AAPI to launch agrivoltaics push in Kigali

The African Agrivoltaics Platform Initiative will bring governments, investors, researchers and innovators together in Kigali on Sept. 1 to accelerate agrivoltaics across Africa. The event will also introduce the inaugural African Handbook of Agrivoltaics and new working groups aimed at building bankable project pipelines.

Why it matters: - AAPI is trying to scale agrivoltaics across Africa, where solar power and farming can share the same land and improve food security, energy access, water resilience and rural economic development. - The platform is meant to help turn agrivoltaics from pilot projects into financeable, country-level pipelines. - The Kigali reception comes during the Africa Food Systems Forum, putting the initiative in front of policymakers and market players already focused on food systems.

What happened: - The African Agrivoltaics Platform Initiative will host a leadership and networking reception in Kigali on Sept. 1. - The event will bring together government leaders, development partners, investors, researchers and private-sector innovators. - The reception is organized by the Consortium for Sustainable Agrivoltaics (C4SA) and AKADEMIYA2063. - The event will introduce AAPI to African stakeholders and launch the inaugural African Handbook of Agrivoltaics. - The program will run Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 18:00–20:00 CAT at the Fairview Building, 5th Floor Balcony, across from the Kigali Convention Centre.

The details: - AAPI was established to help overcome barriers to scaling agrivoltaics across African markets. - The platform brings together agriculture, energy, finance, policy and research expertise. - AAPI aims to support viable project pipelines while strengthening food security, energy access, water resilience and rural economic development. - The Kigali program will recognize AAPI’s founding country members and partners. - The event will introduce three working groups: Evidence & Capacity Building, Finance, and Value Chain Links. - The African Handbook of Agrivoltaics was developed by C4SA and its partners as a practical resource for African practitioners. - The reception is supported by 22nd Century by Design Solutions and BioLargo, Inc. - BioLargo and 22nd Century by Design Solutions work across clean energy, water, agriculture and community development. - The event follows AAPI’s broader mission to connect governments with research, development and private-sector partners.

Between the lines: - Dual Energy said the main constraint on agrivoltaics is rarely the technology itself, but the lack of site-specific evidence a bank can underwrite. - The company said its partnership with C4SA will help build a bankable project pipeline by identifying the crop, system geometry and machinery needed site by site. - Dr. Cynthia A. Phillips said agrivoltaics allows food, energy and water to be treated as interconnected systems rather than separate problems. - Phillips said AAPI can connect innovation, investment and local capacity to create community-level solutions and economic opportunity. - C4SA Founder Chris Hegadorn said AAPI was created to support African countries and farmers while advancing food and energy security, conserving water, protecting biodiversity and reducing dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels.

What's next: - AAPI will use the Kigali reception to expand awareness of its vision, priorities and growing network of country members and partners. - The platform will continue building around evidence, finance and value chains to support agrivoltaics deployment across the continent. - The new handbook and working groups are positioned as early tools for practitioners and investors who need clearer project data and implementation pathways.

The bottom line: - AAPI is betting that better evidence, better financing and stronger partnerships can turn agrivoltaics into a practical growth model for African food and energy systems. - More information is available on Cynthia A. Phillips's LinkedIn profile.