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5 African Startups Advancing Battery Recycling

Africa generates 2.9 megatons of e-waste annually, with only 20% recycled globally. This includes lithium-ion batteries, which are costly to produce but can be recycled to recover valuable materials and reduce energy storage costs by up to 70%. Several African startups are addressing this growing challenge by recycling and repurposing batteries, creating solutions for energy storage, reducing waste, and supporting local industries.

Key Highlights:

  • Hinckley Recycling (Nigeria): Operates advanced recycling centers, focusing on recovering materials and repurposing batteries for solar-powered systems.
  • SLS Energy (Rwanda): Extends the life of lithium-ion batteries by turning them into energy storage systems for telecom towers and mini-grids.
  • Inno-Neat (Kenya): Converts discarded batteries into solar power systems, supporting households and clean water projects.
  • Watercycle Technologies (UK) & EWaste Africa: A partnership leveraging global expertise to recycle batteries and support renewable energy and e-mobility in Africa.
  • Thinkbikes (Nigeria): Repurposes laptop batteries for electric cargo bikes, offering sustainable transportation solutions.

These startups are transforming Africa’s e-waste problem into opportunities for energy storage, job creation, and sustainable progress. Their efforts highlight the continent’s growing role in the global battery recycling industry.

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1. Hinckley Recycling (Nigeria)

Hinckley Recycling

Hinckley Recycling, Nigeria’s first government-approved e-waste recycler, is at the forefront of battery recycling in Africa. Based in Lagos and operating four collection centers across the country, the company showcases how local solutions can address global e-waste challenges effectively.

By combining local knowledge with international collaborations, such as their partnership with Accurec in Germany, Hinckley has introduced advanced recycling techniques at their Lagos facility. Their focus is on dismantling electronics and recovering valuable materials. One standout initiative is their collaboration with MOPO, which demonstrates a closed-loop system. Batteries from solar-powered rental hubs are repurposed, promoting renewable energy use while minimizing environmental damage.

Adrian Clews, Managing Director of Hinckley E-waste Recycling, highlights their mission:

"Our focus is on creating a closed-loop system for battery recycling that addresses the growing challenge of electronic waste while promoting a more resilient and environmentally friendly battery industry."

Through Innovate UK KTN’s Global Alliance Africa project, Hinckley is working on solutions to track, repurpose, and recycle batteries responsibly. Their services ensure that every step of the recycling process complies with environmental standards, providing a safe and reliable system nationwide.

Hinckley’s efforts not only cut down the environmental and financial impact of manufacturing new batteries but also support critical industries like telecom and mini-grid energy storage. Their approach highlights how local expertise and international cooperation can address Africa’s battery recycling challenges, setting an example for others on the continent.

2. SLS Energy (Rwanda)

SLS Energy

SLS Energy is making a mark in Rwanda by giving retired lithium-ion batteries a new purpose. The company repurposes these batteries into energy storage systems, primarily supporting telecom towers and mini-grids across the country.

Using advanced software and IoT-enabled monitoring, SLS Energy ensures these second-life batteries are safe, efficient, and long-lasting. Their battery-as-a-service model has gained traction in Rwanda’s telecom sector, tackling electronic waste while meeting energy storage demands.

In collaboration with Hinckley Recycling, SLS Energy is working to expand its battery solutions across Africa. As part of Innovate UK’s Open Innovation program, the company is scaling its operations to provide recycled battery-based energy solutions across the continent.

By extending the life of lithium-ion batteries, SLS Energy not only reduces waste but also contributes to Africa’s shift toward renewable energy. Their recycled battery systems offer dependable energy storage, addressing both environmental concerns and energy access challenges in developing regions.

SLS Energy highlights how African companies are using technology to solve pressing issues like e-waste and energy access, paving the way for sustainable progress.

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3. Inno-Neat (Kenya)

Inno-Neat

Inno-Neat, founded in 2022 by Godfrey Simiyu Katiambo, is changing how battery waste is handled in Kenya. The company transforms discarded batteries into solar power management systems, addressing both e-waste and energy storage challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With three prototypes already in action, Inno-Neat supports 250 households and generates 5,000 liters of clean water daily – clear evidence of their impact. Their efforts have earned them recognition, including the Startup|Energy Award at Energy Camp East Africa in September 2021.

In partnership with Majicom, a water technology enterprise, Inno-Neat has expanded its reach. Mike Coto, CEO of Majicom, highlights the collaboration’s importance:

"Our collaboration with INNO-NEAT supports a greener, closed-loop system while boosting the local economy."

Their process cuts waste by 75% and emissions by 90%, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional mining methods. This is especially important in Sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 90% of battery waste typically goes unrecycled.

Inno-Neat also produces recycled lithium-ion batteries designed for solar energy systems, meeting the region’s increasing demand for renewable energy. By addressing battery waste and promoting solar energy, Inno-Neat is part of a growing wave of African innovators tackling the continent’s e-waste problem while advancing sustainable energy solutions.

4. Watercycle Technologies (UK) & EWaste Africa

Watercycle Technologies and EWaste Africa have teamed up to tackle Africa’s growing battery recycling challenges. This partnership aims to address the rising demand for lithium-ion battery recycling, driven by the continent’s expanding tech landscape.

Using advanced recycling methods, the partnership focuses on extracting useful materials from used batteries. This effort is setting new benchmarks for battery recycling in Africa, with a focus on regions experiencing rapid technological growth. Their goal is to meet both immediate and future recycling needs.

Beyond waste management, this collaboration plays a role in supporting Africa’s shift toward renewable energy and e-mobility. By creating efficient recycling systems, they are working toward a circular economy that lessens reliance on raw materials while meeting the continent’s increasing energy storage demands.

This partnership combines global technical expertise with local market knowledge. EWaste Africa’s understanding of regional challenges, paired with Watercycle Technologies’ technical skills, allows them to design solutions tailored specifically for Africa. This mix of local insight and international know-how highlights how African companies can drive progress in sustainable energy practices.

Their work illustrates how partnerships like this can reshape battery recycling in Africa, benefiting both the environment and local economies. It also paves the way for other initiatives, such as Thinkbikes, to further develop the sector and advance sustainable solutions across the continent.

5. Thinkbikes (Nigeria)

Thinkbikes

Thinkbikes has carved a niche in Africa by repurposing lithium-ion batteries from old laptops for use in their electric cargo bikes. Founded by engineer Tolulope Olukokun in 2020, the company is behind Nigeria’s first electric bicycles, blending practical design with a focus on sustainability.

Their flagship product, the ThinkBikes CoolMAX, uses recycled laptop batteries to deliver a range of 30-50 kilometers per charge, speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour, and the ability to carry heavy cargo. A standout feature is their patented energy recuperation system, which works like regenerative braking in electric vehicles, recovering up to 5% of energy to boost battery performance.

Tolulope Olukokun highlights the broader purpose of their work:

"I believe electric cargo bikes can transform Nigeria’s economy."

To support this vision, Thinkbikes has also introduced solar-powered recharging stations, creating a more sustainable transportation network.

By tackling Nigeria’s transportation challenges with electric cargo bikes, Thinkbikes offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective mobility option. Their efforts reduce e-waste, lower emissions, and bolster local economies. Impressively, 60-65% of their bike components are sourced within Nigeria, showcasing the potential of local manufacturing to drive sustainable technology.

In recognition of their work, Thinkbikes received the 2022 BOI Award of Excellence in Manufacturing. Their approach to recycling and e-mobility serves as a model for sustainable transportation across Africa.

Conclusion

Battery recycling in Africa is seeing a major shift, thanks to startups tackling the continent’s growing e-waste issues while providing cleaner energy solutions. With Africa generating 2.9 Megatons of e-waste annually [1], these companies are stepping up to turn challenges into opportunities.

Take Hinckley Recycling, for example. Their infrastructure investments are making waves, while others like SLS Energy, Inno-Neat, Watercycle Technologies & EWaste Africa, and Thinkbikes are pushing boundaries with creative approaches. These efforts are not just about recycling – they’re driving job creation, supporting local industries, and building a stronger circular economy.

From specialized recycling facilities to advanced repurposing methods and applications in e-mobility, these startups are reshaping the landscape. Their work is helping Africa emerge as a serious contender in the global battery industry, all while addressing urgent environmental concerns.

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Written by Kevin Mwangi

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