From 22–26 June 2026, over 70 energy regulators, utility representatives, and energy practitioners from 14 African countries gathered in Cape Town for a five-day technical workshop. The workshop focused on strengthening the regulatory and utility frameworks needed to accelerate the adoption of distributed generation/embedded generation (DG/EG) across the continent.

The five day workshop was hosted by Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA), Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF) and GET.transform, in partnership with the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR) and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA). It forms part of the Policy Catalyst Distributed Generation Technical Support Programme which equips regulators and electricity utilities with the knowledge, tools, and practical approaches needed to prepare for the growing integration of distributed renewable energy into national electricity systems.

This workshop brought together countries at different stages of their distributed generation journey, creating a valuable opportunity for peer learning and technical exchange. Through interactive sessions, participants explored regulatory frameworks, utility processes, and practical implementation approaches, drawing on experiences from across the continent to support the development of more resilient and investment-ready electricity systems.

This year’s workshop also marked an important milestone for the programme. With new support from QCF, the Distributed Generation Technical Support Programme has expanded into five additional African countries including South Africa, Ghana, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Zambia, significantly extending its reach and strengthening regional collaboration.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ferdinand Nell, Senior Strategy Advisor at GET.transform, reflected on the programme’s growth and impact.

“Just a few years ago, this initiative began with an ambitious vision – to help African regulators and utilities prepare for a future where distributed generation would play a central role in electricity systems. Today, that vision is becoming reality. Countries are not only developing frameworks but applying them in practice, unlocking investment, improving electricity access, and strengthening energy systems.”

The week commenced with a Networking Dinner that welcomed delegates and celebrated the achievements of participating countries in advancing distributed generation. Namibia received the DG Excellence Award, Eswatini was recognised with the DG Implementation Award, and Liberia received the DG Rising Star Award for its progress in developing distributed generation policies and implementation.

The evening also included a special recognition for Mark Borchers, the Technical Expert at Sustainable Energy Africa, who received a Longstanding Service Award in acknowledgement of his technical leadership and significant contribution to the success and growth of the programme over the years.

As the workshop concluded, participants returned to their respective countries equipped with strengthened technical capacity, practical tools, draft DG regulations and implementation process documents, and action plans to support the continued rollout of distributed generation initiatives.

The Policy Catalyst Distributed Generation Technical Support Programme continues to demonstrate the value of African collaboration in accelerating the transition towards more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable electricity systems. By strengthening the capacity of regulators and utilities, supporting policy development, and fostering knowledge exchange across borders, the programme is helping create an enabling environment for distributed renewable energy to thrive across the continent.

To learn more about the programe, visit https://dg-africa.net/