SunCulture Pioneers Africa’s First Carbon Market Ecosystem for Solar Water Pumps
SunCulture, a leading climate-smart agriculture company and developer of the first carbon project for solar irrigation in Africa, has sold 10,000 Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) to EDF Trading (EDFT). SunCulture’s carbon activities to date have been supported with carbon financing from British International Investment (BII) and Shell Foundation.
Transactions such as this demonstrate the value of carbon financing, and SunCulture is now looking to pioneer the development of Africa’s first carbon market ecosystem for solar-powered irrigation systems through a specialized carbon financing vehicle. This innovative model aims to unlock affordable access to clean energy for smallholder farmers while creating measurable, high-quality carbon credits that support global climate goals. The financing vehicle allows SunCulture to cover the costs of generating carbon credits and, crucially, to discount the upfront price of solar water pumps for smallholder farmers, enabling inclusion and affordability at scale.
“The carbon facility model fundamentally transforms how clean technology reaches smallholder farmers. By locking in a carbon price per solar water pump upfront, we can extend the benefits of solar irrigation to more farmers, while ensuring that climate finance directly supports those who need it most.” – Daniel Okoth – Head of Carbon at SunCulture.
SunCulture’s core carbon project replaces diesel and manual water pumps with efficient solar-powered systems, helping farmers grow more, earn more, and build resilience to climate change. Each system installed generates verified emission reductions brought to market as carbon credits. The model not only decarbonizes agriculture, but also enhances farmer incomes, financial inclusion, and food security.
Beyond irrigation, SunCulture continues to expand its product and service portfolio, offering micro-health and credit-life insurance through a partnership with Turaco, and parametric weather insurance in collaboration with Humanity Insured and IBISA. The company has also introduced input financing solutions, enabling farmers to further invest in productivity-enhancing tools.
EDFT’s participation reinforces its long-standing commitment to advancing sustainable energy markets and enabling innovative carbon finance solutions.
“Carbon markets remain dynamic, with regulatory changes and price fluctuations creating uncertainty for investors. High-quality operational carbon structures such as VCUs, which are designed, managed and monitored by Verra, one of the most prominent carbon standards, provide stability and scalability for climate-positive technologies.” – Thomas Schroder – Head of Environmental Services at EDFT.
SunCulture’s work has been backed by prominent global investors and partners including the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), Acumen, and WaterEquity, and its carbon financing has been supported by British International Investment and Shell Foundation with additional results-based financing support from CLASP, FSD Kenya, AECF, and GreenMax Capital, amongst others. Together, these organizations are building a sustainable carbon market ecosystem that de-risks investment, empowers farmers, and scales impact across Africa.
As discussions at COP29 highlighted the urgency of inclusive climate finance and just energy transitions, the SunCulture carbon facility stands as a replicable model for how carbon markets can drive equitable access to clean technology, transforming livelihoods while mitigating emissions.
