Dealflow | September 16, 2021

CrossBoundary Energy and Zoodlabs develop solar-powered internet in Sierra Leone

Jessica Pothering
ImpactAlpha Editor

Jessica Pothering

ImpactAlpha, September 16 – CrossBoundary Energy invests in and develops commercial and industrial solar systems across Africa. Its latest deal is a 1.2-megawatt solar-plus-storage project that will power Sierra Leone’s submarine fiber optic infrastructure to enable reliable, and clean-powered internet access in the country.

CrossBoundary, USAID, The Shell Foundation, Powerhive and Netis will invest up to $2 million to develop the project.

CrossBoundary has a power purchase agreement with Freetown-based utility infrastructure company Zoodlabs. 

Less than 20% of Sierra Leoneans have internet access. “We believe one of the quickest ways to leapfrog economic barriers in Africa is to solve the digital divide and make broadband internet access commonplace,” Zoodlabs said in a statement.

The solar project will eliminate the need for a back-up diesel generator, reducing the networks’ CO2 emissions by nearly 350 metric tons per year, the company says.