MOPO wins top honours at the FT Africa Sustainable Futures Awards
“Provides power to the hardest to reach people in the hardest to connect countries” -FT & World Bank Group Judges
Overview
MOPO, a UK-based technology company pioneering sustainable energy access, is proud to announce that it has won two prestigious accolades at the Africa Sustainable Futures Awards 2025, jointly hosted by the Financial Times and the World Bank Group.
Selected from over 300 entries across the continent, narrowed to 19 finalists, MOPO not only triumphed in its category, Transformational Impact in Clean Energy Access, but also received the overall Judges’ Award for Excellence, recognising the Company’s outstanding innovation, impact, and scalability in advancing sustainable development in Africa.
The judging panel, convened by the Financial Times and the World Bank Group, commended MOPO for its extraordinary reach and social impact, noting that it “provides power to the hardest to reach people in the hardest to connect countries.”
These awards celebrate MOPO’s groundbreaking model that tackles one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most exciting opportunities: the growth of affordable, reliable electricity through distributed renewables.
MOPO’s innovative system removes one of the biggest barriers to clean energy access, the high upfront cost of solar systems. Through a network of solar-powered charging hubs and a pay-as-you-go battery rental model, MOPO enables households and businesses to access clean, reliable power without debt. Customers rent MOPO’s proprietary smart batteries from local agents within their communities
Chris Longbottom, CEO of MOPO, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive both the Transformational Impact Award and the Judges’ Award for Excellence from the FT and the World Bank Group amid such strong competition from other outstanding innovators. This recognition validates our belief that innovation, inclusion, and sustainability must go hand in hand. Our mission is to make clean, affordable energy accessible to everyone, one charge at a time, unlocking opportunities for businesses to grow, communities to thrive, and Africa to prosper. With continued support, we can accelerate the transition to clean power and create thousands of jobs across the continent.”
Since its inception, MOPO has achieved remarkable scale and measurable impact:
Over 31 million battery rentals completed to date, with more than 1.2 million rentals per month across six countries.
Over 1,500 employees, including hundreds of women empowered as local energy entrepreneurs.
200% annual growth rate, driven by strong demand for reliable off-grid power.
By displacing diesel and petrol generators, MOPO’s clean energy model is reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and supporting sustainable economic growth across Africa. Its circular system, prioritising battery reuse, refurbishment, and recycling, ensures environmental sustainability and long-term resource efficiency.
Backed by leading international investors such as Octopus Energy, Norfund, British International Investment, and IFC, MOPO continues to scale its community-based, tech-enabled model as a blueprint for clean energy access in emerging markets.
Further details regarding the awards can be found at: https://africasustainablefuturesawards.live.ft.com/home