A new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) sponsored by Innovate UK KTN will develop longer-life smart batteries for use in several countries in Africa for households, businesses and emobility. Professor Dan Gladwin and Dr Matthew Smith from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Sheffield partnered with Mobile Power Ltd in 2017 to work on a project extending the lifetime of battery cells. These cells were used for MOPO Batteries; swappable, portable, smart batteries for communities, towns and cities across Africa. Initially started in Sierra Leone, Mobile Power now operates right across the continent providing clean power for requirements such as cooking, fridges, lighting, emobility and the charging of phones.
The MOPO batteries designed and produced by Mobile Power Ltd are provided to African customers through a patented smart battery rental system, where the MOPO batteries are charged in solar charging Hubs. Customers are served by MOPO Agents through a cloud-based data platform, who are then able to rent MOPO batteries as and when required. Currently, the alternative in many communities is the use of fossil fuel generators, which as well as being dangerous and polluting, cost 75% more to use for individuals compared to MOPO batteries.
Being involved in this KTP is truly inspiring. It's not every day you get to be part of an initiative that blends technology with real-world impact in such meaningful ways. By improving the MOPO Batteries and them being used for a wider range of applications, we're offering countries in Africa practical, cleaner energy solutions. I'm excited to see how this collaboration between Mobile Power Ltd and the University of Sheffield continues to make a difference.
Professor Dan Gladwin
University of Sheffield
At the time of writing, Mobile Power Ltd has successfully rented more than 13 million MOPO Batteries across eight African nations. A recently completed collaborative project funded by Innovate UK saw a product called MOPOMax being deployed. These larger lithium-ion MOPOMax Batteries can be used for emobility, such as in emotorbikes and etuktuks, and in larger household AC appliances such as fridges. MOPOMax batteries are able to not only store energy as part of a mini-grid, but are also ‘hot swappable’. After they are out of energy, they can then easily be returned to the solar powered MOPO Hub and another rented.
The new KTP project sees a specialist research associate from the University of Sheffield, Thomas McKinney, working within Mobile Power full-time. Thomas is a battery engineer and has recently submitted for his PhD at Sheffield, and will be using his expertise to investigate how the capabilities and lifetime of MOPO Batteries can be extended. Supported by Professor Dan Gladwin and Dr Matthew Smith, the KTP will see him working on the use of the MOPO battery for households, businesses and emobility applications with the potential of second life use, wherein MOPO batteries that are no longer able to hold enough charge to power a motorbike can still be used for a fridge or for charging smaller electrical items, or even static storage.
Already a month in and I’m loving the KTP. Mobile Power are revolutionising energy and transport for countries across Africa and the opportunity to be a part of that is fantastic. I have very quickly been able to utilise the expertise I’ve gained over the last 8 years in academia to aid this journey and am excited for what the future of this KTP holds.
Thomas McKinney
R&D Battery Pack Engineer (KTP Associate) and PhD student at the University of Sheffield
Running a battery business in African countries presents distinct challenges, notably the region's high temperatures. To address this, Mobile Power is harnessing the expertise of university experts through the KTP project. Thomas will further develop advanced modelling tools, digital twins, and battery cell evaluation methods at Mobile Power and these innovations will be integrated into the company's core operations. With this collaboration, Mobile Power reaffirms its commitment to pioneering solutions catering to the energy and transport demands of users within countries in Africa.
This Knowledge Transfer Partnership will embed expertise from Sheffield University into our Company. This will expand our capacity and improve our competitive advantage in developing a range of MOPO Batteries that are used to provide clean, affordable electricity across Africa. We are grateful to Innovate UK, KTN and Professor Dan Gladwin for enabling this to happen.
Jono West
Co-Founder and Chairman of Mobile Power Ltd.