PITTSBURGH and GENEVA, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Energy Corps, a U.S.-based nonprofit accelerating global access to affordable, reliable energy, today announced a four-year, large-scale partnership with Mercuria Energy Group, one of the world’s leading independent energy and commodity groups. The partnership will fund locally-led projects that expand energy access and strengthen the systems needed for those projects to endure and scale.
Mercuria connects markets and advances the energy transition by combining capital, market knowledge, and operational expertise. Its commitment provides Energy Corps with four years of stable funding to expand its grantmaking, learn from projects in varied settings, and share evidence about what helps modern energy systems grow. The partnership also brings Mercuria’s technical expertise, global network, and commitment to community engagement to Energy Corps’ locally-led, energy-agnostic approach.
In 2026, Mercuria’s support will enable Energy Corps to fund five projects serving communities in Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Panama, and Zambia.
“Mercuria’s business is keeping energy flowing to the markets that depend on it and providing the capital solutions that help them grow. This long-term partnership with Energy Corps brings that same expertise and capital to locally-led projects designed to expand reliable energy access and the economic opportunity it enables,” said Brian Falik, Chief Investment Officer at Mercuria. “We look forward to learning from these projects and working together to enable these important initiatives to reach greater scale.”
“Energy Corps’ mission is achievable because great companies choose to lead with both expertise and heart,” said Toby Rice, founder of Energy Corps. “Organizations with a deep sense of purpose make possible everything we do, and we’re proud to welcome Mercuria as a partner.”
The five grants support an off-grid fishing community in Bangladesh, line workers building and maintaining the electric grid in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indigenous communities in Panama, and two projects in Zambia focused on investment readiness and clean water. Each project responds to the needs and conditions of the community it serves.
“Our grantees are tackling key barriers to truly sustainable energy access: worker safety, productive use, reliable power, and investment readiness,” said Tisha Schuller, Head of Energy Corps. “Mercuria’s support gives us a strong runway to test these approaches, measure results, and help the most successful models scale.”
Five New Energy Access Grants
Supporting fishing livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh
Fishing is the primary livelihood along Bangladesh’s coast, but the economy is constrained by the isolated location of remote islands and the absence of reliable and affordable electricity. Dwip Unnayan Songstha (Island Development Association), with technical support from Pathway2050, will build a solar-powered community center including cold storage, ice making, a fish-drying facility, and space for grading and quality control, while providing power to nearby businesses and households through a local tariff model. Paired with training and microfinance for women and vulnerable groups, the project aims to cut post-harvest losses, improve quality and market access, and raise incomes for fishing families.
Building systems to protect line workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
As electrification expands across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so do the risks facing the line workers who build and maintain power infrastructure. NRECA International, the international arm of America’s electric cooperatives, will work with local partners to strengthen electrical safety practices through targeted training and practical tools tailored to local needs. The effort will help reduce accidents, build local capacity, and create a foundation for stronger safety practices.
Bringing reliable solar power to Indigenous communities in Panama
Many Indigenous communities in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca in Panama don’t have access to the electrical grid. To bring this essential service to households, acciona.org in Panama will install home-based photovoltaic systems to provide a reliable power supply for lighting, as well as for communication, health care, education, and work-related needs. The project will enable agricultural processing for the local cooperative and provide internet access for the local community center to support education and commercial priorities.
Preparing distributed energy projects for investment in Zambia
Distributed energy can reach underserved communities faster than traditional grid extension, but promising projects often stall before they are ready for investment. RMI will work with Zambian energy sector partners and utilities to prepare up to two distributed energy resource projects for financing and implementation. Through customer studies, system design, financial modeling, and investor preparation, RMI aims to bring the projects to a bankable, implementation-ready stage and develop a replicable framework for scaling distributed energy investment in Zambia.
Providing solar-powered clean water in Kaude Village, Zambia
In rural communities in Zambia, thousands of people rely on unsafe water sources that put them at risk of waterborne diseases and don’t meet needs for cooking, washing, and growing food. Innovation: Africa will install a solar-powered water system in Kaude Village, Zambia, to bring safe water to taps throughout the community. The proven model provides community skills training and remote monitoring, supporting long-term operation. This initiative builds on Energy Corps’ initial investment in Innovation: Africa’s project in Chakumba, Zambia, where more than 3,000 community members gained access to safe water and no longer needed to make a daily 10-kilometer trip to an unsafe water source.
Mobilizing the Energy Sector
“Our partnerships with Mercuria and our grantees reflect our conviction that expanding access to modern energy requires the energy sector’s capital, expertise, and sustained engagement,” said Tisha Schuller. “Energy Corps brings the industry’s resources together with evidence-backed philanthropy, governments, and local leaders to accelerate progress.”
Energy Corps invites energy companies, philanthropists, policymakers, global development institutions, and local leaders to share this announcement with their networks and collaborate on practical pathways from energy poverty to energy prosperity. Industry leaders interested in becoming funding partners may contact giving@energycorps.com to arrange a conversation.
Learn more about Energy Corps’ approach and grantees at energycorps.com.
Media Contact: Eliza Keller; 857-209-4180
Media inquiries: 425960@email4pr.com
Funding partnerships: giving@energycorps.com
About Energy Corps
Energy Corps is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization accelerating global access to affordable, reliable energy. Guided by three catalytic pathways—unlocking policy and regulatory bottlenecks, attracting large-scale finance, and creating virtuous demand cycles—and its long-term 50-50-50 ambition of 50 megawatt-hours of reliable energy per person per year, $50,000 GDP per capita globally, and 50 years to maximize modern energy access, Energy Corps works with partners worldwide to test, learn, and share what enables modern energy to drive opportunity and prosperity. www.energycorps.com.
About Mercuria Energy Group
Mercuria Energy Group is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodities groups. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, Mercuria operates globally across the energy value chain, including crude oil and refined products, natural gas and LNG, power, renewable energy, metals, and carbon markets. The company is recognized for its strong focus on risk management, compliance, and operational excellence, as well as its investment in energy solutions that support global energy security and the energy transition. Mercuria supports communities connected to its business through projects focused on health, education, equality, livelihoods, and resilience. www.mercuria.com.
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SOURCE Energy Corps
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