When the lights went out, an idea switched on

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Welcome to Green Jobs Rising!

Today, we want to profile a young man whose personal challenge led to an innovation that is helping communities and businesses across the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meet Benedict Owanga, born and raised in Congo, and later founder of Owanga Solar, a startup revolutionising access to clean energy in the region.

Benedict grew up in Congo before moving to South Africa, and later to Canada, where he completed his undergraduate studies. 

He was then accepted to law school in the United States.

During his second year, he was set to begin an internship that required attending a three-hour training session. However, one hour into the session, the power went out. 

What are the odds that in a country like America you could lose power?

Well, that came with a silver lining.

Although he didn’t complete the training that day, he began his internship the following week. 

The interruption, however, set him back significantly; it took him nearly a month to fully catch up at work. This experience made him reflect: 

If losing power for just two hours could disrupt my work for a month, how do people in Congo manage when they go for months without electricity?

When he shared this thought with his friend Chinelo Adi, the two began exploring ways to address the power crisis in Congo. 

From this conversation, Owanga Solar was born.

The startup provides renewable, affordable, and clean energy solutions to communities and businesses in the DRC. 

Its mission is to deliver reliable solar energy that reduces dependence on unsustainable sources while promoting economic growth and well-being.

Owanga solar operates a battery-as-a-service model, renting and selling portable battery packs to businesses. 

Initially, the company planned to import and resell existing batteries but soon realised that imported products were ill-suited for Congo’s environment. 

This insight prompted a shift toward local manufacturing and assembly, aligning with their vision of driving Africa’s clean energy transition from within the continent.

Over time, the company’s mission evolved from simply reselling imported products to building locally made solutions that truly support Africa’s clean energy future, reducing dependence on foreign imports like electric vehicles and batteries.

To discover roles emerging from solar projects, click the image below.

You’ve got an idea? 

Bring it on, Africa needs it.