Top 10 Companies Driving the Adoption of Renewable Energy

Top 10 Companies Driving the Adoption of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy, once a niche segment of the broader energy industry, is growing rapidly to become an important source of power in many regions and nations across the globe.

Companies within the sector provide a variety of clean energy including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass.

With over 600 million people who currently not connected to dependable grid-connected electricity, in Africa renewable energy companies are busy trying to find innovative solutions to help these people.

Here are the Top 10 renewable energy firms with no particular order in Africa that we feel are doing a great job to close the energy gap

M-KOPA Solar

This pay-as-you-go solar Energy Company links 550 new homes across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to solar power daily, and has already linked over 375,000. 

M-KOPA’s entry-level, GSM-enabled home solar system features a battery, phone-charging facility, light bulb, and a chargeable radio. To get the system, consumers pay a $34 deposit, and shell out the balance over a 12-month period in daily usage credits of about $0.50, sent to the company through mobile

M-KOPA began selling other products to persuade customers to continue their subscription once the solar system is paid off. The products consist of a 16-inch solar-powered TVs, Smart phones, bicycles, water tanks and cooking stove money.

M-KOPA also offers loans to pay school fees. Homes which have paid off their solar system then basically use that system as security to acquire these additional goods, most of which add to sustainable energy usage.

Strauss Energy

This Kenya-based manufacturer of energy-generating roofing tiles, or building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), tries to attract homeowners with the prospects of making extra income from selling extra power to the grid.

Unlike usual installations, where solar panels are mounted on the roof, Strauss builds roofing tiles that have solar cells instilled into them. It costs about$4,000 and $5,000 to roof a three-bedroom house. 

Strauss Energy says that homeowners will get back their money within three years by selling surplus power back to the grid. Buyers also have the alternative to install just sufficient solar tiles to meet their power needs.

CLASP

CLASP improves the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world.

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CLASP who is an alumni of Nairobi Garage serves as the leading international voice and resource for appliance energy efficiency policies and market acceleration initiatives.

From advancing the off-grid solar technologies bringing power to energy-impoverished people, to cutting the catastrophic climate impacts of air conditioning, CLASP programs increase the uptake of affordable, low-impact, high-quality appliances.

BioLite

BioLite brings clean cooking and solar home energy products to customers in 17 cories. Since its founding in 2009, the Company has provided cooking and energy solutions to over 700 thousand customers, generated over 840 million hours of electricity, and offset almost 300 thousand tons of CO2 emissions

In 2020 the company closed a $5m investment which they stated that will use it to expand into new geographies, invest in new product development, and streamline its supply chain.

TRINE

Energy poverty is a critical issue for the development of remote communities in emerging countries. 1.2 billion people worldwide live without access to clean energy, mainly due to high interest on loans and high upfront costs of clean energy solutions.

With TRINE’s digital investment platform people can invest in solar energy projects where it’s needed the most. 

An investment makes a huge social and environmental impact, while also delivering a return on investment.

ENGIE Energy Access Kenya

ENGIE Energy Access Kenya former formerly Mobisol is a leading German-based international company engineering, developing, and delivering rent-to-own solar home and business systems, appliances, and services for emerging economies. 

As Africa’s largest rent-to-own solar service provider by capacity installed, Mobisol is paving the way for the solar revolution in the developing world.

Engie has shown a strong and stable growth track record and was, among others, awarded the UNFCCC’s Momentum for Change Award. 

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The company aspires to provide clean, reliable electricity to millions of households. After having proven the feasibility of the concept, Mobisol is now moving into the business at a larger scale.

It is currently working on expansion strategies into further markets and expanding their product portfolio – thereby stimulating economic and social development in developing countries while simultaneously contributing to global environmental protection.

Powerhive

Powerhive develops scalable, bankable off-grid utility solutions to create a future where everyone has access to clean energy and the opportunities that come with it.

Powerhive offers key tools and services for implementing profitable rural electrification projects in energy access markets around the world.

The technology platform is ideal for energy providers and developers of any size, and can be integrated with new projects or as a retrofit for existing mini-grids. 

As a complement to our technology platform, our experienced team can assist businesses with every step of development, deployment, and operations. 

SOLEKTRA International

Founded by Samba Bathily, Akon, and Thione Niang, Solektra International is the corporation behind the Akon Lighting Africa initiative. The project alleges to have installed 100,000 solar street lamps and 1,200 solar micro-grids in 15 various countries.

The company has developed numerous solar products, such as the ‘Free Light SOL-SL01A’, an LED light powered by a photovoltaic panel and lithium battery, which aspires to replace traditional oil lamps.

In 2015, Solektra started the Solar Academy in Bamako, Mali. The academy will put up capabilities in the energy space, with the goal of teaching 200 skillful workers, technicians and engineers annually to install and maintain the products.

X-Solar

X-Solar which operates from Nairobi Garage is an alternative energy company that specializes in solar energy. The goal of the company is to provide reliable maintenance-free solar power to off-grid areas as well as dependable backup power and related solar products across Africa.

Sistema.bio

Sistema.bio, is an award-winning enterprise, provides access to innovative biodigester technology, training, and financing for farmers to address the challenges of poverty, food security, and climate change. 

Sistema.bio’s patented technology allows farmers around the world to efficiently convert their waste into renewable energy and biofertilizer. In 2021, Sistema.bio reached several growth milestones, with over 14,000 units sold.

Sistema.bio was founded in 2010 in Mexico. With a deployable, robust and impactful biogas system, Sistema.bio digesters are specifically designed to serve a wide range of farms and sanitation projects. 

Due to its prefabricated technology, as well as its replicable business model, Sistema.bio has the potential to reach over one billion people in over 200 million farms. 

Today, with over 200,000 users in 30 countries, the company is the global leader in distributed biogas technology, service and financing and has operational hubs in Mexico, Colombia, Kenya and India.

Zuhura Solutions

Zuhura Solutions offers solar-powered food vending trollies, called the Halisi Trolley, which solves several problems for vendors and consumers. 

Through their solar-powered Halisi Trolleys, the company helps eliminate the need to burn charcoal for heating and cooking, it allows food to be stored at a constant temperature, it gives shade to the vendors, and it provides lighting extending vendor’s operation hours and a phone charging station.

WidEnergy

WidEnergy, the name of which is an acronym for “Women in Development,” reflects the startup’s goal of engaging women as active participants in Africa’s energy transition. The platform helps leverage a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model to provide solar-powered homes and appliances.

The startup works with female sales agents to distribute renewable energy solutions across Zambia, focusing on core competencies in lending and distribution to develop a high-quality lending portfolio with minimized default risks.