Virtual Power Plants - AI at the heart of Africa’s energy resilience

When we talk about South Africa’s infrastructure challenges, energy is always at the centre of the story. Whether it is mining, transport, or construction, none of these sectors can function without reliable electricity. For years, that reliability has been in short supply. What is changing now is the way we think about how power is generated and managed.

If Africa is to unlock its full potential, we need to move beyond simply adding more renewable projects. We need to orchestrate them properly. That is why our focus is on building virtual power plants, using AI as the “brain” that helps turn fragmented assets into stable, always-on power. Our mission is ambitious but clear: to work towards 100% electricity availability across Africa.

Energy sits at the heart of every ESG strategy. Investors and regulators want to see tangible reductions in emissions and improved efficiency. Too often, renewable projects underperform because the data is messy, systems do not communicate, and decision-makers cannot see the full picture.

Virtual power plants solve this problem. They bring together distributed assets such as solar, wind, and batteries, and optimise them as if they were one coordinated system. Our Ona Grid Management Platform uses AI to forecast demand, schedule dispatch, and close the gaps that often lead to downtime. The result is higher efficiency, lower emissions per unit of power, and more credible ESG reporting.

When people talk about infrastructure, the focus is usually on physical build-out: new rail, new ports, new construction. All of that becomes fragile if the power supply is unstable. Mining companies know this well because the cost of a stalled operation due to electricity disruption is enormous. A reliable grid does not just support industry; it underpins every other infrastructure investment.

Reliable, intelligently managed energy must be seen as part of the infrastructure conversation. It is not just about keeping the lights on; it is about reducing risk across whole industries. With AI-driven optimisation, an independent power producer running multiple solar plants can trade more profitably by aligning output with peak prices, while industrial players benefit from a steadier power profile and reduced operational costs.

Another side of ESG is compliance. Energy regulation is shifting constantly, both in South Africa and abroad, and businesses cannot afford to treat it as an afterthought. What we have built at Asoba is a Policy Analyst tool that gives instant insights into regulatory changes and incentive structures.

For operators and traders, this means faster and more confident decision-making. For investors, it builds trust that the business is proactive rather than reactive. Compliance done well does not only tick a box, it builds credibility and unlocks new opportunities.

Renewable integration has made grid management more complex. Municipalities are expected to do more with fewer resources, while investors are channeling funds into ESG-aligned projects and demanding evidence of impact. A growing expectation is that utilities and municipalities adopt tools that can show measurable improvements in efficiency and reporting. AI is not a silver bullet, yet it provides clarity in a space that has long been defined by uncertainty.

No single company can achieve Africa’s energy resilience on its own. Partnerships are critical between IPPs, municipalities, traders, and technology providers. Our role is to provide the intelligence layer that makes those partnerships more effective. By doing so, we help reduce friction in decision-making and increase the confidence of those deploying capital into the sector.

As Africa builds the infrastructure of tomorrow, energy systems that are reliable, sustainable, and smart will determine whether those investments deliver lasting value. AI-powered virtual power plants are not a nice-to-have; they are the enabler of economic growth and ESG progress.

Building resilience into Africa’s energy system requires forward planning rather than firefighting. AI is no longer a distant concept, it is already shaping how grids are managed and how investments deliver returns. The key question for decision-makers is how to embed these tools quickly and effectively so that infrastructure spending translates into reliable power and long-term growth.

Shingai Samudzi is the CEO of Asoba.  Formerly a data scientist at Google and head strategist for a US-based commercial solar firm, he founded Asoba to make electricity cheaper and more accessible for industrial and commercial enterprises across Africa

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