Sheffield-based technology firm MOPO, a pioneer in decentralised sustainable energy solutions, has achieved a major milestone: one million battery rentals per month across its African operations. The figure signals surging demand for affordable clean energy and underlines the effectiveness of MOPO’s scalable, pay-per-use model.

Founded with a mission to transform energy access in underserved communities, MOPO provides smart battery rentals to individuals and small enterprises from solar-powered hubs. This system delivers a vital lifeline in regions where grid electricity is unreliable or entirely absent. The flexible rental approach means customers avoid the burden of debt often associated with purchasing solar panels or relying on fossil fuel generators - an approach particularly relevant in a continent where 650 million people still lack dependable electricity.

“MOPO’s model is proven and scaling rapidly,” said CEO Chris Longbottom. “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.”

MOPO currently operates in six African countries: Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad and Uganda. Its advanced tech platform, which monitors battery usage in real time across all markets, recently recorded a new daily high of 33,662 rentals. The company’s product range includes the MOPO50 – designed for lighting, phone charging and powering small appliances – and the larger MOPOMax, a generator replacement battery that is proving equally popular.

“The growth potential for MOPO is enormous,” added Longbottom. “Take the Democratic Republic of Congo, for instance, where over 80% of its 100 million population lacks reliable access to electricity. Since launching 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.”

As MOPO continues its rapid expansion, the company’s model offers a compelling solution to one of Africa’s most pressing infrastructure challenges – while delivering measurable environmental and social impact at scale.