In our first enterprise into renewables in Africa, we’re teaming up with Idris Elba to construct an eco-city in Sierra Leone.
We’re over the moon to be beginning this important work with Idris and his enterprise associate Siaka Stevens, whose firm, Sherbro Alliance, is constructing West Africa’s first good metropolis. This partnership just isn’t solely a serious milestone for Sierra Leone but in addition for us at Octopus Power, marking our first enterprise into renewable power growth in Africa.
The origin story
Idris Elba had a imaginative and prescient: to deliver inexperienced power, good tech and alternative to Sierra Leone, the West African nation his household calls house. Alongside his good friend and enterprise associate, Siaka Stevens, he dreamed up a sensible metropolis on Sherbro Island, powered solely by renewable power.
Then got here an opportunity encounter at a London occasion. Our CEO, Greg Jackson (having simply spilled wine down his shirt) obtained chatting with Sabrina and her husband, Idris about our mission to make inexperienced power accessible to all. Collectively, they sketched out a daring plan—wind generators, photo voltaic panels, and battery storage to deliver clear power to Sherbro Island, creating jobs and coaching for the area people.
5 wind generators, photo voltaic panels and battery storage
The venture will see as much as 5 wind generators constructed on Sherbro Island, together with photo voltaic panels and battery storage. Collectively, they’ll present clear, inexperienced power to native communities.
This venture is a part of an enormous plan to show Sherbro Island right into a vibrant eco-city, mixing trendy infrastructure with sustainable residing. Alongside Idris Elba and Siaka, we’re aiming to create a inexperienced power hub on the gorgeous coast of West Africa, that’s constructed on sustainable practices and ample pure sources.
For the group, it will imply cheaper electrical energy in addition to inexperienced jobs and coaching alternatives for native individuals, serving to to energy Sierra Leone’s future in additional methods than one.
Why is that this necessary?
Proper now, solely round 28% of individuals in Sierra Leone have entry to electrical energy, however the nation is aiming for 85% renewable power by 2030. This wind farm will assist deliver clear power to extra individuals and help Sierra Leone’s formidable renewable power objectives. It’s an enormous step ahead within the nation’s power transition.
And it is just the start of our partnership with Idris, who famously crashed our company-wide Zoom name, to the delight of each man and girl. He even joined Greg at Glastonbury, the place he DJed till 4am earlier than the 2 of them mentioned their formidable power initiatives.
Their shared imaginative and prescient? To broaden and guarantee a brighter, greener future for Sierra Leone and past.
Extra from the Octo-verse
We’re captivated with making inexperienced power accessible to everybody, in every single place. This partnership is only one instance of how we’re working in the direction of a brighter, greener world future!
For extra data on how we’re driving renewable power investments, try Octopus Power Era.
Pipe dream to actuality
We’re investing on the planet’s largest subsea cables to deliver low cost inexperienced energy from Morocco to 7 million houses within the UK.
What’s new at Octopus Power Era?
Meet up with the thrilling developments occurring within the great world of OE Era
Welcome to the Octopus Fan Membership
Learn how we’re ensuring native communities get essentially the most out of the renewable power of their space