The world is choking on e-waste and stalled by energy inequality. Now Zelalem Nigatu is scripting one of Africa’s most radical clean-tech revolutions—with nothing more than discarded solar panels, dead lithium-ion batteries, and a mind wired for innovation. As founder and CEO of Inter Ethiopia Solutions PLC, Zelalem is building not just a company, but a movement that fuses circular economy logic with grassroots impact.
His mission is audacious: to turn broken solar systems into lifelines for rural communities, and e-waste into engines of opportunity.
“What if we could reuse what others throw away?”
This singular question sparked a journey from backroom repairs to nationwide recognition. With a profound clarity that borders on poetry, Zelalem has shown the world that Africa’s greatest constraint—scarcity—can also be its most potent source of ingenuity.
“I committed to building a circular energy model where we refurbish solar products, repurpose lithium-ion batteries, reduce e-waste, and create local green jobs in the process,” he recalls.
Genesis of a Circular Vision
Zelalem’s foray into renewable energy began not with a corporate strategy, but with a humble solar lamp.
“It looked like a toy,” he recalls of the light handed to him by his mentor, David Sogan an energy specialist. “But I took it back home and started showing it to NGOs, cooperatives and microfinance institutions.”
“At the time, solar was almost unheard of in rural Ethiopia. People couldn’t believe a light could work without fuel. It reminded me of the film The Gods Must Be Crazy, where a Coke bottle drops from the sky and disrupts an entire community. The reactions were similar people thought it was magic,” he adds.
That tiny beacon illuminated a much bigger truth: Ethiopia’s rural poor were spending money they didn’t have on toxic kerosene, while cleaner alternatives sat untrusted on store shelves. That revelation laid the groundwork for a new kind of energy logic—accessible, regenerative, and deeply local.
“But convincing people to import or distribute something new wasn’t easy. I went from office to office, explaining how the technology worked—and along the way, I started identifying the gaps and opportunities that later helped me develop a better business model for Ethiopia’s renewable energy sector,” Zelalem recalls.
Years of experience across brands like Offgridsun, Renewit, and Azuri Technologies deepened his expertise. He joined Azuri Technologies to help launch PAYGo solutions in Ethiopia and after all those experiences, in 2018, he officially launched Inter Ethiopia Solutions. But it was the mountain of discarded solar junk he encountered in rural areas that crystallized the paradox: millions living in darkness, while heaps of once-functional energy tech rusted away.
800 Systems, 2 Employees, 1 Vision
In 2023, Inter Ethiopia Solutions opened its doors with two employees and a pilot project: to refurbish 800 broken solar systems. Using basic repair tools imported from China and a makeshift workspace, the team resurrected 90% of the units, reselling them affordably while turning a healthy profit. The result was not just business validation, but proof of concept for Ethiopia’s first circular energy model.
“We’re not just trying to grow a company. We’re building a movement,” Zelalem proudly shares.
Today, the team has grown to 16 full-time staff, supported by a flexible force of contractors and youth groups. They’ve refurbished and distributed over 3,000 solar systems, collected 25 tons of solar e-waste, and deployed services across seven rural woredas. Through their Circular Solar Kiosks—operating in refugee camps in Afar and Gambella—they’re reaching over 10,000 individuals with clean power and repair services.
“For me, this work is about more than just numbers. It’s about impact, real lives changed. Every light we restore, every battery we repurpose, is one more step toward a cleaner, more inclusive energy future for Ethiopia,” he asserts.
Zelalem has deployed over 200,000 solar home systems across Ethiopia—an achievement built on deep operational knowledge from manufacturing to last-mile distribution. His journey spans sales, supply chain management, product lifecycle oversight, and now includes circular innovation, reclaiming end-of-life systems for refurbishment.
“Most of the time, I was involved in selling the product as a manufacturer’s sales rep, helping local importers distribute, and facilitating financing for end-users. I followed the product from birth to end-of-life and recently, we even began calling back systems from the “death” stage to give them a second life,” he recalls.
However, scaling this impact came with significant hurdles. Limited access to foreign currency disrupted imports and strained relationships with suppliers. Poor infrastructure in remote areas drove up logistics costs, while the absence of robust after-sales services and e-waste management frameworks undermined long-term sustainability. Regulatory instability, bureaucratic delays, and inconsistent policy environments further slowed progress. Additionally, financing constraints for both importers and end-users, coupled with an influx of counterfeit solar products, eroded consumer trust and market confidence.
Despite systemic inefficiencies, Zelalem remained driven by impact metrics, not just units sold—seeing every system as a node of transformation for energy equity, education, and family livelihoods. His current focus: scaling Ethiopia’s first circular energy model, proving that tech-enabled reuse can drive inclusion and climate resilience.
Second-Life Batteries: The Soul of Solar Rebirth
Zelalem describes second-life lithium-ion batteries as the unsung heroes of energy democratization:
“Second-life lithium-ion batteries are a game changer for us. They’re the key to scaling energy access and building a circular economy,” he says.
By salvaging and repackaging used batteries, his team slashes system costs by up to 40%, powering everything from rural homes to small-scale irrigation and refrigeration. Each battery pack isn’t just a component—it’s a conduit for independence, productivity, and dignity.
“It’s a full-circle approach, turning discarded products into new opportunities for clean energy, income generation, and environmental stewardship.”
A National Movement, Globally Recognized
Inter Ethiopia’s model has not gone unnoticed. The company received special commendation at the 9th UNECE PPP Forum, and is now positioning itself to expand across East and West Africa.
Their next milestones? Launching Ethiopia’s first lithium-ion battery testing and refurbishment lab, scaling the Circular Solar Kiosk model, and fully digitizing their operations for real-time monitoring, warranty tracking, and e-waste management.
“Our model is scalable and replicable, and we’re already exploring partnerships to take our circular solutions to new markets across East and West Africa.
“We’re expanding our Circular Solar Kiosk model to more locations, particularly in remote regions and refugee camps. Each kiosk will serve as a local hub for clean energy access, repair services, and e-waste collection, operated by women and youth. It’s about building local ownership and green jobs where they’re needed most,” Zelalem reflects.
A Light in the Dark
Behind the megawatts and metrics lies a deeper human impact:
“It’s not just technology we’re delivering. It’s education, dignity, income, and hope.”
Families now read under safe light. Students study at night. Women entrepreneurs earn through local kiosks. Farmers irrigate more and store food longer. Every solar system revived is a chapter rewritten in someone’s life story.
The Vision Ahead
In the next five years, Zelalem aims to reach more off-grid homes and businesses, scale battery reuse, expand regionally, and create thousands of green jobs. His model doesn’t just solve energy poverty—it reimagines it.
“We want to inspire a shift: from energy access as a product, to energy access as a platform for resilience, livelihood, and dignity,” he asserts.
Africa’s future isn’t just solar—it’s circular, inclusive, and ingeniously self-powered. And Zelalem Nigatu is not just lighting the way—he’s recharging the continent’s destiny, one dead battery at a time.
