German Energy Agency dena supports SHS rollout in Zambia

Mumbwa, Zambia 18th December 2020 – With support of the Renewable Energy Solutions (RES) Programme the Germany Energy Agency, Solarworx and partners LittleSun and Nexira have started the rollout of Solar Home Systems in Zambia.

In the course of the project, 35 Solarworx Solego 160 Solar Home Systems including DC appliances are installed in households and small businesses in the area of Mumbwa, approximately one hour from the capital Lusaka. The systems can be stacked like Lego bricks and thus optimally adapt to the needs and purchasing power of the end customer. The systems are sold to end customers mostly through PayGo, an installment payment model via mobile money. The systems are sending hourly data which can be monitored remotely worldwide via a GSM link. The data is displayed in the chart below:

In a second phase of the project the existing Solar Home Systems will be interconnected to form a 60V DC microgrid. Solarworx will pilot the mesh modules that allow sharing of excess solar power and battery capacity at village level. The technology presented here is based on the concept of DC/DC conversion and allows low-loss transmission of energy within a village via a secure 60V DC power grid with a transmission power of up to 250W between households.

As part of the DENA RES program, Solarworx intends to test the novel microgrid technology in a pilot project in Zambia and use the knowledge gained for a rapid market entry. With NEXIRA GmbH as consulting partner as well as the local distributor LittleSun Zambia Ltd. the DC micro grid will be established mid 2021.

This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.

Solarworx
Solarworx was founded in Berlin in 2017 by two engineers Felix Boldt and Jakob Schily and the entrepreneur Franz Josef Buschmeier. The goal is to develop and produce a new generation of sustainable and affordable solar energy systems for countries in the global south. In doing so, the founders can draw on many years of experience in rural electrification in East Africa in areas without electricity supply. Solarworx systems enable the electrification of individual households, businesses and, through a novel smart-grid networking concept, electricity trading within entire communities. Local small business owners, such as barber stores, kiosks, and rural poultry farms, receive a reliable and clean power supply that reduces energy expenses and strengthens their economy.

LittleSun
Launched in 2012 by artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen at London’s Tate Modern, Little Sun’s social business brings clean, reliable, affordable energy to the 1.1 billion people in the world living without electricity while raising awareness for energy access and climate action worldwide. Our premium solar products are for everyone. Little Sun solar lamps and phone charges are sold online and in partner stores around the world. On the ground, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, we work with local entrepreneurs to create local jobs and to bring the power of the sun to everyone.

Nexira
Nexira GmbH is a project developer and EPC (Engineering – Procurement – Construction) for renewable energy projects in the target market Africa. Nexira GmbH is represented in East Africa by its subsidiary Equator Solar Systems Ltd. (EQS). EQS offers on-site planning, installation and service of solar plants, with engineering and procurement being handled by Nexira as a partner. Beyond EPC activities, Nexira provides consulting services to renewable energy companies: Expansion strategies for manufacturers and project developers. Corporate investments (in addition to EQS, others are planned) in the energy and information technology sectors are part out the portfolio.