MTN-backed solar firm raises $12.6 million
Fenix International, a renewable energy company specialising in solar power to charge mobile phones, has raised $12.6 million in a second round of financing.
With offices in San Francisco and Uganda, Fenix International said that the latest funding would be used to increase production and distribution of ReadyPay Solar Systems in Africa.
The device, it said, empowers mobile communications and economic development in off-grid areas.
Fenix partners include South African based MTN, Orange and Vodafone, while the latest funding round includes investments from GDF Suez, Schneider Electric, Orange France Telecom, clean tech entrepreneurs Tom Dinwoodie and Warner Philips, among others.
“ReadyPay eliminates the need for dirty and dangerous diesel generators, candles and kerosene lamps that cause millions of fires and burns every year.”
“Customers can charge their cell phones, run businesses after dark, and study using clean, bright LED lights connected to the solar-powered kit,” Fenix said.
Solar project
Locally, MTN says it continues to invest in new technologies to reduce its dependence on the national grid amid rolling blackouts.
In July last year, MTN unveiled a concentrating solar cooling system to provide power to its data centres, claiming it as a first for Africa.
According to MTN, the system is driven by technology called Linear Fresnel Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) that uses heat generated from the sun and has a peak cooling capacity of 330kW.
The system consists of 242 solar mirrors covering a total area of 484 square metres, which can generate pressurised hot water at 180 degrees Celsius.
This hot water powers an absorption chiller that produces chilled water, which is circulated into the data centre for cooling IT equipment.
“MTN continually assesses new technologies to reduce its dependence on the national grid and to improve the uptime of our network for our customers,” the operator told BusinessTech.
“Testimony to this is the 2MW Tri-Generation gas-powered units at 14th Avenue and the recently unveiling of a Condensed Solar Plant.”
More on MTN and solar power
Solar-powered cooling for MTN data centres
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