Tesvolt’s 3MWh shipment to Mali could save villagers 80% of energy costs

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

The project will be paid for through crowdfunding and a loan. Image: Africa Green Tec.
German manufacturer Tesvolt will supply 3MWh of energy storage to 25 villages in Mali, Africa, which the company claims will allow the currently diesel-reliant residents to drastically reduce electricity costs.

Tesvolt said this morning that it has struck a deal with social start-up Africa Green Tec to supply lithium battery storage systems coupled with solar. A total of 50 containerised solar-plus-storage systems will be installed, each with a 37-45kWp solar PV system and 60kWh of battery storage.

The Malian villagers are currently paying around €1.50 (US$1.59) per kWh via diesel generators, or are left with no power at all. Tesvolt claims its containerised solution will provide power for just €0.20 per kWh. In addition to saving money, the solar-plus-storage system will be much cleaner than diesel and eliminate noise pollution.

The total project, to be completed by the end of 2018, will cost €150,000 per container, thought to include both the solar and storage components. The initial cost is being covered by crowdfunding and the latter portion by a loan.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The villagers will be able to use power at dusk from around 6pm until 10pm, in addition to around nine hours during daylight. It may in fact be easier to work in the evening hours as average temperatures during the day can be 45°C. The made-in Germany lithium iron phosphate battery storage systems have their own solar-powered cooling elements.

This summer Tesvolt was awarded a 2.68MWh project in Rwanda, to power water pumps in combination with a utility-scale solar installation. This is in addition to projects in the UK, Germany and the Dutch Caribbean. Tesvolt started supplying storage systems to markets including Germany’s commercial and industrial segment in 2015, sealed a tie-up with SMA inverters, and said it was targeting a turnover of €15 million this year.

Tesvolt’s lithium iron phosphate battery systems are made in Germany. Image: Tesvolt.

Read Next

October 10, 2025
Honeywell, LS Electric, esVolta, Sitetracker, PairedPower, PHNXX, and Energy Toolbase are collaborating on new initiatives to advance energy storage installations across the US.
October 8, 2025
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has granted planning approval for Potentia Energy’s 500MW Tallawang solar-plus-storage project.
October 3, 2025
EDF Renewables has brought its 300MWh Milagro project online in New Mexico, while Enlight Renewable Energy has secured US$340 million in tax equity financing for its 940MWh Roadrunner project in Arizona.
September 30, 2025
According to the Q3 2025 US Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the American Clean Power Association (ACP), annual installations will not reach 2025 levels again until 2029.
September 29, 2025
Energy-Storage.news proudly presents our sponsored webinar with Honeywell, on adapting to the grid with flexible and resilient commercial and industrial (C&)) energy storage technologies.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter