The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC) has been crowned Energy Think Tank of the Year at the 9th Ghana Energy Awards, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Friday.

The award recognised ASEC’s growing influence in shaping energy policy, promoting climate-smart solutions and producing evidence-based research to support a sustainable energy future for Africa.

In a statement announcing the honour, ASEC said the recognition reflects the organisation’s commitment to delivering high-impact programmes and thought leadership across the continent.

According to a release issued on Monday, December 1 by the Executive Director of ASEC, Ing. Justice Ohene-Akoto, the award affirms the centre’s role in advancing a just and future-focused energy system.

“This award reaffirms ASEC’s position as an independent think tank dedicated to analysing, critiquing and proposing strategic energy policies for Ghana and the wider African continent.”

ASEC highlighted its strategic engagements over the year, including hosting one of the continent’s largest energy platforms, the Africa Sustainable Energy Dialogue (ASED).

The 2025 edition was held under the theme “Bridging the Energy Access Gap in Africa” and brought together leaders from APPO, UBA Ghana, Cenpower, the Energy Commission, AfDB, the World Energy Council and the Energy Society of South Africa.

The dialogue produced partnerships and policy frameworks aimed at accelerating energy access across Africa.

On the global stage, ASEC also hosted a high-level side event during World Energy Week 2025 in Panama, themed “Wiser and Smarter Power Shifts: From Blind Spots to Bright Spots.” The session featured keynote insights from Burns & McDonnell, with expert input from Deloitte and the Ministry of Energy & Green Transition.

Discussions focused on how Africa can manage rising power demand linked to data centres and artificial intelligence.

A major highlight of the year was the launch of ASEC’s AI for Africa Workshop, a flagship platform aimed at exploring how artificial intelligence can strengthen energy planning, forecasting and policy design. ASEC said the initiative has already sparked collaboration across the continent and enhanced digital skills among energy professionals.

ASEC also unveiled two major publications designed to improve access to African-led energy intelligence.

The first, the ASEC Energy Review, provides data-driven insights on Africa’s energy trends and challenges. The second, the ASEC Energy Outlook, offers what the organisation describes as the most comprehensive African-led analysis of energy, climate, and sustainability across all 54 African countries.

The Outlook assesses renewable energy, e-mobility, clean cooking, hydrogen, carbon capture technologies, emerging technologies and climate resilience. It highlights investment hotspots and strategic opportunities for green industrialisation while aligning with Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

ASEC said it has also broadened public engagement through media outreach, expert commentary, and participation in platforms such as World Energy Week.

ASEC stated that these collective achievements demonstrate the centre’s expanding role in shaping Africa’s energy future. Ing. Ohene-Akoto noted that the recognition from the Ghana Energy Awards highlights ASEC’s dedication to supporting a just and inclusive energy transition across the region.