Our Pillars

Grids of the Future

Cutting edge technologies to deliver abundant, reliable, clean electricity across the Global South

The challenge and opportunity

Across the world nearly 700 million people lack access to electricity, and billions lack access that is affordable, reliable or clean. Modern electricity grids are critical to closing this gap. Yet in many emerging economies, utilities – which supply the bulk of electricity – struggle to keep up with demand, held back by aging infrastructure, underinvestment and lack of staff, training and actionable data.

Efforts to overcome these challenges are often confined to isolated pilots, limiting their ability to address grid-wide, systemic issues.

The world stands at a technological and geopolitical inflection point. As emerging economies chart pathways toward energy security and climate resilience, governments are reimagining their energy systems to move beyond fossil fuels. Rapidly falling costs of renewable energy and battery storage, combined with breakthroughs in computing and large-scale AI models, are fundamentally reshaping how energy is produced, moved and managed. As demand for electricity grows, a new generation of modern grids is emerging – smarter, more flexible, and renewables-ready – cutting emissions while unlocking inclusive, sustainable economic growth.
Grids of the Future Overview

Our ambition

 

By 2030, we aim to partner with 10 champion utilities around the world to advance digital and battery storage solutions to:

 

people with affordable, reliable, clean energy
Reach 500 million
people with affordable, reliable, clean energy
– more than the European Union emits in a year
Prevent 3.2 billion metric tons of carbon emissions
– more than the European Union emits in a year
of financing, catalyzed by philanthropic capital
Mobilize US$ 160 billion
of financing, catalyzed by philanthropic capital

Our approach

Grids of the Future works in deep partnership with utilities, local governments, regulators and innovators to realize this opportunity through the D4 framework. By supporting utilities to adopt grid digitalization (D1) – the mapping of the physical grid to create a digital ‘twin’ – and embedding advanced analytics and AI tools, we enable real-time insights into grid health, asset optimization and more accurate demand forecasts. The digital twin enables the intelligent integration of distributed energy resources (D2), including renewables and battery storage (BESS), at the points where they deliver the greatest efficiency and climate impact. Together, these interventions will drive the democratization (D3) of electricity, allowing consumers to participate in the energy system by providing flexibility and shaping demand patterns. Underpinning these shifts is the development (D4) of a strong ecosystem of innovators and entrepreneurs to design, deploy and scale solutions, enabling utilities to meet rapidly growing demand with adaptive, efficient and future-ready grids.

This methodical, partnership-based approach enables emerging economies to leapfrog from aging, fossil fuel-dependent grids into an abundant, reliable, clean energy future.

 

New case study series

  • Case study: Transforming Nigeria’s energy system
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  • Case study: Reliable power for a modern economy
    Read More

    • A powerful foundation

    Explore a selection of our projects around the world.

    Nigeria interconnected mini grids

    In Nigeria, home to the world’s largest unelectrified population, interconnected mini grids serving more than 4000 homes sparked a pipeline of projects serving hundreds of thousands more
    Learn more
    Man fixing an electrical box

    Digital 'twin' in Rajasthan

    In Rajasthan, a digital ‘twin’ of Jaipur’s electric grid, is unlocking reliable power for 18 million, mostly rural people, and a blueprint for expansion in India, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and beyond.
    Learn more

    Haiti mesh grids

    In Haiti, where just 2% of the rural population has electricity, interconnected solar mesh grids are bringing energy to 10,000 homes and businesses, with a pipeline to reach 25,000 more.
    Learn more

    BESS Malawi

    Sub-Saharan Africa’s first BESS project in Malawi will help insulate the country’s hydroelectric grid from drought and extreme weather shocks
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    BESS Barbados

    Latin America and the Caribbean’s first competitive BESS tender is helping Barbados achieve 100% clean energy by 2030. An aggregated procurement initiative supports efforts to fortify energy systems and improve climate resilience across the region
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    BESS Vietnam

    Vietnam’s groundbreaking national BESS road map is supporting the country’s ambitious just energy transition.
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    Digital kusum tool

    In Rajasthan, new digital and financial tools helped scale the government’s distributed renewable energy program to reach 600,000 rural farmers, creating a replicable model of public-private collaboration
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    ENTICE

    The ENTICE initiative empowers hundreds of local innovators to deploy AI /machine learning solutions to grid modernization and decarbonization efforts in India and beyond
    Learn more

    BESS India

    India’s first commercial, standalone utility-scale BESS in New Delhi is improving grid reliability for 100,000 homes and businesses. Expansion will support the country’s ambitious climate and clean energy agenda
    Learn more

    Grids of the Future in action