BBOXX, an affordable clean energy solutions provider to off-grid communities in Africa, and General Electric have launched a partnership to provide energy access for small businesses, schools and other organisations in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

It has installed GE’s Hybrid Distributed Power (HDP) systems in Kivu International School that can connect up to 10 customers. More customers will be added to the mini grid over the following weeks.

Most of businesses and organisations across the DRC do not have sufficient energy access and pay for expensive diesel generators to deal with unreliable power supply. This has hindered the growth of business and improve the quality of life.

The partnership between these two companies will improve energy access for customers. They will provide small solar home systems of 50 W in rural communities while businesses in urban areas with higher energy demands will get systems of 0.5 kW – 5.0 kW, and beyond. GE’s HDP system in Goma is capable of delivering up to 30 kW.

“Many businesses and small organisations in the DRC, and across the developing world, do not have a reliable, affordable way of maintaining electricity supply. Hybrid distributed power and micro-grid technology provides one solution to solve this pressing problem by delivering an on-grid experience in an off-grid setting,” said Mansoor Hamayun, CEO and co-founder of BBOXX in a press statement.

Brian Selby, Managing Director of Licensing at GE said, “GE’s Hybrid Distributed Power system offers flexibility to deliver fast, reliable power with a digital backbone found in utility scale power plants.”

BBOXX has worked with 750,000 people living in off-grid communities in Africa and Asia by providing clean, reliable and affordable solar electricity.

Recently, in a report published by the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), in association with Altai Consulting, the impact and the benefits of off-grid solar home systems (SHS) in improving the quality of life was highlighted.

According to the research, access to light and power have increased the working hours as they can spend more time at work. It has allowed 44 percent of users to be more flexible with their daily activities. These extra work hours have helped in making on an average an additional $25 per month.

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer