MOPO, a UK-based clean energy company, has raised £5m (USD 6.7 million) from Norfund, the Norwegian government’s development finance institution, to expand its solar-powered battery rental service across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The investment marks another international endorsement of MOPO’s consumer debt-free energy model, which has already attracted backing from Octopus Energy and British International Investment (BII). The company says it has facilitated more than 28m battery rentals to date and recorded ~300% year-on-year growth.

A pay-per-use model for energy access

Founded to tackle energy poverty in underserved regions, MOPO runs solar charging hubs operated by local agents. Customers can rent portable batteries on a pay-per-use basis, a system designed to replace expensive and polluting petrol generators.

Its products include the MOPO50, designed for lighting, phone charging and small appliances, and the MOPOMax, which supports higher-load devices such as small business equipment and e-mobility.

CEO Chris Longbottom described Norfund’s investment as “a strong signal that our model, combining impact, innovation and commercial return, is working.”

Norfund’s investment director, Pål Helgesen, said the fund backed MOPO because of its ability to “provide climate-friendly solutions improving energy access in underserved areas in particularly challenging markets.”

Expanding across Sub-Saharan Africa

MOPO operates in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad and Uganda, with plans to extend further. The company’s model aims to provide households and small businesses with clean and reliable energy, particularly in countries where millions still lack access to electricity.

The business is targeting the estimated $75bn-a-year petrol generator market in Africa, positioning the MOPOMax battery as a cleaner substitute for fossil fuel-based solutions.

Customer testimonials highlight the model’s impact: “We no longer struggle with unreliable, expensive energy. The batteries are cheaper than petrol generators and allow me to run my business more reliably,” said Ibrahim Bangura, a MOPO user in Sierra Leone.

R&D focus and international partnerships

Alongside its commercial rollout, MOPO collaborates with the University of Sheffield, a leading centre for battery research, to improve performance and reduce costs. The company emphasises that ongoing R&D is central to maintaining affordability and efficiency.

With around 1bn people in Africa still lacking access to reliable electricity, MOPO and its investors see significant growth potential. The Norfund deal adds to the recent momentum around off-grid energy startups, as international investors increase exposure to scalable models that combine financial returns with climate impact.