- Hydrobox is excited to announce a strategic USD 9 million debt investment from FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank and EDFI Management Company, through ElectriFI, an EU impact investment facility focused on clean energy access in developing countries.
- The financing will support eight small hydro projects across four mini-grids in Kenya, providing over 10,000 people and local businesses with reliable, affordable electricity.
Hydrobox builds, owns and operates mini-grids in underserved regions. These mini-grids serve a combination of anchor clients (e.g. factories and farms), small businesses (e.g. schools, hospitals, shops, restaurants), and households, all through an independent grid that offers accessible, reliable power.
This combination ensures a stable revenue base from large customers while bringing down electricity prices for small businesses and households, providing affordable access to energy.
Hydrobox’s containerized hydro power plants lower construction costs, reduce production time, and facilitate deployment in hard-to-reach off-grid areas. Equipped with state-of-the-art IoT technology, each unit is remotely monitored and managed, maximizing efficiency and reducing downtime.
Hydrobox’s mini-grids integrate both hydro with supplementary solar PV power, creating a balanced energy mix that enhances climate resilience. During rainy seasons, hydroelectric generation is maximized, while solar compensates in drier periods. This adaptive approach ensures reliable power for communities year-round and safeguards them against seasonal weather fluctuations.
This investment is expected to provide electricity to approximately 2,582 households, benefiting over 10,000 individuals. These projects will deliver vital electricity to communities and businesses in need of reliable, affordable power. By harnessing small local rivers, Hydrobox provides a sustainable, locally sourced power solution that reduces dependency on fossil fuels, lowers carbon emissions, and supports job creation through close, on-the-ground service that ensures high-quality support.
Small run-of-river hydro systems have a minimal impact on the environment, preserving local ecosystems while providing clean reliable energy. The project partners work closely with local stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and communities to ensure responsible project implementation, fostering long-term partnerships and delivering socio-economic benefits that empower the communities that previously didn’t have access to reliable or any electricity at all.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
