Bboxx Kenya and Kenya reach a pilot agreement for "solar panel reuse" – addressing the problem of massive panel disposal and power shortages in unelectrified areas overseas. This will create a circular model encompassing panel collection and recycling.

Looop Inc. (Headquarters: Taito-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Soichiro Nakamura; hereinafter "Looop"), which pursues new ways of energy and lifestyle with the vision of "realizing an energy-free society," has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bboxx Kenya Ltd (Headquarters: Kenya; hereinafter "Bboxx Kenya"), which develops energy businesses in Africa, for a demonstration experiment on the reuse of solar panels in areas of Kenya that do not have access to electricity (hereinafter referred to as unelectrified areas). This initiative presents an effective solution to the "2030 problem," in which the number of solar panels that have reached the end of their service life in Japan is rapidly increasing, and is an effort to transform unused resources into new value and spread clean energy to unelectrified areas.

From left: Soichiro Nakamura, President and CEO of Looop ; Mr. Anthony Mabonga, Managing Director of Bboxx Kenya; and Naoki Taki, Manager of SCM Promotion Department, Looop.

■ Background to the signing of the basic agreement

Currently, the introduction of solar panels is rapidly increasing in Japan as part of efforts to create a decarbonized society. However, it is predicted that around 2030, the "2030 problem" will become apparent, where solar panels that have been installed for many years will exceed their lifespan and be discarded in large quantities. There are concerns that these will be treated as "panels that have served their purpose" under Japan's system, but in reality, many still maintain sufficient power generation capacity and retain value as a valuable energy resource. However, the development of reuse and recycling systems in Japan is still in its early stages, and there is no clear path for their effective utilization. Meanwhile, in emerging countries such as Kenya, infrastructure development such as power lines has not kept pace, and there are still many "unelectrified areas" where electricity necessary for daily life is not available. To solve these challenges in both Japan and Kenya simultaneously, Looop has partnered with Bboxx Kenya, an energy company that operates in Africa, to begin a demonstration project that will maximize the asset value of solar panels in unelectrified areas of Kenya while mitigating Japan's "2030 problem."

Furthermore, in connection with this initiative, the President and CEO of Looop and the Managing Director of Bboxx Kenya paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Japan, where they expressed great interest and expectations regarding this collaborative relationship aimed at promoting renewable energy, which Kenya is advocating.

From left: Soichiro Nakamura, President and CEO of Looop ; Mr. Moi Lemoshira, Kenyan Ambassador to Japan; and Mr. Anthony Mabonga, Managing Director of Bboxx Kenya.

■ Details of the demonstration experiment

The main objective of this demonstration project is to utilize solar panels, which have reached the end of their lifespan according to Japanese commercial standards but still possess power generation capabilities, as a valuable power source in Kenyan homes, schools, clinics, and water supply stations. As a preliminary step toward future commercialization, Looop will initially provide Kenya with its solar panels (up to 500 panels, equivalent to 0.3 MW of power generation).

Before export, Looop conducts performance inspections to ensure that only solar panels that meet quality standards are selected. Bboxx Kenya is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the solar power generation equipment on-site. Both companies will share the costs and make donations to deliver carbon-free solar-powered electricity to people in areas that lack access to electricity.

■Future Vision

Through this demonstration, Looop aims to establish a "solar panel life extension and circularity model" that not only reuses solar panels but also includes collection and recycling after use. This is a system that maximizes the lifespan of solar panels to mitigate Japan's "2030 problem" and ultimately returns them to resources, thus avoiding the disposable nature of products.

Conceptual diagram of the "Solar Panel Life Extension and Recycling Model"

Steps toward establishing a "solar panel life extension and recycling model"

• STEP 1 (Inspection and Reuse in Japan): Solar panels that have reached the end of their service life under Japan's strict standards are rigorously inspected by Looop and selected as high-quality "reusable resources."
• STEP 2 (Effective Utilization in Kenya): Install the solar panels in unelectrified homes and public facilities through Bboxx Kenya's network. This will maximize the lifespan of the solar panels while contributing to improvements in public services, such as increased access to clean water and healthcare in Kenya.
• STEP 3 (Confirmation of business feasibility and future collection/recycling): With a view to full-scale commercialization from FY2027, in Kenya, a sustainable business model will be established that combines securing revenue through off-grid electricity sales with the utilization of subsidies, while in Japan, the main source of revenue will be the cost of collecting unused solar panels. A system will be built to allow solar panels to be used for a long time while being inspected, and ultimately collected and returned to the resource.

  Moving forward, based on the results of our demonstration in Kenya, we will build a "solar panel life extension and recycling model" and expand this model to unelectrified areas around the world. We will also consider utilizing reused panels within Japan, contributing to the realization of a society where everyone can use energy while protecting the global environment.

■Comment from Soichiro Nakamura, President and CEO of Looop Co., Ltd.

From May 2023 for about three months, I had the opportunity to live in Kenya and visit various parts of the country. Outside of urban areas, there are still many places that do not have electricity, and I witnessed firsthand the sight of towns becoming pitch black at night. I realized that the lack of electricity restricts various aspects of life, such as children not being able to study at night and medical facilities not being able to function properly. It was in this context that I encountered Bboxx's initiative to deliver solar power to unelectrified areas. I was deeply impressed by their work, and after contacting them and continuing to interact with them locally, I became convinced that they were like-minded individuals aiming for social change through energy.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the massive disposal of solar panels will become a major challenge in the future. This initiative is an attempt to solve the problems of both countries simultaneously by restarting this valuable resource, which is nearing the end of its lifespan in Japan, as a "valuable energy source" in unelectrified areas of Kenya.

Through this demonstration, Looop aims to establish a "solar panel life extension and recycling model" that allows solar panels to be used for a long time and eventually recycled as a resource. In the future, we will expand this system to unelectrified areas around the world and contribute to the realization of a society where everyone can use energy.

Scenes from my visit to Kenya

■Comment from Mr. Anthony Mabonga, Managing Director of Bboxx Kenya

We are delighted to partner with Looop. This collaboration will further advance access to energy in homes and communities across Kenya. This partnership brings together two organizations that share a common mission: to empower communities through reliable solar energy.

Combining Looop's expertise in successfully executing large-scale solar projects in Japan with Bboxx Kenya's extensive experience in deploying solar solutions in off-grid areas and regions with weak power infrastructure in Kenya will create a valuable opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and skills between the two organizations.

By utilizing Looop's high-quality reusable panels, Bboxx Kenya can create an environment where more customers and communities can access solar energy, both in its commercial and CSR activities. In the pilot phase, the company aims to support the introduction of solar energy to up to 300 schools, health centers, and other community projects, contributing to improvements in public services, including increased access to clean water and healthcare.

More than 500 million people in Africa still lack access to reliable electricity. This partnership should serve as a powerful case study demonstrating how global cooperation can address this challenge. Addressing energy poverty and climate change requires collaboration among organizations that share a vision of sustainable impact.

We have high expectations for this partnership with Looop and look forward to building a strong, long-term collaborative relationship.

■ About Bboxx Kenya

Bboxx Kenya, a subsidiary of ABCI-Nexus Holding Company, is a solar energy company whose mission is to transform the lives of homes and communities through access to clean and reliable solar energy.

Since its founding in 2013, Bboxx Kenya has positively impacted the lives of more than 500,000 people across Kenya, helping many households transition away from unsanitary and unsustainable energy sources such as kerosene. Through its unique pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) software platform and extensive distribution network, Bboxx provides convenient and affordable plug-and-play home solar systems and inverter solutions that deliver reliable power to homes, businesses, and communities.

Through collaboration with government and corporate partners, Bboxx Kenya continues its commitment to improving energy access, particularly in unelectrified areas, contributing to the elimination of disparities in the power grid and providing a reliable, long-term alternative to existing grid power.

*The original English text of Bboxx Kenya's comments and company profile is as follows:

■Comment from Bboxx Kenya Managing Director

I am delighted by our partnership with Looop, which will enable us to further advance energy access for households and communities across Kenya. This collaboration brings together two organizations that share a common mission: empowering communities through the provision of reliable solar energy.

By combining Looop's expertise in delivering large-scale solar projects in Japan with Bboxx Kenya's extensive experience in deploying solar solutions to off-grid and weak-grid communities in Kenya, this partnership will also create valuable opportunities for knowledge and skills exchange between the two organizations.

Through Looop's repurposed, high-quality solar panels, Bboxx Kenya will be able to make solar energy more accessible to our customers and the communities we serve, both commercially and through our CSR initiatives. During the pilot phase, we aim to support up to 300 schools, health centres, and other community projects in adopting solar energy to improve service delivery, including enhanced access to clean water and healthcare.

With over 500 million people in Africa still lacking access to reliable electricity, this partnership will serve as a strong case study of how global collaboration can help address this challenge. Tackling energy poverty and the effects of climate change requires coordinated action among organizations that share a vision for sustainable impact.

We are therefore excited about this partnership with Looop and look forward to building a strong, long-term collaboration together.

■About Bboxx Kenya Ltd

Bboxx Kenya, a subsidiary of ABCI-Nexus Holding Company, is a solar energy company whose mission is to transform the lives of households and communities through access to clean, reliable solar energy.

Established in 2013, Bboxx Kenya has positively impacted over 500,000 lives across Kenya, helping many households transition from dirty and unsustainable reliable energy sources such as kerosene. Through its Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) software platform and extensive distribution network, customers can conveniently and affordably access plug-and-play solar home systems and inverter solutions, providing solar energy to power homes, businesses, and communities.

Through collaboration with governments and corporate partners, Bboxx Kenya remains committed to advancing energy access, particularly in off-grid areas, to help close the electrification gap while offering a reliable, long-term alternative to the grid.