RELP and IKEA Foundation Join Forces for Renewable Energy

Brussels, Belgium - RELP is pleased to announce a grant from the IKEA Foundation to help establish the International Guarantee Trust Fund for Renewable Energy (iTrust), which will provide customised programme-based guarantees to unlock renewable energy deployment in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs).

The iTrust fund developed by RELP catalyses private and public sector investment in clean energy and climate projects in EMDEs to provide risk-mitigation guarantees on energy and climate project procurement.

Once structured, the iTrust Fund’s first close of US$300m aims to mobilise up to US$3 billion, providing a newly built Renewable Energy capacity of 3GW, avoiding a total of over 100 million tons of CO2 in 20 years of the project's life cycle.

Learn more about the iTrust: https://www.relp.ngo/itrust.

“In most emerging nations, high funding costs present a major barrier to accessing renewable energy sources. The iTrust initiative aims to address this challenge at scale by reducing political and financial uncertainties and improving the feasibility of investments, thereby accelerating the development of sustainable energy in these regions. The support from the IKEA Foundation is crucial in enabling this project and advancing sustainable energy solutions in areas where they are urgently needed”, said Sebastian Kind, RELP’s founder and CEO.

This underscores our shared commitment to addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and enhancing livelihoods in developing countries. By establishing the iTrust, we aim to mobilise investments in renewable energy projects, overcoming financial barriers and reducing energy costs for communities. This collaboration aligns with the IKEA Foundation's strategic focus on impactful climate action. It reinforces our mission to create sustainable solutions for a just energy transition.

“We are thrilled to partner with RELP to launch the iTrust fund, a transformative initiative designed to address the critical gap in renewable energy investments in developing countries. By encouraging investment in renewable energy, the fund has the potential to deliver tangible benefits for people and the planet”, said Liz McKeon, Programmes Director at the IKEA Foundation.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Sophie Kloster sophie.kloster@relp.ngo

About RELP

RELP is an impact-driven and independent non-profit organisation. We focus on accelerating the deployment of renewable generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) by directly supporting governments in designing and implementing stable regulatory frameworks, competitive procurement processes, and new financial and credit enhancement tools, including program-based guarantees.

We focus on implementation to facilitate bankability, foster competition, and boost the local and foreign investments needed to materialise project installations, regional economic and social development, and the reduction of GHG emissions.

About the IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation is a strategic philanthropy that focuses its grant making efforts on tackling the two biggest threats to children’s futures: poverty and climate change. It currently grants more than €200 million per year to help improve family incomes and quality of life while protecting the planet from climate change. Since 2009, the IKEA Foundation has granted more than €1.8 billion to create a better future for children and their families.

In 2021 the Board of the IKEA Foundation decided to make an additional €1 billion available over the next five years to accelerate the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions. Learn more at