For countries already struggling with high electricity costs, unreliable grids, and dependence on imported fossil fuels, the oil and gas crisis is deepening existing vulnerabilities. The United Nations recently downgraded global growth forecasts amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, warning that rising fuel and food prices could push an additional 45 million people into acute food insecurity.

But alongside the crisis, another trend is accelerating just as quickly.

Across markets in the Global South, households and businesses are increasingly turning to more reliable, local energy: rooftop solar, battery storage, and decentralized energy systems. And it’s not because of ideology but because, economically, it makes the most sense.

At New Energy Nexus (NEX), we’re seeing entrepreneurs respond in real time: building businesses that help communities lower costs, stabilizing energy access, and gaining greater control over their energy future.

Our recent webinar, Clean Energy SMEs (small and medium enterprises) vs. the Energy Crisis, focuses on the successes, challenges, and impacts of this shift, drawing on insights from ecosystem leaders in our network.

Photo from a New Energy Skills in-person solar installation training in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Pakistan: A citizen-led solar revolution

Pakistan may be one of the clearest examples of how an economic crisis can rapidly accelerate clean energy adoption.

Fossil fuels accounted for 79% of Pakistan’s primary energy supply in FY 2024, with over 40% of that fossil fuel demand met through imports. When global fuel prices surged after 2022, electricity tariffs rose by 155% between 2021 and 2024, while fossil fuel imports consumed 10.6% of the GDP in FY24.

That’s when citizens took matters into their own hands.

“Pakistan is often described as ground zero for the citizen solar revolution… it was a genuine market response to an ongoing crisis,” said Aamna Khaqan, NEX’s Accelerator Manager in Pakistan. “[The country] was essentially cornered into the solar revolution. It then actively chose it.”

According to a Renewables First report, distributed solar generation grew from nearly zero in FY17 to the equivalent of 46% of grid sales by FY25. By 2026, Pakistan had cumulatively imported more than 50 GW of solar PV, helping avoid an estimated US$12 billion in oil and gas imports and contributing to a 40% drop in fossil fuel imports between 2022 and 2024.

The transition, however, has also exposed major financing and equity gaps. With limited access to loans and formal financing products, many lower-income households remain locked out of the transition despite rising demand.

As a result, more than 7.3 million households have adopted solar since 2023, yet that still represents less than one-fifth of Pakistani households.

“[The consumers] absorb the technology risk, and they also have to navigate policy shifts,” Khaqan said. “So the risk does need to be redistributed… [through] blended finance structures, first loss guarantees, or different ways that the capital can be accessed.”

To help close these gaps, New Energy Nexus is working with Renewables First to strengthen Pakistan’s clean energy ecosystem through CLIP (Climate Innovation Pakistan) and New Energy Skills. CLIP supports climate startups in validating their products, testing solutions with real customers, and refining their go-to-market strategies, while also connecting them with mentors, pilots, and investors. Meanwhile, New Energy Skills complements this by expanding access to practical, job-ready training for installers and technicians, building the workforce needed to deliver solar deployment at scale.

Photo from a New Energy Skills solar training session in the Philippines.

The Philippines: Energy resilience across islands

In the Philippines, the energy crisis is amplified by geography. As an archipelago with fragmented island grids, disruptions in fuel prices and electricity supply ripple quickly across communities.

Rising electricity costs and concerns over energy security are now accelerating demand for distributed solar systems nationwide.

“People are not shifting to solar because it’s trendy,” said Brenda Valerio, NEX Philippines Country Director. “They’re shifting because they want lower electricity costs, more predictable expenses, and greater control over their energy supply.”

In a recent NEX Philippines survey, 28 solar installers reported an average 582% increase in customer inquiries compared to pre-crisis levels. But they are also facing significant bottlenecks as they struggle to meet this surge in demand. Installers noted widespread supply chain disruptions, delayed deliveries, workforce shortages, and increased market pressure from inexperienced new entrants.

The country’s decentralized geography compounds those challenges. Smaller solar companies operating outside major urban centers often struggle to access inventory, skilled labor, and financing as larger suppliers absorb the limited supply.

But as Valerio notes, the opportunity window exists. The question now is whether the country can build the workforce, the financing systems, and the local ecosystems before that window closes.

“If we actually do this right, the Philippines will not only be responding to the energy crisis that we are experiencing right now. We can actually use it as a catalyst to build a more resilient, inclusive, and decentralized energy future,” Valerio said.

With that in mind, NEX Philippines has supported the formation of regional and subregional solar trade associations, helping smaller installers coordinate workforce development, procurement, and policy engagement at the local level. It also has its own New Energy Skills program, training these installers to build quality, scalable solar careers and businesses.

Solar installation at Maw Poe Kay High School. Photo from SunSawang

Thailand: A solar workforce stepping up to rising demand

Thailand’s clean energy transition is being shaped by rising LNG price volatility, government incentives, and growing demand for rooftop solar from both households and businesses.

In response to energy price pressures, the Thai government introduced tax exemptions for rooftop solar, expanded feed-in tariff quotas, and launched soft-loan programs to support solar adoption. The result has been a rapid nationwide increase in demand.

“They created a boom in demand for rooftop solar nationwide,” said Kotchakorn (Build) Khwamchareon, Head of Programs at NEX Thailand.

But as installations rise, so do concerns around quality and workforce capacity. A NEX Thailand survey in April for an upcoming solar installation training program in Phuket drew three to four times the inquiries it would have received before the energy crisis.

“The market really sees the demand,” Khwamchareon said. “We really need more people joining the entrepreneur setting for the solar workforce.”

To help address that gap, NEX Thailand has already trained 250 solar entrepreneurs through its SolarStep program, combining technical and business training. The organization is now partnering with Thailand’s Ministry of Labor to launch a train-the-trainer initiative to rapidly expand the country’s qualified solar workforce.

Solar installation in Nigeria.

Nigeria: SMEs taking control of energy generation

In Nigeria, clean energy is increasingly becoming a business survival strategy. The country faces one of the world’s largest energy access gaps, with 90 million people lacking access to electricity and many businesses relying on expensive self-generation to operate.

Meanwhile, Nigerian SMEs spend a significant share of their operating costs on diesel for generators, while commercial areas regularly experience daily outages of 12–18 hours.

“We’re not competing with the grid,” said Ifeoma Malo, CEO and Co-founder of Clean Technology Hub, NEX’s partner in Nigeria. “We’re actually competing with diesel generators.”

As electricity costs rise, businesses are increasingly turning to solar and decentralized clean energy systems to stabilize operations and reduce fuel expenses.

“SMEs are not waiting for the grid. They are building around it,” Malo said. “People now realize… they have absolute control over how they generate [energy].”

Through PREPARED (Programme for Renewable Energy Preparedness, Acceleration & Readiness for Entrepreneurs and Distributors), NEX and Clean Technology Hub are supporting Nigerian clean energy entrepreneurs with financing readiness, market access, technical assistance, and investor connections.

The program has already engaged with 47 clean energy startups and helped power over 9,400 households. By 2028, the initiative aims to reach an estimated 50,000 households with clean power.

Building the ecosystems behind the transition

In these four countries, entrepreneurs are approaching the transition in different ways. But the requisites for scaling their solutions are similar: financing systems, workforce development, policy coordination, supply chains, and local ecosystem support that enable clean energy businesses to grow sustainably.

That is the work New Energy Nexus is focused on globally. NEX is helping build ecosystems in 13 countries worldwide, enabling entrepreneurs to scale solutions at a national and even global scale.

“We have wonderful SMEs and entrepreneurs on the ground that are moving faster than the incumbents.” NEX CEO Andrew Chang said during the webinar. “They’re more agile, they can get to work faster. They can really have an immediate impact in the communities that they’re operating in.”

Whether you’re an entrepreneur ready to scale your solutions or a funder wanting to get more involved in the transition, learn more about our programs here.

You can also listen to the full webinar recording below.

By Jasper (Shaojie) Shen, New Energy Nexus China

Group shot of our delegation at Shanghai Climate Week 2026.

Shanghai Climate Week 2026 was a pivotal moment for regional collaboration, and New Energy Nexus China played a major role this year. We hosted around 40 members of international delegations from Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, and supported a wide range of coordination work.

Looking back now, it’s interesting to remember that this project actually started as a very small idea in mid-March, seeded during conversations with our partners in Thailand (JUTI) and Pakistan (Renewables First).

Both organizations had a strong interest off the bat. They wanted to bring together think tanks, government representatives, and business leaders to better understand China’s energy transition practices.

As preparations moved forward, the delegation lists kept growing. Even one week before the event started, we were still receiving emails asking, “Can we still add one more person?” or “Is it still possible for me to join?” Eventually, many sessions filled up, and we had to close registration.

That process made one thing very clear: the level of curiosity around China’s clean energy transition is high, and growing.

As Leo Horn-Phathanothai, CEO of JUTI, said: “No doubt that China has shown a welcoming attitude and an openness to doing business with the world.”

At the same time, however, I could still feel that there are bottlenecks in cross-border collaboration. One of the barriers I observed was trust, which isn’t solved by new tech or market research but by transparent communication and cooperation.

In many ways, Shanghai Climate Week felt like a process of building trust across different countries and different contexts. Across multiple events we co-hosted and participated in, I’ve noted these insights:

Meaningful conversations bring significant value.

One of my strongest observations was that simply getting people from different countries to sit together and talk meaningfully is already extremely valuable.

During our visit to Suzhou Industrial Park, we organized a closed-door dialogue on low-carbon industrial parks. Representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, Siam Cement Group (Thailand), Renewables First (Pakistan), SIP Urban Development Research Institute, and GCL Energy Technology shared perspectives on how different countries are approaching industrial decarbonization.

What made this different was not formal presentations, but real exchange. Conversations quickly moved into grounded questions:

• What is the most practical challenge in your country right now?
• Why does this work in China?
• Would it translate to Southeast Asia?
• Who carries the financing risk?

One of the sessions at Shanghai Climate Week 2026.

Countries can accidentally inspire each other.

This was something we did not anticipate at the beginning.

For example, members of the Pakistan delegation shared how the country has experienced a massive rooftop solar boom in recent years. Many households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have started purchasing and installing solar systems independently due to concerns about electricity prices and power reliability.

This kind of bottom-up renewable energy demand was very surprising and impressive to the Thailand delegation. Some Thai partners specifically told me that it made them start thinking about whether Thailand could cultivate a similar grassroots-level driving force.

These kinds of sparks are very difficult to generate solely through reports.

Different stakeholders come looking for different things.

Delegation members also arrived with very different priorities. Policy and think tank representatives focused on how China’s systems actually function on the ground. One company in Suzhou, Zooming New Energy, shared a candid view: while policy support matters, long-term success still depends on market demand and customer-driven logic.

Meanwhile, business participants prioritized partnerships. To support this, we organized seven one-on-one matchmaking sessions with companies including Sungrow, Windey International, Tecloman Energy Storage, and WHES Energy Storage Systems.

The key insight: information creates awareness, but collaboration creates engagement.

Trust is also built in quieter ways.

Running multinational events like this is demanding, but it’s often the small details that shape trust and can’t be neglected.

AI translation tools made cross-language discussions seamless for many visitors. Halal meals and dietary accommodations ensured inclusivity. Even informal moments, such as shared meals or cultural exchanges, shaped participants’ experiences throughout the week.

These efforts may seem minor, but they leave strong, lasting impressions.

One of the sessions at Shanghai Climate Week 2026.

Overall, facilitating these exchanges reinforced the fact that the energy transition will depend as much on relationships as it does on technology. NEX China hopes to be one of the partners helping build it. Whether you’re interested in supporting our work or you’re a startup looking for pathways to scale, learn more about our programs at newenergynexus.cn.

Jasper (Shaojie) Shen is the Director of Strategy and Market Partnerships at New Energy Nexus China.

Group shot of New Energy Nexus and the delegations participating in Shanghai Climate Week 2026.

China’s clean energy transition is accelerating at a scale few countries have achieved before. In 2025 alone, the country added more than 430 GW of new wind and solar capacity, pushing renewables to over 60% of its total installed power generation capacity.

But the significance of that progress extends far beyond China itself. As climate pressures intensify across Asia, the technologies, financing models, and industry expertise emerging from China’s transition could play a major role in accelerating clean energy adoption across the region and beyond.

That urgency shaped Shanghai Climate Week 2026, where New Energy Nexus (NEX) China organized six energy transition events under the banner ‘NEXT DECADE:’ convening delegates, companies, policymakers, and ecosystem builders from across Asia to explore how deeper regional collaboration can accelerate the transition in the immediate future.

A delegation of 40 representatives from Thailand, Pakistan and Indonesia joined in the events, led by the Just Transition Initiative (JUTI), with whom we partnered for Bangkok Climate Action Week, and Renewables First, which enables our work with entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

Here are some of the biggest insights that emerged from the week:

Collaboration is key to a faster energy transition

One theme surfaced repeatedly across nearly every event: technology is advancing faster than the mechanisms for cross-border collaboration.

At the Power Up! Shanghai Evening reception (April 21), delegates from Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan spoke directly with Chinese companies, including LONGi Green Energy and Jinko Solar, about opportunities to expand renewable energy deployment across Asia. The discussions were practical, focusing on financing, market access, implementation challenges, and local adaptation rather than broad climate ambition alone.

Delegates consistently highlighted growing interest from Chinese companies in working more closely with markets across Southeast and South Asia. Many also expressed optimism about concrete next steps following the week’s exchanges, particularly around technology deployment, industrial cooperation, and future business partnerships.

“China’s role in the Global South’s energy transition is moving from being a technology supplier to shaping the foundations of the next energy economy,” said Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO at Renewables First. “This is becoming urgent as demand for energy storage accelerates and begins to define how far distributed, solar-led systems can actually scale, with Pakistan now moving from a solar rush into an emerging battery rush.”

Muhammad Basit Ghauri, Special Initiatives Manager at Renewables First, speaks at a panel.

Our takeaway: The appetite for collaboration already exists. What is needed now are stronger platforms, trusted interlocutors, strong collaborative networks, and sustained engagement to turn conversations into concrete collaboration.

China’s energy transition experience is becoming globally relevant

The Green Practices in Suzhou exchange (April 22) offered international delegates a closer look at how China is implementing green transformation at the city and industrial park level.

The delegates explored distributed renewable energy systems, zero-carbon industrial parks, and integrated planning models alongside Chinese industry leaders and researchers. What stood out was not only the scale of China’s implementation, but how rapidly lessons from those projects could apply elsewhere in Asia.

Delegates were particularly interested in how Chinese companies combine policy coordination, industrial strategy, and infrastructure to accelerate adoption. The discussions also surfaced growing opportunities for joint pilot projects and localized partnerships in Southeast and South Asia.

China’s experience driving industrial decarbonization as a business strategy, with cost savings, operational efficiency, resilience and innovation at its heart, resonated with participants from other countries.

Our takeaway: China’s role in the transition is evolving from manufacturer to ecosystem partner, with an impact that transcends geographical boundaries.

Distributed renewable energy is becoming central to resilience

At the forum on distributed renewable energy cooperation in Suzhou, discussions focused heavily on resilience, particularly in rapidly growing economies vulnerable to climate and grid instability.

Speakers from China, Thailand, Pakistan, and across Southeast Asia emphasized that distributed energy systems are no longer niche technologies. They are increasingly becoming core infrastructure for climate adaptation, energy access, and economic resilience.

Conversations across Southeast Asia highlighted growing interest in adapting China’s experience with distributed renewable energy to local contexts, particularly in areas where centralized infrastructure remains limited or vulnerable.

Leo Horn-Phathanothai, CEO of JUTI, speaks at a panel.

Our takeaway: Energy resilience is now inseparable from energy transition planning.

Climate finance needs stronger regional coordination

Across multiple forums, from the insurance-focused Chinese Technology, Global Capital, Insuring a Greener Future session to the Turning Green into Gold dialogue, one issue repeatedly surfaced: financing structures still lag behind climate innovation.

Participants discussed how insurance systems, green finance, blended capital, and standardized investment frameworks will be essential for scaling infrastructure and emerging technologies across Asia.

The conversations also reflected a broader shift in mindset. Climate finance is increasingly viewed not only as risk mitigation, but also as a tool for industrial transformation and regional cooperation.

Delegates from Southeast Asia noted strong interest in building financial partnerships that connect local market demand with Chinese manufacturing and technology capacity.

Our takeaway: Accelerating the energy transition will require financial systems that move as quickly and collaboratively as the technologies themselves.

AI and intelligent manufacturing are reshaping the transition

Several events highlighted how AI and intelligent systems are becoming deeply integrated into the clean energy economy.

At the Green Engine Accelerator 2026 launch and the Climate Lighthouse Forum on intelligent manufacturing, startups and industry leaders showcased solutions spanning AI-powered energy systems, CCUS, green fuels, hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing.

The conversations reflected a growing convergence between digital infrastructure and clean energy infrastructure. Rather than operating as separate industries, participants increasingly framed AI, automation, and energy systems as interconnected drivers of industrial decarbonization.

For many international delegates, this also reinforced China’s growing role in manufacturing clean energy hardware while increasingly shaping next-generation energy ecosystems.

Jie Xiao, General Manager of New Energy Nexus China, speaks during one of the events.

Our takeaway: The convergence of AI, digital infrastructure, and clean energy is now becoming a defining force in how industrial decarbonization will scale across Asia and beyond.

Cities are emerging as climate collaboration hubs

One of the strongest signals from the week came from the discussions around city-led climate cooperation.

At the Climate Week Seasons Connect+ and the Opening Ceremony Roundtable closed-door meetings, leaders connected initiatives from Shanghai, Bangkok, London, and other cities to explore how local climate action platforms can drive global collaboration.

The emphasis throughout these sessions was pragmatic: cities can often move faster than national systems, especially when it comes to piloting solutions, convening industries, and building partnerships.

Our takeaway: These discussions reinforce the importance of regional climate ecosystems that connect entrepreneurs, corporates, governments, and investors across borders rather than operating in isolation.

What comes next

Shanghai Climate Week 2026 showed that Asia’s clean energy transition is entering a new phase. The technologies exist. Manufacturing capacity exists. Capital and policy momentum are growing. The challenge now is building the connective tissue that allows innovation, investment, and implementation to move faster across markets.

That is where New Energy Nexus China continues to play a critical role.

For nearly a decade, NEX China has been running accelerator programs, facilitating matchmaking between founders and funders, and building strong relationships both within and outside the country.

Shanghai Climate Week was never meant to be a one-off exchange, but part of a longer effort to build sustained regional collaboration platforms across Asia’s energy transition ecosystem. In the months ahead, NEX China will continue advancing these connections through regional initiatives, including the Intelligent Manufacturing Expo Southeast Asia 2026 and Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026, where many of the conversations started in Shanghai are expected to evolve into deeper partnerships and concrete projects.

Learn more about our programs in China at newenergynexus.cn.

Roha Rehan presents her paper on PakPlug at the 2025 IEEE Transportaton Electrification Conference and Expo, Asia-Pacific (ITEC-AP) in Singapore.

Could the “Airbnb” of charging stations be the key to unlock an EV revolution?

Electric vehicles (EVs) in Pakistan are more than just a passing fad. The stage is set for explosive growth, with an ambitious aim of 30% of new vehicles sold by 2030 being EVs, and Chinese EV giant BYD building a manufacturing plant in Karachi to produce 25,000 vehicles annually starting this year.

But is the infrastructure in place to support such a rapid boom? After all, EV charging stations are about to become as huge a commodity as gas stations.

This is where clean energy entrepreneurs like Roha Rehan, a recent electrical engineering graduate from Lahore, come in. Roha’s business, PakPlug, wants to be the “Airbnb” of EV charging stations for Pakistan’s growing EV market.

The spark

Roha’s journey starts at home.

She said her father, an electrical engineer himself, is very “into EVs.” Her family started with hybrid cars in 2012 and has exclusively driven EVs since 2023. While it has helped them cut fuel costs, it wasn’t all smooth driving.

“When we have to travel from Lahore to any other city, we really need to borrow a car from somebody else, because we don’t know if we can locate chargers for our electric car,” Roha said.

She and co-founder Hammad Javaid found that even if charging stations were in an area, a local would have a hard time finding them, as they’re not being marketed properly nor geotagged. That led to the development of PakPlug—an app where anyone can find a place to recharge their vehicles in Pakistan.

The PakPlug app.

Here’s how it works: People who own an EV charger at home or at an establishment can add it to PakPlug’s system. Users can then find this charging station through the app, and the owner will be able to charge a fee for renting it out.

As a plus for the energy transition, 85% of EV charging stations currently in PakPlug’s systems use solar energy, keeping in pace with Pakistan’s solar boom.

Speed bumps

Currently pre-launch, the app is still going through growing pains. Onboarding customers, ensuring the security of people lending chargers at home, and deciding a price point for renting—these are a few of the barriers for customers and owners, which the team is actively solving.

For example, Roha says they’ve recommended that owners only install their chargers near their gate, so they run a wire into the driveway, and customers don’t have to go inside the home. They’re also testing dynamic pricing, where people can charge more if they own other facilities like restaurants beside their charging station, as it means drivers have something to do while recharging.

Aside from app development, being a woman in STEM comes with its own set of challenges. Roha shared that even in university, her electrical engineering classes had a ratio of 40 men to nine women, and doubts in her abilities continued after graduating.

“When I started this startup, a lot of people had questions like, ‘do you know how EVs charge?’ ‘Do you know this and that?’ And I was like, yes, that’s literally my degree,” Roha said. “People tend to think that women aren’t able to do much in a startup ecosystem, and that they will always need some backing.”

Roha Rehan presents at the National Incubation Center Lahore in 2025.

Despite these, Roha has gotten a lot of encouragement from the field. But to break out into the market and scale fast in Pakistan’s changing EV landscape, she saw the need for stronger, more tailored support.

Revving up

Enter Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP), a collaboration between New Energy Nexus and Renewables First. Roha was selected for the first cohort of the CLIP Incubator: a 12-week, equity-free program helping entrepreneurs validate products, run pilots, refine business models, and connect with investors and partners across Pakistan.

“I was also incubated somewhere else before, but those were for a wide range of startups. There wasn’t any direct climate-related guidance,” Roha said. “As we discussed in one of our last sessions [in the CLIP incubator], it’s really hard for climate startups to get initial funding, because their impact is going to be long-term and you can only project numbers for the future.”

As she expected, Roha is picking up a lot from sessions dedicated to climate and clean energy solutions like hers, such as emissions impact analysis and what climate investors look for in pitch decks. She’s also getting mentored by Shah Talha Sohail, CEO & Co-founder of Pakistani EV startup Mode Mobility, as part of the program.

“The mentorship sessions that I’m having with Talha are also great, because he’s been working in the startup ecosystem for a while now and he’s really willing to help us out wherever possible,” Roha said. “He even told us that he’ll help us set up our initial grant phase, where we can start applying to grants, if not proper investments, for now.”

The road ahead

As they get PakPlug ready for launch, Roha shared big plans for the app. They’ve set an initial goal of 200 customers in the first three months post-launch. They are also developing a smart switch for EV charger owners, which would track electricity usage and inform changes in pricing.

The team also envisions partnering with the national government and taking on a bigger role in the country’s energy transition.

“So, in the future, when I’m traveling from Lahore to Islamabad, I want to say ‘I don’t have to borrow somebody else’s petrol car and add to the emissions,’” Roha said. “‘I can use my electric car to travel, and I can easily locate chargers as well.’”

Roha Rehan presents an event on addressing e-mobility challenges in Pakistan.

Her advice to fellow young entrepreneurs and women in STEM venturing into clean energy?

“I think for someone young, I would say that startups don’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of time and a lot of patience. So if you come up with an idea, you shouldn’t just give up because it’s not happening right now,” Roha said.

“And for women, it doesn’t matter how big or small the idea is, and you shouldn’t let people tell you otherwise… You don’t particularly need to have a co-founder that’s a man who knows all this stuff. You can figure it out on your own.”

If you’re a founder like Roha looking to scale your climate solution, in Pakistan and beyond, check out how we can support you here.

As Pakistan’s climate tech boom accelerates, entrepreneurship is pushing it even further. Founders across the country are turning real community challenges into practical climate tech and resilience solutions.

Their work follows a historic market shift: in the first half of 2024, Pakistan imported over 13 GW of solar panels, a surge that could bring the country ahead of its 2030 renewable energy targets (The Great Solar Rush in Pakistan, 2024). But scaling this transition will require more than panels; it demands innovators who can tailor technologies to local needs.

That’s why New Energy Nexus and Renewables First launched Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP): a national platform designed to support climate tech founders, build a skilled clean energy workforce, and strengthen the policies that unlock long-term impact.

“Pakistan’s startup ecosystem must urgently propel the climate tech vertical, as the need for locally developed solutions has never been more critical,” said Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First. “Through our collaboration with New Energy Nexus, we aim to demonstrate that with appropriate support, investing in climate tech is both essential and economically viable.”

CLIP’s mission is clear – equip founders with the tools to shape a cleaner, more resilient economy, and ensure Pakistan’s climate tech momentum becomes a long-term engine for growth. And it starts with the first-ever CLIP Incubator.

The Clip Incubator journey. Image from Climate Innovation Pakistan

Why the CLIP Incubator Matters

The Incubator is a 12-week, equity-free program helping entrepreneurs validate products, run pilots, refine business models, and connect with investors and partners across Pakistan. It’s built for startups working in the country’s realities, where infrastructure, affordability, and community impact matter as much as technical performance.

“Pakistan is the world’s fifth most populous nation, with its largest industries in high carbon-emitting sectors… Here lies an immense opportunity to ignite the development of groundbreaking climate tech innovations,” said Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director of New Energy Nexus.

The CLIP Incubator’s first-ever cohort.

These 11 startups comprise the Incubator’s inaugural cohort, representing the ambition and ingenuity behind the country’s climate innovation wave. Meet them below.

Nimbus Labs

The Problem
Pakistan faces severe gaps in weather monitoring and forecasting. Extreme events disrupt lives and livelihoods, but limited infrastructure prevents accurate early warnings.

The Solution
Nimbus Labs deploys AI and IoT-driven weather stations and machine learning models, powered by low-cost sensor networks, to deliver hyper-local precipitation nowcasts and medium-range forecasts. Their systems strengthen climate resilience and support data-driven decision-making for agriculture, cities, and disaster response.

The Founder
Sarwan Shah is an electrical engineer specializing in Embedded Systems and Machine Learning. His experiences – from founding the Karachi Water Project to Fulbright research and award-winning embedded systems – led him to start Nimbus Labs, aiming to improve Pakistan’s weather monitoring and forecasting infrastructure.

Power Sodium

The Problem
Energy storage in Pakistan remains dependent on expensive lithium imports or polluting diesel generators.

The Solution
Power Sodium builds next-generation sodium-ion and sodium–lithium hybrid batteries with long cycle life and ultra-fast charging, providing clean and reliable power for telecom towers, microgrids, data centers, and renewable energy systems.

The Founder
Ahmad Ghauri brings expertise in aerospace engineering, R&D, and clean energy project management. He co-founded Power Sodium to develop sustainable, locally-manufactured sodium-ion and hybrid batteries that reduce reliance on imported or polluting energy storage systems.

PakPlug’s app interface. Screenshots from PakPlug

PakPlug

The Problem
EV adoption is constrained by a severe shortage of public chargers, despite thousands of unused private chargers across cities.

The Solution
PakPlug allows homeowners to list chargers, while EV drivers book and pay through the app. Their QR-enabled smart switch ensures secure access, accurate metering, and reliable payments — unlocking affordable charging where it’s needed.

The Founder
Roha Rehan, an Electrical Engineering graduate from LUMS, founded PakPlug to make EV charging accessible and community-driven. Her team leverages technical and strategic expertise to connect private chargers with EV users across Pakistan.

Nayab Raza, Founder of Algaverse. Photo from Algaverse

Algaverse

The Problem
Farmers depend heavily on chemical fertilizers that degrade soil, raise input costs, and worsen emissions.

The Solution
Algaverse’s bio-fertilizers offer a climate-resilient, lower-cost alternative aligned with global soil restoration goals, helping farmers improve yields while reducing synthetic fertilizer use.

The Founder
Nayab Raza, a PhD candidate in Environmental Biology at the University of Manchester, founded Algaverse to develop CO₂-capturing bio-fertilizers. Her goal is to provide farmers with sustainable, low-emission alternatives that improve soil health and reduce dependence on chemicals.

SustainAgro by Verdora Ventures

The Problem
Pakistan faces water scarcity, pesticide overuse, and reliance on imported produce.

The Solution
Verdora’s modular greenhouses use climate-smart irrigation that cuts water use by 90%, reduces pesticides, increases yields, and localizes production of crops like cherry tomatoes. This lowers the costs for consumers and businesses.

The Founders
Syed Mahd has over a decade of experience in strategy, investments, and project management. At SustainAgro by Verdora Ventures, he works closely with Asad Shamsi, a finance and strategy professional with expertise in research, consulting, and FMCG. Together, they are integrating climate-smart agriculture practices to improve sustainability and productivity in Pakistan’s horticulture sector.

Pani Express

The Problem
Unreliable municipal supply forces cities to rely on informal tanker operators, which results in waste, high emissions, and inconsistent pricing.

The Solution
Pani Express uses mobile ordering, IoT water-level sensors, and optimized tanker routing to reduce water waste, improve reliability, and provide fair pricing – all while lowering emissions and supporting local livelihoods.

The Founder
Ali Yar draws on years of operational, finance, and HR experience in startups to build Pani Express, a smart water logistics platform. His mission is to make urban water delivery reliable, efficient, and climate-conscious.

Moiz Bhatti presents at an investor summit. Photo from Moiz Bhatti via LinkedIn

EPO (Environmental Productivity Organization)

The Problem
Water scarcity and rising energy costs threaten agricultural productivity in Pakistan.

The Solution
EPO’s closed-loop farming systems use renewable energy and recycled water to produce consistent, high-quality crops while reducing water and energy consumption, offering a resilient solution in water-stressed regions.

The Founder
Moiz Bhatti, an environmental advocate and founder of National Incubation Center Islamabad, co-leads EPO with a team of environmental scientists. They focus on AI-driven solutions for efficient, sustainable urban and agricultural productivity.

MycieBlue

The Problem
Plastic pollution is growing, and sustainable alternatives are either costly or hard to access.

The Solution
MycieBlue produces compostable, lightweight materials using mycelium grown from organic waste, offering low-carbon solutions for packaging and future construction applications.

The Founders
Yumna Ali, an architect and environmentalist, is advancing regenerative biomaterials through mycelium, turning waste into nature-inspired products. She partners with Ameerah Rizwan, a product and interaction designer who brings user-centered design and community insight. The architect–designer pair is pioneering mycelium-based materials and accessible bio-design research in Pakistan.

Commercial deployment of 500 Ecobricks Eco-Tiles at F9 Park, Islamabad. Photo from Ecobricks

Ecobricks

The Problem
Millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills or incinerators due to a lack of recycling infrastructure.

The Solution
Ecobricks transforms hard-to-recycle plastics into construction materials supported by AI quality control, reducing waste and enabling circular construction practices.

The Founder
Kashaf Akhtar leads Ecobricks, a team with deep expertise in engineering, AI, and business development. Their focus is on converting difficult-to-recycle plastics into durable, environmentally-friendly building materials.

Screengrab from the Greenova8 website

Greenova8

The Problem
Only large investors typically fund solar and wind projects, leaving everyday citizens out.

The Solution
Greenova8 tokenizes renewable projects, allowing small-ticket investments with real-time tracking. Smart contracts automate payouts, while carbon credit monetization strengthens returns.

The Founder
Ibrahim Afridi started Greenova8 to democratize renewable energy investment using blockchain. He aims to give everyday citizens access to solar and wind projects through fractional ownership.

Recycle Bin

The Problem
Mixed waste contaminates recyclables and sends valuable materials to landfills.

The Solution
Recycle Bin offers digital door-to-door collection with a rewards system, sending materials to verified processors, reducing landfill use and emissions.

The Founder
Adeela Ali, a pharmacist turned entrepreneur, founded Recycle Bin to solve local waste management challenges through technology. She applies her scientific and analytical skills to create scalable, sustainable solutions.

From left: Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First, and Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus

Building Pakistan’s climate future, and taking it global

The founders joining the first CLIP Cohort reflect Pakistan’s growing role in the clean energy transition, and the power of local innovation to reshape a national drive toward a more sustainable future.

This is exactly the kind of work we’re supporting at New Energy Nexus. We’ve backed more than 10,000 clean energy entrepreneurs worldwide. Through CLIP, we’re expanding this mission in Pakistan: helping founders scale solutions, build resilient businesses, and contribute to a cleaner, more inclusive economy.

Pakistan is having a historic climate and clean energy moment. Now it’s time to turn this momentum into long-term transformation, powered by entrepreneurs who understand Pakistan’s needs and are ready to build solutions the world can learn from.

Ready to scale your innovation in Pakistan and beyond? Visit climateinnovate.pk for more climate tech opportunities and updates.

Pakistan is experiencing a solar boom unlike any other. In just the first half of 2024, the country imported over 13 GW of solar panels – more than the total installed capacity of some entire countries (The Great Solar Rush in Pakistan, 2024). This unprecedented growth could push it ahead of its 2030 renewable energy targets years in advance.

The impact is already rippling through communities: farmers are swapping diesel pumps for solar-powered tubewells, industries are securing their own reliable power, and families are reducing their reliance on an overstretched grid. Clean energy is reshaping daily life, and climate entrepreneurship is multiplying its benefits across the country.

From waste-to-energy ventures in Karachi to e-mobility startups in Lahore, Pakistan’s climate innovators are finding practical solutions to real problems. But without stronger support systems, many promising ideas struggle to scale.

From left: Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First, and Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus

That’s why New Energy Nexus has partnered with Renewables First to launch Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP): a national platform designed to empower entrepreneurs, develop a skilled workforce, and shape policies that unlock clean energy innovation for the long run.

Through CLIP, we’re building the kind of ecosystem that helps climate entrepreneurs move from idea to impact:

• CLIP Incubator – Turning early-stage ideas into market-ready solutions.
• New Energy Academy – Training the solar workforce powering Pakistan’s transition.
• ThinkLab – Publishing actionable insights on what’s working or not in Pakistan’s climate innovation landscape, informing smarter policy and investment decisions.

CLIP Incubator: From idea to traction

Inside the CLIP Incubator, founders spend 12 weeks transforming their vision into traction. The program helps them validate products, test solutions with real customers, and refine their go-to-market strategies.

With guidance from mentors who have built and scaled in challenging markets, startups gain not only technical advice but also access to pilots, partnerships, and investors across Pakistan’s growing climate ecosystem.

The Clip Incubator journey. Photo from Climate Innovation Pakistan

This is a space designed for entrepreneurs who want to move faster, smarter, and stronger – without giving up equity, and with support tailored to Pakistan’s realities. Learn more and apply here.

New Energy Academy: Building the solar workforce

Pakistan’s solar boom cannot succeed without skilled workers ready to deliver it. That’s why CLIP is launching the New Energy Academy: Solar Fundamentals Training in Islamabad this September.

Developed by New Energy Nexus, GSES Global Sustainable Energy Solutions, and OpenSolar, and implemented in collaboration with Renewables First and the Pakistan Solar Association, the program blends online and in-person learning to train young people for jobs in installation and maintenance. Participants will gain hands-on skills, mentorship, and connections with employers in a sector that’s growing faster than ever.

By preparing the next generation of solar professionals, the Academy ensures Pakistan’s clean energy transition is powered by people as well as panels. Find out more and sign up by August 22.

A solar installation in Karachi, Pakistan. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, User: Crosji

Breaking down barriers

Pakistan is one of the world’s most populous countries and one of the most climate-vulnerable. At the same time, it holds enormous potential for clean energy to drive inclusive growth. Yet for many entrepreneurs, barriers to progress persist: limited financing, scarce data, and policy barriers.

CLIP aims to change that. By combining New Energy Nexus’s global expertise in building startup ecosystems with Renewables First’s deep local insights, the platform will help unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and communities alike.

At New Energy Nexus, we support diverse climate entrepreneurs worldwide, giving them the accelerators, funding, skills, and connections to thrive. Through CLIP, we’re expanding that mission in Pakistan, helping climate tech founders transform a historic solar rush into long-term impact for communities and industries across the country.

The path is clear: Build on this clean energy growth in Pakistan and carry it over to the rest of the world. Now it’s time to give innovators worldwide the tools to carry it further.

Ready to scale your own innovation? Check out our programs here.