BURN Gets $5M to Expand Clean Cooking in Kenya
BURN, Africa’s top clean cookstove manufacturer, has received a $5 million investment from the Electrification Financing Initiative (ElectriFI) to boost clean electric cooking in Kenyan homes. The funding, managed by EDFI Management Company and backed by the EU, will help more than 100,000 households transition from polluting fuels to clean, electric cooking.
Smart, Affordable, and Sustainable Cooking
The investment focuses on scaling the ECOA Induction Cooker (ECOA IDC)—an IoT-enabled appliance that lowers household energy spending by 40% to 60% while generating carbon credits. Over its product life, the initiative is expected to prevent up to 1.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
Despite 600 million Africans having electricity access, many still rely on charcoal, firewood, or LPG for cooking due to the high upfront costs of electric appliances. BURN’s innovative Pay As You Cook (PAYC) model changes that.
Through mobile integration with the ECOA Mobile App, users can pay flexibly via mobile money, owning the appliance within a year. This financial model removes a major barrier and makes electric cooking accessible to low-income households.
Proven Impact and Regional Expansion
BURN has already deployed over 40,000 induction cookers in East and West Africa, showcasing the success of locally designed and manufactured solutions. Headquartered in Nairobi, the company has distributed over 5 million clean cookstoves, benefiting an estimated 25 million people and cutting 26 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
“Kenya’s grid is over 90% renewable, yet more than 15 million households still rely on polluting fuels,” said Peter Scott, Founder and CEO of BURN.
“This investment brings us closer to changing that.”
BURN operates in 11 African countries, employs over 3,000 people, and runs a vertically integrated carbon credit system with 9.5 million Gold Standard credits generated.
Their stoves have also cut indoor air pollution by up to 100%, saved 16 million tons of wood, and helped protect Africa’s forests.
EU Partnership for Climate and Energy Access
The ElectriFI funding aligns with the EU’s clean energy and climate resilience goals, emphasizing how targeted private-sector investments can drive environmental and social impact at scale.
BURN’s model is now a leading example of how clean energy innovation in Africa can transform households, reduce emissions, and promote financial inclusion.
