Africa’s clean-energy future is taking shape through the work of innovators who are building smarter storage systems, advancing battery recycling, and expanding the circular-economy chain.
These entrepreneurs are ensuring the continent is not just adopting global energy technologies, but actively designing, manufacturing, and repurposing them for Africa’s unique needs.
Here are the top 5 African entrepreneurs transforming the lithium-ion battery space in 2025:
— Dr. Ian de Vries (South Africa): Founder and CEO of Balancell Energy, one of Africa’s leading manufacturers of intelligent LFP batteries for industrial fleets, backup power, and energy-storage applications. His work strengthens local manufacturing capacity and delivers high-performance battery systems built for Africa’s energy demands.
— Léandre Berwa (Rwanda): Co-founder and CEO of SLS Energy, East Africa’s most advanced second-life battery company. Berwa repurposes retired EV and electronic batteries into durable storage systems used across telecom, mini-grids, healthcare, and productive-use equipment, while significantly cutting e-waste on the continent.
— Tolulope Opeyemi Olukokun (Nigeria): Founder and CEO of ThinkBikes, a mobility startup designing electric cargo bikes powered by repurposed lithium-ion cells recovered from old devices. His innovation provides clean, affordable mobility for small businesses and farmers, with models like the CoolMAX supporting cold-chain transport using recycled battery systems.
— Godfrey Simiyu Katiambo (Kenya): Co-founder of Inno-Neat Energy Solutions, a Kenyan clean-tech venture recycling lithium-ion waste into new battery-for-solar systems. His work reduces battery pollution while expanding access to reliable home-energy solutions for low-income and off-grid households.
— Michael Nikobari (Nigeria): Founder of Revive Earth, a growing battery-upcycling company turning discarded lithium-ion laptop and device batteries into dependable power packs for solar-home systems and small storage units. His model reduces e-waste and offers affordable energy alternatives for underserved communities.
These entrepreneurs demonstrate how African-led innovation can accelerate clean-energy adoption, reduce environmental waste, and build a stronger, more sustainable energy ecosystem for the continent.
Selection focused on verified African founders active in lithium-ion manufacturing, repurposing, or recycling, with measurable impact in Africa’s clean-energy sector as of 2024–2025.
Criteria included innovation, circular-economy relevance, operational scale, and contribution to energy access.
Image Credit: Freepik
