-
Bboxx and EDF have started a new venture to provide solar irrigation systems to farmers in Togo.
- The irrigation systems will operate under a PAYG model with the Togolese government providing 50% subsidy.
- The project is part of the Togolese government’s CIZO Project that aims to provide clean energy to over 2 million rural settlers.
Electricité de France (EDF), its Kenyan subsidiary SunCulture the British renewable energy company Bboxx have launched a joint venture Bboxx EDF Togo. The new venture has reached an agreement with the government of Togo to provide solar water pumps to 5,000 farmers.
The farmers who inhabit underserved areas will be provided with solar water pumps to provide sustainable irrigation services to improve their economic productivity, especially during the dry season.
SunCulture will provide the solar water pumps while Bboxx EDF Togo will deploy the irrigation systems and arrange consumer financing According to the EDF, “The solar water pumps to be deployed in Togo will also benefit from the technical expertise of EDF’s R&D in the off-grid sector, where we will oversee design choices and help improve product performance.”
The service will operate using the same pay-you-go model used by Bboxx’s Solar Home Systems (SHS) as the irrigation systems will be integrated into Bboxx Pulse®, Bboxx’s comprehensive management platform to enable remote management and monitoring.
The government of Togo will subsidise the solar water pumps for up to 50%. In addition, components will be exempt from import duties and VAT to make the solutions more affordable for farmers.
This project is part of the Togolese government’s CIZO project which aim to electrify over 2 million rural dwellers over the next 5 years.