By Ikenna Omeje
Shell-funded impact investment company, All On has signed a $500k investment deal with Greenage Technologies Power Systems Limited, an indigenous firm, to fund the construction and expansion of its charge controllers and inverters manufacturing facility in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria.
Seeded with funding from Shell, All On works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for unserved and underserved off-grid energy markets in Nigeria, with a special focus on the Niger Delta.
“We’re delighted to receive this support from All On that will reduce the cost of solar energy components through local manufacturing,” a statement by All On quoted the Co-founder and Head of Business Development, Greenage Technologies, Ogechukwu Uchechukwu as saying.
“This investment will help Greenage realize its aim of becoming Africa’s largest solar electronics manufacturers by doubling its existing manufacturing capacity for inverters, charge controllers, and the possibility to assemble lithium-ion batteries.”
The statement informed that the investment, which is a mix of equity and convertible debt, will enable Greenage to expand its manufacturing business through the acquisition & development of a new factory and fund its working capital needs – enabling it to meet the increasing demand for locally manufactured solar systems components.
“We are proud to close another transaction to enhance the localization of the solar supply chain,” said All On CEO, Dr. Wiebe Boer. “Through this investment All On is lowering the proportion of solar components imported into Nigeria. This investment is at the core of our commitment to investing in youth-driven Nigerian companies like Greenage to accelerate the sector’s growth and contribute to closing the energy access gap.”
Greenage was a USADF/All On Off-Grid Energy Challenge winner in 2018, receiving $100,000 to fund the installation of solar systems in over 40 households and businesses. This additional funding is an indication of All On’s growing confidence in the company’s vision to play an increasingly important role within the Nigerian renewable energy value chain as a manufacturer of solar energy system components.
