Clean-tech startup MOPO (backed by Octopus Energy, Norfund, and the International Finance Corporation) has signed a $75 million (~₦120 billion) agreement with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to scale off-grid battery rentals across the country by 2030.
The agreement kicks off with a targeted pilot program launching later this year before scaling nationwide over the next five years.
How the “Pay-Per-Use” Model Disrupts Traditional Off-Grid Energy
Unlike conventional solar home systems (which require consumers to take on long-term debt to buy panel-and-inverter kits) or solar mini-grids (which require huge upfront capital from investors), MOPO operates on a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model:
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Solar Charging Hubs: MOPO builds central, solar-powered charging stations managed by local agents within rural and peri-urban communities.
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Short-Term Hourly Rentals: Customers rent pre-charged lithium-ion batteries for a few hours or days at a time using cash or mobile money.
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Flexible Energy Load: * MOPO50: A smaller unit designed for basic home lighting, fan operation, and phone charging.
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MOPOMax: A heavy-duty 230-volt output battery capable of running shop appliances, refrigeration, or electric commercial motorcycles.
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“We rent batteries to customers for hours. We’re not asking them to buy an asset, as in the case of solar home systems, and we’re not asking investors to place a huge bet on their future usage, as with mini-grids,” explained Luke Burras, MOPO’s Chief Operating Officer.
Strategic Impact: Replacing Petrol Generators with Solar Hubs
| Parameter | Traditional Petrol Generator | Solar Home Systems (SHS) | MOPO Battery Rental Model |
| Upfront Cost | High (₦150k – ₦400k) | Very High (₦300k – ₦1.5m+) | Zero (Only pay rental fee) |
| Recurring Expenses | Continuous, expensive fuel purchases | Monthly financing payments | Pay-as-you-go (Per rental cycle) |
| Environmental Impact | High noise, smoke, and greenhouse emissions | Zero emissions | Zero emissions (Charged via solar) |
| Asset Risk | Maintenance and breakdown costs borne by user | Equipment depreciation | Borne by provider (MOPO retains asset ownership) |
Nigeria at the Center of Africa’s Climate-Tech Surge
The deal highlights a major investment shift across African venture capital. According to recent data from Briter Bridges, Climate-Tech has officially overtaken Fintech as Africa’s top venture-funded sector—accounting for nearly 40% of annual venture investment.
With Nigeria attracting nearly 13% of all continental climate-tech funding inflows, the REA-MOPO deployment serves as a key template for replacing millions of polluting small-scale fuel generators with decentralized, clean energy rentals.
