By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with (B)energy, developer of the ccCASH initiative, to create a pan-African mechanism for financing clean cooking solutions, a move aimed at making households active participants in Africa’s energy transition.
Africa faces a significant energy challenge, with over 200 million households still reliant on polluting fuels such as firewood, charcoal, and kerosene. While clean cookstove programs have gained traction, adoption has been limited by weak incentives, fragmented investments, and restricted access to climate finance.
Under the MOU, the AEC and (B)energy will position ccCASH as a continent-wide clean cooking currency, directly rewarding households for verified climate, health, and social outcomes from clean cooking technologies. By moving beyond traditional project-based carbon certification, the initiative channels finance straight to users, delivering tangible benefits at the household level.
The ccCASH platform offers a shared digital infrastructure for monitoring, reporting, and verifying emissions reductions and social co-benefits across a range of technologies, including biogas, LPG, ethanol, and electric cooking solutions. Its technology-neutral design promotes scalability, inclusion, and equitable access for households, small technology providers, and service companies often excluded from conventional carbon markets.
Through the partnership, the AEC will advocate for ccCASH across its pan-African network, providing high-level visibility and alignment with national energy transition, climate, and clean cooking strategies. ccCASH will lead platform development, technical implementation, and engagement with governments, development partners, and the private sector.
“Clean cooking is not just a technology challenge – it is an income, incentives, and financing challenge,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “ccCASH delivers a scalable, African-driven pathway to mobilize climate finance while generating measurable social, economic, and climate benefits. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to practical, high-impact solutions that improve livelihoods across the continent.”
Katrin Puetz, CEO of (B)energy, added, “Partnering with the African Energy Chamber is a defining moment for ccCASH. It gives us the platform to scale a new mindset in the clean cooking sector while bringing together energy and mining companies, governments, and development partners.”
By aggregating verified household-level impact, ccCASH supports government climate commitments, including Nationally Determined Contributions, while opening avenues for private sector investment, ESG participation, and high-integrity Article 6-aligned climate finance. The MOU signals a shared vision to establish ccCASH as a long-term, continent-wide mechanism to accelerate clean cooking adoption, strengthen service ecosystems, and deliver inclusive economic and environmental benefits across Africa.
In early 2026, the AEC and (B)energy will host a high-level webinar to engage corporates, investors, development partners, and governments. The session will provide pathways for participation in pilots, co-investments, and national rollouts, positioning ccCASH as a practical entry point for CSR, ESG, and climate finance linked directly to household-level impact across Africa.
