The Project
The RePower project aims to improve access to electricity in rural Africa by installing renewable plug-and-play microgrids in Madagascar, Niger, and Senegal. Our goal is to provide 20,000 off-grid consumers with access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity by 2027. Additionally, the project includes a replication site in Ghana, demonstrating the scalability and impact of this initiative.
In this section, you will discover the innovative microgrid technologies behind RePower, and understand how RePower is designed to foster socioeconomic growth by promoting inclusion and encouraging productive uses of energy.
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Summary of microgrid sites’ specifications
| LOCATION | PV | BESS | BCHP (Max. output) | PRODUCTIVE USES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Madagascar | 1x96 kWp | 2x116 kWh (Total 223kWh) | 80 kWe, 107 kWth |
|
Niger | 49 kWp | 1x 116kWh | - |
|
Senegal | 252 kWp | 4x 116kWh (Total 464kWh) | - |
|
RePower Technologies
1. The Solartainer®
The Solartainer® system, a containerised PV[1] plus BESS[2] solution developed by Africa GreenTec, is the centrepiece of the microgrids installed by the RePower project. The Solartainer® is a proven solution that is already delivering renewable electricity to over 25,000 off-grid customers and powering 900+ SMEs in more than 20 locations across Africa.
The microgrids installed by the RePower project will incorporate batteries supplied by BlueNova, a South African supplier of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS). By incorporating BESS, the microgrids will be able to provide electricity steadily throughout the day despite variable weather conditions. Follow this link to learn more about the Solartainer®
- Solartainer® Kani by Africa GreenTec
2. Biomass combined heat and power (BCHP)
The biomass combined heat and power (BCHP) system supplied by Mash Makes, will further enhance the reliability and extend the operating hours of the microgrids. This supports productive uses of energy by local businesses that operate after sunset, including welders and food processing operations that require cold storage around the clock.
Mash Make’s BCHP system is a two-stage gasifier that converts carbon-rich feedstocks into a syngas, which is then purified and used to fuel a gas engine connected to a generator. The system has been successfully tested with a variety of feedstocks, including wood waste, coconut husk, and various agricultural residues. Each day, the gasifier can convert approximately 1.4 tonnes of feedstock into 9,500 MJ of electrical power and 9,300 MJ of thermal power. The BCHP unit is housed in 20-foot container that is easy to move, although additional space is required to store feedstock. Additionally, the BCHP unit produces biochar as a byproduct of the feedstock gasification process. Biochar has multiple uses, including enhancing soil quality, which could help local farmers obtain higher yields.
© Africa GreenTec
3. Energy Management System (EMS)
The Energy Management System (EMS), supplied by Hybrid Greentech, harnesses weather forecasting data, hourly consumption patterns, and many other data points to optimize the use of the BESS. This bolsters the resilience of microgrids and enables microgrid operators to provide a better service and minimize unscheduled downtime. The EMS employed by the microgrids will provide system control, monitoring and metering. Resource data is provided by Remote Sensing Solutions.
4. Fostering productive uses of energy
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Solar Cooling
Africa GreenTec’s Cooltainer is an innovative, smart cooling solution powered by a 5-kW solar system and battery technology. This standalone unit is ideal for farmers off the grid, offering a self-sustaining option for maintaining a green cool chain. It also supports hybridisation with grid power, where the battery can be bypassed, and solar panels are still utilised for daytime energy capture. The Cooltainer is modular, flexible, and turnkey, with a capacity to store up to 10 tonnes of harvest between 2 °C and 10 °C, even in ambient temperatures up to 35 °C, making it optimal for vegetables. Housed in a 20 ft ISO container, it offers about 9 m³ of usable space. This solution significantly reduces food loss, improves market access, and can increase farmers’ revenue.
Solar water pumps
PumpUP is an off-grid water pumping system powered by solar energy. This system, provided by Africa GreenTec, can move between 1,000 and 9,000 litres per hour and includes a top-quality water pump from Wilo, solar panels, supporting structures, and electrical connections. During the consultation process, Africa GreenTec staff work with customers to tailor the system to specific needs, including borehole depth and solar panel sizing. An optional elevated water tank allows for irrigation before sunrise. Africa GreenTec manages the transportation, installation, and maintenance of the system.
Street lighting
The StreetUP from Africa GreenTec is a standalone street lighting solution that enhances security in rural communities without needing an external power source. Its innovative design features a bifacial PV panel, a powerful lithium-ion battery, and an LED with high luminous efficiency. Available with two mounting options, the StreetUP is easy to install, and its components are replaceable, ensuring sustainability.
5. Engaging Local Communities
© Africa GreenTec
© Africa GreenTec
© Africa GreenTec
The RePower project is deeply committed to engaging local communities in the development and implementation of microgrid systems in the chosen sites in Madagascar, Niger, and Senegal. This engagement is critical as it ensures the microgrids are well-suited to meet local needs and are embraced by the communities they serve. The project incorporates local partners and affiliates into its consortium, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the diverse regulatory environments across different countries.
In the demo sites managed by country affiliates of Africa GreenTec and in Ghana, where the Ministry of Energy operates microgrids, community involvement is facilitated through securing necessary permits and licences in collaboration with local authorities. Moreover, after the installation, these affiliates will manage the operations and maintenance (O&M), and provide training for local personnel on various operational aspects including customer relations and facility protection.
To maximise the benefits for local populations, RePower utilises a design thinking approach to involve community members in the planning and design of the microgrids. Through a series of workshops, participants go through a co-design process where they learn to empathise with their communities, define problems, and prototype solutions. This participatory approach not only ensures that the microgrid designs reflect the community’s needs but also empowers local participants to become ambassadors for the technology’s adoption.
Special training sessions focus on productive uses of electricity (PUE), involving local women and youth to enable them to use the microgrids for economic activities such as milling, welding, and food storage. These activities are spearheaded by the University of Nairobi and Green Africa Youth Organization, which develop and disseminate training tools and materials, further ensuring that the benefits of the microgrids extend to enhancing local livelihoods. These efforts culminate in the creation of a training manual tailored to the community’s context, facilitating broader engagement and ensuring the sustainability of the microgrid systems.
Summary of Work Packages
WP1 – Project Management
Leader: Aarhus University
This work package focuses on administrative management, legal and financial coordination, and ensuring technical coherence to facilitate communication, maintain timelines, and meet budget requirements, while proactively addressing potential issues within the project.
WP2 – Environmental, Social and Governance analysis
Leader: University of Nairobi
This work package evaluates the environmental, social, and economic impacts of microgrid technologies at demo sites, aiming to incorporate local communities into the microgrid value chain through co-design and gender-conscious strategies. It involves training local teams and NGOs to foster community adoption and contribute to sustainable development goals.
WP3 – Off-grid energy market simulation and business models
Leader: GO2POWER
This work package aims to develop and test optimisation models for off-grid integrated energy systems, focusing on microgrids. Using the PLEXOS platform, it will optimize the size and operation of components like PV and BESS across different business scenarios and simulations, considering economic, technical, and environmental constraints. These models will support strategic decisions across three demonstration sites.
WP4 – Resource evaluation, data acquisition and microgrid EMS optimisation
Leader: Aarhus University
This work package focuses on enhancing the impact of the RePower microgrid concept by improving the energy management system (EMS). It involves evaluating resources, utilizing data effectively, analysing and optimising load, and developing advanced cloud-based, data-driven energy management software. Additionally, it includes a legal and regulatory analysis of off-grid microgrids in Africa.
WP5 – Solartainer RePower PnP microgrid design, integration and manufacturing
Leader: Africa GreenTec AG
This work package aims to design, integrate, and manufacture the Solartainer RePower Plug-and-Play microgrid solution, drawing on experiences from existing operations in Western Africa and technical inputs from WP4. Objectives include delivering complete schematic layouts, modular containerized systems, a biomass-to-syngas plant, and a cloud-based software solution, focusing on sites in Senegal, Niger, Madagascar, and Ghana.
WP6 – Microgrid test and validation and capacity development
Leader: Danish Technological Institute (DTI)
This work package will conduct test and validation activities at DTI EnergyFlexLab and demonstration sites in Senegal, Niger, and Madagascar to support the development of a clean, efficient, and legally compliant modular Plug-and-Play microgrid. Objectives include optimising microgrid components and control systems, assessing operational reliability and safety, and facilitating capacity building through training materials and checklists.
WP7 – Combined Community and Facility based Microgrid (PV-BESS) demo in Senegal
Leader: Africa GreenTec Senegal
WP7 is focused on installing, operating, and maintaining a large-scale RePower PnP microgrid solution in Senegal. This project will integrate four Solartainer RePower units capable of generating 1032 kWh/day to power a local dairy cooperative and provide clean energy to households, SMEs, and institutions. Managed by Africa GreenTec Senegal in partnership with the local community and ADENA cooperative, the project aligns with the policies of the Agence Sénégalaise d’Électrification Rurale, ensuring tariff management and national policy compliance. Activities include site preparation, logistics coordination, and the installation of microgrid components like water purification and irrigation systems.
WP8 – Facility based microgrid (PV-BESS) demo in Niger
Leader: Africa GreenTec Niger
WP8 aims to deploy a RePower PnP microgrid in Niger, providing 253.3 kWh/day to power a village market with over 230 stalls. Managed by Africa GreenTec Niger, this project will also introduce a solar-powered Cooltainer, 30 water pumps, and 40 streetlights, enhancing agriculture and safety. The installation aligns with the “Nigerien Agency for the Promotion of Rural Electrification” policies, focusing on community engagement, logistics from Benin, and comprehensive site preparation. Essential tasks include installing microgrid components and setting up operational and maintenance systems.
WP9 – Community based Microgrid (PV-BESS-BCHP) demo in Madagascar
WP9 focuses on installing, operating, and maintaining a RePower PnP microgrid in rural Madagascar. Managed by Africa GreenTec Madagascar, this initiative is in collaboration with the local community and aligns with the rural electrification agency ADER and the Ministry of Energy MEEH. It includes community engagement, logistics coordination, site preparation, and installation of microgrid and productive uses of energy (PUE) components, along with ongoing data monitoring and maintenance.
Leader: ATA Insights