Engie Access, the top off-grid energy services company in Africa, has joined forces with Sistema.bio to bring biogas digesters to Zambia and Mozambique. This collaboration, supported by ModernClean Cooking Facility for Africa (MCFA), aims to reach over 10,000 smallholder farmers in both countries.
Their goal is to provide these farmers with clean cooking biogas solutions, thereby bolstering energy security and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions in the region.
Sistema.bio’s growth in Zimbabwe has been made possible by implementation partners Lanforce Energy. The goal is to set up more than 2,500 biodigesters in the country over the next four years.
This effort is also in partnership with the Modern Clean Cooking Facility for Africa (MCFA) and demonstrates Sistema.bio’s dedication to overcoming energy challenges, advocating for environmental sustainability, and bolstering access to affordable, clean, and modern cooking solutions in Africa.
In West Africa, Sistema.bio Africa has collaborated with Farmerline in Ghana and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Nigeria. The initial biodigesters in Nigeria were effectively set up in July 2024, signalling the commencement of a groundbreaking transition towards sustainable farming and the use of renewable energy in the West Africa area.
Madrin Maina, Sistema.bio Director Africa declared: “Today we have the technology, experience, and business models to dramatically accelerate clean and reliable energy access across Africa. Sistema.bio’s biodigester technology represents a climate smart energy solutionfor small holder farmers that is rapidly scalable, can be tailored to local conditions and has the potential to empower millions of people in communities across Africa. Throughour recent collaborations and partnerships with Africa’s leading green energy organizations we are now positioned as the leading biodigester company within the African continent.”
The utilisation of biodigester technology yields a wide range of benefits that align with nine out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals include SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
About Sistema.bio
Sistema.bio Africa is a remarkable social enterprise that operates on three major fronts: technology, capacity building, and financing. Its goal is to combat poverty, enhance food security, and address climate change.
At the heart of its operations is the production and distribution of top-quality, cost-effective, and adaptable hybrid-reactor biodigesters. These innovative biodigesters empower farmers worldwide to become more energy-efficient and self-sufficient in terms of fertilizers.
Through offering flexible repayment options and comprehensive monitoring services, farmers can easily obtain and utilise biodigesters to collect and process farm waste, leading to the production of clean biogas and nutrient-rich biofertilizers.
With its regional headquarters based in Nairobi, Kenya, the enterprise boasts a dedicated team of over 200 individuals who collaborate with over 12000 smallholder farmers across Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. Presently, the enterprise is also making strides in expanding its operations to Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ghana.
About Engie AccessAfrica
ENGIE Energy Access is the leading mini-grid and off-grid PAYGo solar energy company in Africa. By smartly integrating mini-grids, it has empowered over 12 million Africans.
About Modern CleanCooking Facility for Africa (MCFA)
The Modern Cooking Facility for Africa (MCFA) aims to bring clean cooking solutions to over 4 million people in six Sub-Saharan African countries. By reducing indoor air pollution, cutting CO2 emissions, and preventing deforestation, the initiative seeks to improve both public health and the environment.
MCFA achieves this by offering financial incentives to companies providing clean cooking solutions, encouraging them to offer affordable, high-quality, and energy-efficient services. This support aims to accelerate the development of a sustainable market for clean cooking solutions in the long term.
The program encourages the use of eco-friendly and renewable cooking fuels, including bioethanol, bio-LPG, LPG (in specific regions), biogas, electric cooking options, and solid biofuels derived from sustainable sources like pellets and briquettes.
About Lanforce Energy
Lanforce Energy is a forward-thinking, women-led social enterprise operating in the renewable energy sector. The organization is dedicated to advancing the United Nations sustainable development goals, particularly goals 2, 5, 7, and 13.
The company specialises in installing biogas digesters for farms, households, hotels, and institutions. It also offers comprehensive training in biodigester installation and maintenance, providing scalable solutions tailored to specific energy requirements.
Farmerline
In 2013, Farmerline was established to leverage innovative technology to support and uplift farmers in Ghana. Through its operations, Farmerline has successfully reached and served over 800 farmers, providing them with access to high-quality agricultural inputs, valuable training, and reliable markets. These resources empower farmers to generate sustainable and healthy incomes, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of agricultural communities.
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Nigeria
SNV is a prominent global development partner that strives to create a better world. Their vision is to ensure that all people across societies live with dignity and have equal opportunities to thrive sustainably. To bring this vision to life, SNV focuses on transforming vital agri-food, energy, and water systems.
They achieve this by enhancing capacities, fostering partnerships, strengthening institutions and governance, addressing gender disparities and barriers to social inclusion, and facilitating adaptation and mitigation of climate and biodiversity challenges.