MOPO powers past one million rentals

A Sheffield-based tech company is transforming access to sustainable energy across Africa, achieving a major milestone of one million battery rentals per month.

MOPO, which provides smart battery rentals to underserved communities, is revolutionising energy access in regions where grid electricity is either unreliable or unavailable. 

With a pay-per-use model, the company allows individuals and small businesses to rent batteries from solar-powered hubs without the financial burden of purchasing expensive solar panels or generators.

Operating in six African markets – Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad and Uganda – MOPO’s platform has seen “unprecedented” growth. 

Its high-tech monitoring system recently recorded 33,662 rentals in a single day, with bosses saying the figures show that “the growth potential for MOPO is enormous” with millions of people across Africa lacking reliable electricity.

Chris Longbottom, chief executive of MOPO, which recently received $7 million from British International Investment to expand its services across the DRC, said: “MOPO’s model is proven and scaling rapidly. 

“This one million battery rental per month milestone underlines the huge appetite for affordable, sustainable energy across Africa in both urban and rural areas. 

“With each rental, we’re replacing fossil fuels, reducing household energy costs, and building a future powered by clean tech.”

Chris added: “The growth potential for MOPO is enormous. 

“Take the Democratic Republic of Congo, for instance, where over 80 per cent of its 100 million population lacks reliable access to electricity. 

“Since launching in the country in Q2 2024, demand has been unprecedented; we’re already active in six cities including a rapidly expanding network in Kinshasa, a megacity of 17 million people. 

“This reflects our ability to meet urgent energy needs in both urban and rural communities. 

“We're seeing a similar pattern across the other five African countries in which we operate and believe we are only just beginning to unlock the full scale of the opportunity offered by our proprietary batteries, technology, and operational model.”

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