African countries are some of the world’s top places to apply technologies related to renewable energy. Hence, the December 2015 announcement that WeChat would invest about $3.4 million USD in African startups didn’t come as a surprise. Here are a few examples of some of the initiatives that may hold the key to the future of clean energy:
Smart Solar Kiosk
Based in Rwanda, this team claims to have developed a mobile solar Kiosk, aimed at charging small electronic devices, product sales and Wi-Fi internet access for on-the-move customers.
Henri Nyakarundi leads the project, which has implemented 20 kiosks in Rwanda thanks to a partnership with Airtel Rwanda. You can watch a video demo of these kiosks at their official website, http://www.a-r-e-d.com/
This Nigerian startup thought of a solution to store and preserve vegetables and fresh fruit: modular, solar-powered walk-in cold rooms that are installed in farms and markets that are close to retailers and farmers. The temperature in said rooms (5°C) prolongs the freshness of vegetables and fruits up to 21 days instead of 2 days with no refrigeration. Their business model includes a pay-as-you-store option that allows farmers to pay a flat fee every day for each crate that they store.
You can read more at http://www.coldhubs.com/
With the promise of providing disruptive energy solutions, this company’s goal is to diminish the energy deficiency in the African continent. Led by Tony Nyagah, they introduced a new technology to the Kenyan market: solar cells on roof tiles, which are capable of powering a house while saving roofing costs at the same time.
They plan to feed the excess power from commercial or residential units into the country’s grid in order to provide home owners with additional income. A return on investment is estimated to be reached in 18 to 24 months.
Their website: http://straussenergy.com/
GreenChar produces and distributes charcoal briquettes out of agricultural waste. GreenChar’s briquettes are cheaper, produce little smoke, provide higher amounts of energy and last longer than conventional burning materials. They are sold to households in rural settlements that spend an average of $1.50 every day and experience health problems from polluted air caused by cooking with firewood and charcoal. They also mitigate deforestation and help reduce CO2 emissions.
Read more at http://www.greenchar.co.ke/
They are committed to produce environment-friendly, renewable fuel. This bio-diesel is derived from excess vegetable oils. The company is located in Nairobi and it follows a complete production cycle to process waste vegetable oil and turn it into fuel. They list six key points within their strategy: ease of use; power, performance and economy; emissions and greenhouse gas reduction; energy balance and security; toxicity, biodegradability, safety and recycling; and economic development.
Read more at http://www.biogenkenya.co.ke
Their pay-as-you-go model aims to provide users in rural areas with affordable, clean gas. Through micro-payments, potential customers can avoid cost barriers and have access to a reliable supply of gas for cooking purposes. Their slogan: “modern energy for all”. Their website is http://paygoenergy.org/
Nadji.Bi develops, manufactures and commercializes solar products through a distribution network in Sub-Saharan Africa. They can be found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Senegal. Among the products they offer are solutions for off-grid systems, solar streetlights, solar modules and solar inverters; all with the ideal of lowering costs and keeping their products affordable.
Read more at http://www.nadjibi.com
All the way from rural Tanzania comes Juabar, a solar-powered charging kiosk that uses a 50W solar system. It is capable of charging between 10 or 20 phones simultaneously, as well as other electronic devices. Their mission is to create opportunities for small businesses in Tanzania while meeting the connectivity and energy needs of the community. Each kiosk works as a retail and charging platform.
According to their website, their longest running kiosks have been in operation for more than an entire year and their operators charge about 20 phones every day.
You can read more at http://juabar.com/
Skynotch Energy Africa
Founded in 2012, this company promotes access to renewable energy and focuses mainly on distribution of solar lanterns, energy generation and real-world application of solar energy. They develop projects involving initiatives such as solar and hydro farms and promote water pumping and purification through solar powered appliances. In alliance with development agencies, civil society organisations, academic and microfinance institutions, they provide energy solutions to meet the needs of their target audiences and potential customers. By doing so, they add value and enable social and economic development. In 2013 they joined forces with the World Bank to become one of Kenya’s innovators in renewable energy, to provide access to clean energy solutions to the off-grid community in said African country.
Read more at http://www.skynotchenergy.com/