Hydrogen energy for telecoms in sub-Saharan Africa.
With the support of Proparco, NETIS is testing a hydrogen-based energy production solution for telecom operators in sub-Saharan Africa.
Proparco grants a €500,000 subsidy to NETIS, enabling the company to fund hydrogen-based electricity production equipment (produced on-site with water) to replace diesel generators.
The goal of this project is to reduce the carbon footprint of telecom tower electrical infrastructures by replacing thermal engine generators with green solutions based on hydrogen and fuel cells. Thanks to this innovative solution, telecom operators will enhance the reliability and availability of their networks with a renewable energy source.
Operating in sub-Saharan Africa since 2009 across 15 countries, NETIS positions itself as a leading pan-African provider of telecommunications and energy infrastructure services. The company offers a full range of services, from the maintenance and construction of telecom sites to fiber optic deployment and connection, as well as energy solutions supply and installation. In 2023, a consortium comprising Amethis, AfricInvest, Proparco, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) invested in NETIS.
This new project with NETIS provides an opportunity for Proparco to act in alignment with its 2023-2027 strategy and commit to the energy transition through innovative solutions such as green hydrogen, which has the potential to be a key element in achieving carbon neutrality, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
By modernizing energy infrastructures for telecommunications and mobile services, NETIS contributes to the technological acceleration of infrastructure development for next-generation 4G and 5G networks. This will also reduce data costs and bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
According to Claire Devey, Senior Investment Officer at Proparco:
“We are proud to make Proparco a key player in the energy transition by supporting an innovative project like NETIS’s, enabling the installation of renewable energy solutions, particularly green hydrogen, while reducing the carbon footprint. We are committed to promoting a greener and more resilient economy.”
Jean Farhat, CEO and Co-founder of NETIS, added:
“NETIS is proud to experiment with clean energy solutions for telecom operators. These innovative energy sources will improve network availability and reliability while generating substantial savings, benefiting rural users first and foremost.”
This project supports four Sustainable Development Goals:
•Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
•Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
•Goal 13 (Climate Action)
•Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
