Summary

Alicedale, a rural town in South Africa, faces major challenges including high unemployment, poor transport access, unreliable electricity, and limited amenities. To address these issues, the SESA project established a Living Lab featuring a solar energy center and two micro-electric vehicles for passenger and cargo transport. This initiative promotes affordable mobility and renewable energy adoption. The solar center uses second-life EV batteries for off-grid energy storage, while the vehicles support community transport needs. The project aims to improve quality of life and serve as a replicable model for similar communities in other South African provinces and across Africa.

Summary

The SESA Urban Living Lab in Morocco promotes electric mobility to reduce transport-related CO₂ emissions and improve urban air quality. Led by Green Energy Park (GEP) and local partner POGO, the initiative deployed 40 electric scooters across the cities of Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Benguerir, and Casablanca. Originally aimed at supporting female students, the project expanded to broader user groups. Over 25 months, the e-scooter traveled 650,000 km, saving 51 tons of CO₂ and prompting the planting of 650 trees. The initiative aligns with national sustainability strategies and UN SDGs, offering a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional motorcycles.

Summary

SEE in Malawi has implemented an innovative lease-to-own business model for solar-powered irrigation systems targeting smallholder rice farmers in Northern Malwai. Smart Energy Enterprise (SEE) was contracted through an open call by Siemens Foundation under the SESA project and has received support from the SESA incubator program. Throughout the SESA project, SEE introduced the Kanyumba Solar Irrigation Package, designed for rice farming using surface water sources. The model enables farmers to pay in instalments aligned with harvest cycles, improving affordability and accessibility. Embedded digital management systems, after-sales services, and strategic partnerships with financial institutions and NGOs enhance sustainability. SEE managed to demonstrate viability of their approach within the SESA project period.

Summary

The SESA Malawi Living Lab demonstrates a briquetting business model that transforms agricultural waste—specifically sunflower stalks— into clean cooking fuel. Implemented by Going Green who is working with 200 farmer clubs (5,000 smallholder farmers) to produce sunflower oil and cake. GG provides certified seeds and agronomic support, ensuring high- quality yields. After harvest, GG purchases the produce at competitive prices to maintain farmer loyalty. As part of the SESA project, Going Green diversified its business by expanding into briquette production from sunflower stalks, and this way advancing circular economy practices through the reuse of agricultural residues.

Summary

WeTu’s e-mobility use case is part of a broader energy access initiative in Katito and Kisegi, Western Kenya. Solar- powered hubs support electric motorcycle leasing and battery swapping, addressing transport challenges in peri-urban and rural areas. The initiative targets boda boda riders, offering a cleaner alternative to petrol-powered motorcycles, reducing emissions and improving operational efficiency. WETU converts internal combustion (ICE) motorcycles into electric bikes and has worked with the users to improve the bikes and adapt them to local conditions as well as worked with users to align the payment model with rider cash flows. Integrated with other services like water purification and solar cooling, the hubs promote sustainable development. The model encourages adoption of electric mobility through affordable, user-centric solutions tailored to the region’s economic and environmental.

Summary

The SESA project developed a solar- powered cold room in Mbita market, Homabay County, Kenya, to reduce food waste and improve vendor income. Operated by WeTu and powered by SelfChill technology, the cold room addresses the lack of cooling infrastructure and poor handling practices. It preserves produce quality, reduces spoilage, and enhances food security.

The cold room is powered by SelfChill’s innovative DC solar cooling technology using natural refrigerants and optional thermal storage. The initiative targets retail market vendors dealing in perishable produce i.e., vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, sukuma wiki, and avocados, which suffer significant spoilage due to lack of cooling infrastructure.

The business model is based on a pay- per-crate-per-day pricing structure, tailored to produce type. The pilot has shown promising uptake and willingness to pay, with ongoing efforts to optimize utilization and expand customer segments.