September 3, 2025
Noisy and polluting petrol generators remain the backbone of Africa’s $75 billion off-grid power market. MOPO, a battery rental company, is challenging this model and has now received a USD 5 million investment from Norfund to scale its solution.
A model built for the hardest-to-reach communities
MOPO (Mobile Power Ltd.) operates solar-powered charging hubs in Nigeria, the DRC, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad and Uganda – countries with some of the lowest electrification rates in the world. Because diesel generators are cheap to buy but expensive to run, use of solar-powered batteries offers a far cheaper and cleaner option in the long term. There is only one problem – many can’t afford the initial investment. Battery leasing removes this barrier, providing households and businesses in off-grid communities with affordable, reliable power without upfront costs.
In Sierra Leone, where just 21 percent of the population has access to electricity, customer Ibrahim Bangura shares: “MOPO has changed my life! We no longer struggle with unreliable, expensive energy, we have power exactly when we need it. The batteries are cheaper than petrol generators and we now have consistent affordable power that runs my fridge, helps my children study after dark, and allows me to run my business more reliably.”
Taking risks where others won’t
To reach the riskiest and most early-stage companies in the toughest markets, Norfund invests through its Frontier Facility. The facility is designed for exactly these kinds of high-risk opportunities in countries where few others are willing to invest.
“We are thrilled to support MOPO’s expansion through the Frontier Facility, addressing underserved areas in particularly challenging markets. Its model replaces expensive and polluting generators with affordable, renewable power, reaching households and small businesses,
Pål helgesen, investment director
Disrupting Africa’s fossil fuel dependency
A core part of MOPO’s impact is replacing polluting diesel generators, which remain the default power source for millions of households and businesses across Africa. By offering affordable, renewable batteries on a pay-per-use basis, MOPO helps communities phase out these costly and harmful generators.
Did you know?
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40% of businesses rely on diesel generators to keep the lights on.
- Running a generator can cost up to four times more per kilowatt-hour than grid electricity.
- Breathing diesel exhaust has been linked to both short-term symptoms (like headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation) and long-term health risks including lung cancer, heart disease, and asthma.