EBRD and EU back URECA’s Coal-to-Solar project in Mongolia. Data stored on Blockchain

In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, families who live in ‘gers’ (Mongolian yurts central to the nomadic way of life) wake throughout the night in winter to feed their stoves coal: at 01.00, 03.00, and again before dawn, just to survive freezing temperatures. The very fuel that keeps them warm also makes the city one of the most polluted capitals in the world, with each household on average responsible for 12 to 13 tonnes of carbon emissions.

URECA is a climate tech startup whose pilot Coal-to-Solar Initiative project pairs technology with carbon finance to direct capital into scalable, high-impact climate solutions while supporting low-income households to transition to clean energy and tackling severe air pollution.

They propose a new technology designed to restore trust and credibility in climate finance, making it more accessible to communities. With help from the EBRD’s Star Venture programme, URECA is now better positioned to scale its climate solution.