Octopus Energy And Masdar sign a Strategic MOU To boost UK Grid Capacity And Scale Clean Energy Across Africa

Octopus Energy has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC—Masdar to support new clean energy projects in the UK and Africa. The agreements were signed during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and focus on solving grid challenges, speeding up renewable integration, and meeting rising electricity demand from fast-growing sectors like AI data centers.

In the UK, the partnership aims to free up hidden capacity across the distribution network to support the next generation of data centers. The country is currently facing a major shortage of grid connections, with many renewable energy projects waiting for years to connect. At the same time, power demand is increasing rapidly as data centers require large and reliable electricity supplies, which often take a long time to secure through traditional network upgrades.

Under the new model, Octopus and Masdar plan to identify areas where unused or underutilized grid capacity is available and build smart, local energy systems around those locations. These systems will combine on-site solar power, battery storage, and flexible grid connections. This approach is expected to help data centers access power much sooner and reduce delays linked to network congestion.

Octopus’s Kraken-powered technology will play a key role in managing these energy systems. The platform will intelligently balance electricity from solar generation, batteries, and the grid to ensure uptime for high-demand AI workloads. It will also help reduce energy costs by shifting consumption to cheaper time periods when possible.

The second MoU focuses on scaling clean energy solutions across Africa by using the continent’s strong solar and wind potential. The partnership will target commercial and industrial users by developing local grids and distributed energy systems that can improve productivity, support job creation, and strengthen industrial growth. One of the biggest barriers for African businesses has been underinvestment in grid infrastructure, flexibility, and system integration, and the collaboration aims to address these gaps.

Masdar and Octopus will initially focus on South Africa, with plans to expand into other countries in the near future. Masdar is also targeting collaboration through its Power Africa Initiative, which is part of Global Citizen’s “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa Campaign.” The initiative aims to catalyse $450 million in investments for clean energy solutions such as grids, distributed assets, and technologies that deliver power directly to homes and businesses.

Octopus Energy Founder and CEO Greg Jackson said the partnership will help deliver projects that make energy cheaper and cleaner while creating opportunities for businesses and industry. Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said the agreements will support progress in the AI era and expand access to clean energy across the UK and Africa.