By Hauwa Ali
AKampala-based green mobility start-up, Zembo has commissioned an 8.5 kWp solar photovoltaic system to recharge its electric motorbikes as part of its ambition to decarbonize transport.
The solar plant was built by Aptech Africa, a solar energy provider in Uganda.
With Zembo’s250 electric motorbikes transporting about 800 passengers a day in Uganda, the hybrid installation will eventually reduce pollution in the East African country.
The solar power plant installed by Aptech Africa has a capacity of 8.5 kWp and is equipped with a 9.6 kWh battery storage system.
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“The system is integrated into the grid with a Victron Quattro hybrid inverter that contains two inputs and outputs to connect an additional power source such as a generator. The system also has a smart feature, which is a charge controller with maximum power point capabilities provided by the grid for automatic fault detection and remote monitoring of the battery voltage,” says Aptech.
The hybrid facility is also equipped with a smart solar MPPT, which is a charge controller with maximum power point capabilities for battery voltage auto-detection to match the voltage of the solar panels in the cases of partial shading. The inverter and solar MPPT allow for remote monitoring through Victron Connect for battery SOC, PV-generated as well as grid-supplied power, and fault detection.
The solar-battery storage system will provide a reliable power supply and reduce the client’s electricity bills. This will enable Zembo to offer cheaper energy rates per kilometer, thanks to the lower cost of its lithium batteries – reduce CO2 emissions that cause pollution.
The start-up Zembo, which was created in 2019, recently inaugurated four new battery exchange stations for its electric motorbikes, three of which run on hybrid solar energy. These exchange points were installed along the Kamapala-Masaka axis (120 km) thanks to the financial support of the Deutsche GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German agency for international development cooperation, and the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO), a renewable energy financing programme supported by the Ikea Foundation and UK Aid. PREO is implemented by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact.
The start-up led by Etienne Saint-Sernin does not intend to stop there. Zembo plans to strengthen its activities by putting 2,000 electric motorbikes on the road, building some 60 battery exchange stations in Uganda, and expanding into several other countries in Africa. All these operations will be carried out thanks to a $3.4 million financing obtained in November 2021 from investors InfraCo Africa, DOB Equity and Mobility 54.
