Article

1. EMPOWER NEW ENERGY EMPOWER NEW ENERGY
ENERGY & UTILITIES | 3
2 | ENERGY & UTILITIES BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
WE LEARN HOW EMPOWER NEW ENERGY HAS DEVELOPED
A FINANCING MODEL TO CONNECT INVESTORS WITH
MEDIUM-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
PROJECT MANAGED BY: DEAN BROWN
A NEW
MODEL
FOR
ENERGY
Empower New Energy is a unique company, operating
as both a co-developer and investor in medium-sized
renewable energy projects in Africa.
W
hat we are doing is
bridging the finance
gap between the
many developers of renewables
who do not have capital for
their projects, and the many
energy users who are suffering
from unreliable, expensive or
dirty power sources of power,”
explains Terje Osmundsen,
Empower New Energy’s CEO.
“With our investment model, we
can bridge that gap and ensure
a high-quality project that
serves industry, agriculture and
residencies which otherwise
wouldn’t have happened.”
It all comes down to what
Osmundsen called “the New
Energy Investment Model.”
Under this model, Empower
New Energy has already raised
all the capital it needs from
investors. That means it is free
to invest that capital in any
project it sees fit as a one-
stop-shop, complete financing
partner, without having to
negotiate the bureaucracy. But
Empower New Energy is more
than a source of capital.
“As a co-developer, we work
closely with developers to meet
the sort of quality standards
that international investors
require,” Osmundsen tells us.
“A lot of small developers must
go to various investment funds
before their project is viable.
We offer them the alternative
of a platform to work with
developers for lean, efficient
due diligence before we submit
for investment.”
Ghana Nuts
ground mounted
0.6MWp solar plant
project.

2. ENERGY & UTILITIES | 5
4 | ENERGY & UTILITIES BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
www.powercelllimited.com | info@powercelllimited.com
Mobile: +234 (0)803 7177 539 | +234 (0)811 3694 338
Office: +234 (1)3427 584
Everyday demand for energy is accelerating and becoming a
central environmental issue with implications for the entire world.
At Powercell, we have carved a niche for our business as the
go-to company for alternative and uninterruptible sources of power
for communities, businesses, the real sector and service providers.
Powercell Limited is an emerging leader in the design, installation and maintenance
of innovative renewable energy, power back up and power protection solutions.
With strong international partnerships and a proven track record of high standards
and professionalism, we are a world class Nigerian energy company that provides
professional, reliable and efficient solutions that meet customers’ expectations and budget.
ADVEC is a leading consultation and engineering firm based in
Egypt in the field of power system studies, grid solutions, energy
markets analysis, grid and energy planning, energy efficiency
solutions and integration of renewable energy technologies.
We provide technical support for developers, contractors,
system operators, big industries, and energy regulatory
authorities. We are active in many countries including
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Chad, and South
Africa. Some of our top clients are Egyptian
Transmission System Operator, Empower New
Energy, Heidelberg Group, TCI Sanmar,
Weareinfinity, Asunim Group, TAQA Arabia,
Elsewedy Electric T&D, Intro Group.
We believe in collaboration; we trust in our
values; and we support our partners.
www.advec.me | info@advec.me
2 Wadi El Nile, Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed Sallam,
CEO, ADVEC
POWERCELLLIMITED
Powercellprovidescost-effective,environmentally friendly,highquality and
innovativesolar/renewableenergy productsmanufactured by globalleaders
intherenewableenergy spaceincluding but not limited toPV modules,solar
Inverters,SolarChargeControllers,SolarStreetlights,Deep CycleBatteries
Solarwaterpumpsetc.
Wecarry out turn-key solarprojects,ruralelectrification,solarstreetlights,
and homeand industrialsolarpowergenerationprojects.Wehavetechnical
partnership and support withinternationalorganizationslikeNorthAmerica
Board of Certified Energy practitioners(NABCEP) whichisthegold standard for
PV and renewableenergy certificationintheworld,SolarEnergy International,
PTL Solar,CapelloGroup (Italy),manufacturersof themost efficient PV
panelsinEuropeand theCoverSuntechnology,a world leading brand inthe
manufacturing of solarchargecontrollers,sinewaveinverters,inverter
chargersand batteries,and SMA,a leading manufacturerof Puresinewave
PV and Battery inverters.
Ourteamof professionalsprovidea full-serviceapproachtoprojectsthat ensures
ourclientsreceivethemaximumbenefitsfromtheirsystemsthroughsite
evaluation,requirement sizing,systemdesign,product selection,installation
and commissioning,aftersalessupport and performanceoptimization.
OURSOLARSOLUTIONSHASAWIDEVARIETYOFRENEWABLEENERGYPRODUCTS:
• Pre-engineered,assembled and tested SolarElectric PowerSystems
• Energy efficient,long lifeLEDlighting fixtures
• Solarpowered LEDstreetlightsand highway light standards
• Solarelectric waterpumping systems
• Solarthermaldomestic and commercialwaterheating systems
• Solarthermaldomestic and commercialheating systems
• Solarrefrigerationand cooling systems
• Building integrated photovoltaic powerand preheating systems
• Saleof SolarPanels,SolarInverters,SolarStreetlights,Batteries
and Chargecontrollers
www.powercelllimited.com
Dawn of
Renewable
Energy
Energizing Africa.
As a company concerned
about rising energy costs and the
environment, implementing a renewable
energy project is one solution - but it’s capital-
intensive and focuses you away from your core
business.
With Adaptis Energy’s plan, businesses reduce carbon and
energy costs without the need for large capital outlay or risk.
Each of our plans lowers your cost and carbon footprint while
providing financially viable alternatives to current energy
sources.
www.adaptis.energy
Premium
Poultry Farms
No. FL 22 Pasali Farm Layout,
Kuje Road, Gwagwalada,
Nigeria.
Mahey Rasheed
+234 8034900142
Mahey@premiumpoultryfarms.com

3. EMPOWER NEW ENERGY EMPOWER NEW ENERGY
ENERGY & UTILITIES | 7
6 | ENERGY & UTILITIES BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
Terje Osmundsen, CEO & Founder,
Empower New Energy.
This is not just good for
the developers; it is good
for investors too. Empower
New Energy’s model makes it
possible for big investors to
go into projects of this size in
the commercial and industrial
space.
“We are partnering
simultaneously with those
who build the projects and
those who use the energy,”
Osmundsen says.
THE SOLUTION AFRICA NEEDS
Empower New Energy’s unique
model is more important than
ever in the face of the enormous
need and opportunity there is
in Africa.
“The numbers are
staggering: There are more
than 10 million diesel back-up
“As an international investor
you are exposed to risks, but
we are working very hard to
fine-tune our investment model
so that we can offer a good
solution in most jurisdictions,”
insists Osmundsen.
EMPOWERING SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT
In pursuing its development
projects, Empower New Energy
has devised a partnership model
working with local developers
and project engineering
construction companies
to execute its project. But
Empower New Energy still
needs essential in-house talent.
“We have built a team that is
working seamlessly from seven
different locations,” Osmundsen
points out. “We have 21 team
members from 13 different
nationalities, so we have
invested a lot in enabling that
team that can work seamlessly
while being closely integrated
with the market.”
Empower New Energy has
teams in West Africa, East Africa,
and North Africa responsible
for the day-to-day follow-up on
projects. However, sourcing
talent has never been an issue
in these markets.
“YOU CAN SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
AND SAVE MONEY AT THE SAME TIME.”
“AFRICA HAS A HUGE
TALENT BASE OF
PASSIONATE AND
EDUCATED PEOPLE
IN THIS SECTOR.
THE CHALLENGE IS
RELATED TO TRAINING
PEOPLE THE SKILLS BASED
ON OUR SPECIALISED
BUSINESS MODEL.”
generators operating in Africa,
usually as part of businesses,
representing more than
150-Gigawatt capacity in Sub-
Saharan Africa alone. That’s
the equivalent of 250 – 300
large coal power stations. In
West Africa, it is estimated that
the share of power generated
from backup generators equals
about 40 percent of annual
consumption,” Osmundsen
points out. “It is a huge
pollution factor, contributing to
more than 10% of Africa’s total
energy- and industry-related
emissions. But it is also a high-
cost burden and a hassle for
those users.”
At the same time, Africa’s
economy is growing fast, and
infrastructure is lagging, causing
power outages and breaks
in supply, creating a need for
reliable backup power. The need
& potential are there if renewable
energy can cover that gap
economically. “You can save the
environment and save money at
the same time,” Osmundsen says.
To take advantage of those
opportunities, there are
challenges Empower New
Energy must navigate. Africa is
a continent of over 55 countries,
40 currencies, and several
economic regions and regulatory
environments.
“Africa has a huge talent base
of passionate and educated
people in this sector,” says
Osmundsen. “The challenge
is related to training people
the skills based on our
specialised business model.
We are investing in building the
structural capital, systems and
tools that make it easier for new
team members to integrate with
the organisation.”
The company’s projects
are based on contracts with a
duration of 10 to 25 years, and
during the construction of each
project, the company hires local
workers to build the plants,
creating jobs for the community.
PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING
SUSTAINABILITY
As well as bringing work to
communities and driving the
renewable energy sector,
Empower New Energy is also
encouraging the adoption of
sustainable and environmentally
friendly strategies in its partner
companies.
The firm has partnered
with projects that have been
negotiated, developed,
and constructed during the
pandemic in Ghana, negotiating
supply chain and travel
challenges to successfully
implement a 700-kW peak.
Workers at the Miniplast installation.
Miniplast Ghana
installation.

4. EMPOWER NEW ENERGY EMPOWER NEW ENERGY
ENERGY & UTILITIES | 9
8 | ENERGY & UTILITIES BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
BUSINESSFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM
in plastic recycling. Miniplast
has now received international
funding for the set-up of plastic
recycling facilities in Ghana,
facilities that we will also power
with rooftop solar.”
As another example,
Empower New Energy is also
behind a project in Egypt with a
local water utility in the north of
the Nile Delta region.
“The government wants
farmers to establish themselves
to increase food production
but there is too much salt in
the water for irrigation, so they
are not producing a big enough
yield,” Osmundsen tells us. “In
partnership with the innovative
local developer and solution
provider Engazaat, Empower
New Energy is investing in
the first distributed solar-for-
irrigation-and-food production
plant, an innovative business
concept we aim to scale up in
other water-restrained areas in
Egypt and Africa.”
These projects, while
ambitious, are only a sign of
things to come. Empower New
Energy is working to build
a platform that can reduce
transaction costs and increase
replication benefits. It is a
platform that will continue
to expand to include new
technology and new partners
in new countries with new
energy users connecting to that
platform.
“We are linking developers
and builders of renewable
plants with energy users looking
for a simple, de-risked model,”
Osmundsen says. “We give the
developer the financing and
the energy user the comfort
that the project developer will
not simply sell, install, and
disappear, but be a long-term
partner. We will stay there for
the 15 to 20 years that we are
contractually responsible.”
Osmundsen is also excited
about the future possibilities
of carbon financing, which
Empower New Energy’s projects
are ideally suited for.
“For now, there are no carbon
credits available for these
kinds of projects, but as we see
large international companies
seeking to be carbon neutral,
they are looking for ways
to invest,” he says. “We are
preparing a pipeline of projects
that can unlocked or expanded
with carbon credits. It is a
unique combination of efficient
climate action and economic
and social development.”
“The project was carried out
for the benefit of a local plastic
manufacturing company called
Miniplast. What we saw was that
the transition toward embracing
sustainable power also resulted
in a drive within the company to
do more for the environment,”
Osmundsen says. “It is therefore
with great pleasure we see our
solar energy partner having
taken the role as a pioneer
Empower New Energy
Global Team.