Many renewable energy critics argue that the clean energy transition will worsen the standard of living of the world’s poorest people. However, this is not true. And Egyptian entrepreneur Ragy Ramadan is proving it.
Three years ago, Ramadan founded a renewable energy start-up called NoorNation. NoorNation focuses on providing decentralized energy and water infrastructure solutions to underserved regions in Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa.
The company’s tagline, “Made by Africans to Africans,” reflects its commitment to addressing the lack of basic life essentials that have hindered communities in rural areas.
NoorNation aims to bridge this gap through their innovative solar energy solutions. NoorNation’s solar-powered products enable water pumping for irrigation and also provide safe water for domestic use.
LifeBox
NoorNation’s best-selling product is LifeBox, a mobile solar-powered unit that offers clean electricity and safe water for farming businesses. Designed and manufactured in Egypt, this self-contained unit can be easily deployed to any location.
LifeBox’s unique selling points include its dual supply of electricity and water, as well as its plug-and-play functionality. LifeBox also stands out for its Internet of Things (IoT)-powered technology for remote monitoring and control.
In addition, LifeBox (pictured below) provides emergency aid during extreme weather events. This gives support to vulnerable communities affected by climate change.
Ramadan, the founder of NoorNation, emphasizes that climate change poses a significant threat to livelihoods and food security in North Africa. The creation of LifeBox aligns with NoorNation’s mission to combat these challenges and contribute to a sustainable future.
“In semi-arid areas across the continent, water stored underground can be less prone to climate change impacts and evaporation losses,” Ramadan told Entrepreneur. Giving farmers access to groundwater helps them overcome the vulnerabilities caused by unpredictable rainfall and prepares them for drought.
Access to supplemental groundwater is a cross-sector investment in climate adaptation. NoorNation’s vision is to help one million people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) access clean energy and safe water by 2028.
The PepsiCo partnership
Although NoorNation officially registered as a company in March 2022, it’s been operating since 2020. Self-funded since 2021, the startup is currently seeking to raise a seed fund round of $1 million and negotiating to secure $200,000 in equity funds.
Much to Ramadan’s excitement, NoorNation was recently accepted into PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator Program. The Greenhouse Accelerator Program helps sustainable food and beverage start-ups by providing them with $20,000 US in grants. The program also provides business mentorship.
Ramadan is confident that with PepsiCo’s support, NoorNation will “penetrate new markets and develop a successfully recurring revenue model.”
While Ramadan expects mentorship and industry insights to directly influence the refinement of NoorNation’s business model, his current focus revolves around two primary areas: product development and regional expansion.
Ramadan is currently considering integrating drip irrigation into his products. Drip irrigation is a water conservation technique that ensures slow, even, and targeted water dispersion near the plant roots. Ramadan is also working on introducing the LifeBox to Tanzania within the next six months.
For its spectacular work in combining clean energy with humanitarian relief, NoorNation is our Clean Energy Sustainability Champion of the week. Congratulations to Ragy Ramadan and his team!
Image Source: Jayasurya Obbu, https://shorturl.at/bEV19
