks). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.