by Oluchi Ubazue | Feb 26, 2026 | Announcements, Blog, News, Uncategorized
We’re pleased to announce the appointment of Ije Ikoku Okeke to the Board of Directors.
Ije brings over twenty years of experience in infrastructure investing, renewable energy, and development finance. She has led investments totaling more than $3 billion in energy and infrastructure projects across the United States, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and other emerging markets.
Currently, Ije serves as Managing Director at RMI, where she leads initiatives to expand climate and renewable energy finance in emerging markets. Her work focuses on unlocking capital and establishing partnerships to support sustainable infrastructure growth.
Earlier in her career, Ije helped start CEC Africa, an energy investment platform backed by private equity with about $1 billion in assets focused on power projects. She also held leadership roles at the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, where she managed investments in telecom, transport, and energy in Latin America and Africa.
In addition to her executive roles, Ije has served on the boards of several infrastructure companies and on advisory boards and investment committees for private equity and venture funds. She has also advised global initiatives, including the Rockefeller Foundation and the MIT Energy Initiative, through the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty.
“We are delighted to welcome Ije to the Beacon Power Services Board,” said Bim Adisa, CEO and Founder of Beacon Power Services. “Her deep experience in energy infrastructure and sustainable investment in Africa and other emerging markets brings a valuable perspective to our Board. Ije’s history of mobilizing capital for infrastructure and energy projects worldwide will be a great asset as we continue to grow and increase our impact.”
Ije earned her MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.
We look forward to the expertise and perspective Ije will contribute to Beacon Power Services.
by Oluchi Ubazue | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog, News, Uncategorized
by Oluchi Ubazue | Dec 2, 2024 | Announcements, Blog, News
Radio France Internationale
By :Charlotte Cosset
“ Everyone sees the problem, but it’s hard for people to imagine that there’s a solution,” Bimbola Adisa observed. So, he decided to take the bull by the horns about fifteen years ago. One of the major problems on the continent is the loss of kilowatt hours produced. “ We know that about 35% of production is lost. So we created a system that allows us to know where this 35% goes,” he explains. Because on the continent, population growth and the lack of information on the ground complicate the task. “ We don’t have a good map of the urban layout or addresses. In the event of a power outage, we don’t even know where to look. So we created a very, very basic map that shows every building, every pole, every transformer. So, in the event of a power outage, you know exactly where you have to go to get it repaired,” explains the entrepreneur.
His solution has already been successfully tested in Nigeria and Ghana, he highlights, assuring that power losses have gone from 35% to 20%. ” As a result, the electricity services are more efficient, and therefore, they can recover revenues and reinvest in the network, Bimbola Adisa was able to observe. If they are not efficient, they cannot replace their equipment, they cannot reinvest, and the service ends up degrading. In Ghana, revenues have increased by almost 70%, losses on the network have been reduced, and the electricity supply is simply more stable. “
Developing a profitable ecosystem
Proparco, a subsidiary of AFD, has taken a stake in the latest fundraising for the Nigerian start-up Beacon Power Services. Electrification is one of its priorities, and its need is enormous. A sector that nevertheless attracts few confirms Jean Benoît du Chalard, head of investment at Proparco. ” It is difficult for many reasons. The first is that everything related to energy generally requires a lot of capital. These are very large sums that must be deployed, especially to make up for a delay,” he emphasizes. Investments are needed in various forms for additional electrical capacities, for a change of equipment generation, for innovative solutions, for the improvement of networks, or for the development of electrification in rural areas.
” It’s an entire ecosystem, if you will, on which it is appropriate to intervene in a coherent, complementary way, to be as effective as possible,” insists Jean Benoît du Chalard. The fear of investing in a sector that is not very profitable, or even loss-making, can also scare investors. ” Yes, of course, but we also have counter-examples of projects that generate a certain profitability in this sector,” assures the expert. ” The question is certainly that of the overall financial balance of the electricity sectors. ” And with the Beacon Power Services project, Proparco is convinced that it holds one of the keys to the solution.
Beacon Power Services hopes to expand its activities to six new countries soon. Bimbola Adisa is working on a new version of its software, using drones and artificial intelligence in particular, in order to move from a simple monitoring system to a control system capable of remotely redirecting electrical flows.
by Oluchi Ubazue | Sep 19, 2024 | Blog
The impact of global warming on Africa has been devastating, costing Africa up to 5% of its economic output. This has been particularly tough for a continent already struggling to meet its population’s basic needs. Urgent action is necessary to prevent the situation from worsening.
One of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change is Africa’s power sector. This is due to its heavy reliance on hydropower, which is sensitive to changes in rainfall patterns. Climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which can disrupt hydropower production.
A prime example is the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe and Zambia, a major source of hydroelectric power in southern Africa, which has been adversely affected by recent droughts, leading to reduced electricity generation.
Moreover, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, resulting in higher demand for electricity and putting strain on power grids. In some cases, heat waves can even cause power outages.
Climate change is exacerbating challenges in Africa’s power sector, such as limited access to electricity in many parts of the continent. Extreme weather events can damage power infrastructure, leading to power outages and service disruptions, making it even more challenging for African countries to achieve universal access to electricity.
The impact of climate change on Africa’s power sector extends beyond electricity availability to affecting the cost of electricity. As the cost of adapting to climate change rises, the cost of producing electricity will also increase, potentially hindering the development goals of African countries.
It is evident that Africa needs to invest in climate-resilient power infrastructure, which will require significant financial resources. Unfortunately, Africa is only receiving a fraction of the $100 billion promised in global climate finance.
Beacon Power Services offers advanced solutions to enhance energy efficiency and grid reliability, improving stability and revenue protection for African utilities. These solutions also help reduce the impact of climate change on Africa’s power supply, making energy more dependable and sustainable.
As leaders prepare for COP29 in Baku, they need to devise a plan to help Africa adapt to climate change. This will require a significant increase in climate finance and innovative solutions.
The future of Africa’s power sector is at stake, and urgent action is needed to address the challenges posed by climate change.
by Oluchi Ubazue | Jul 31, 2024 | Blog
In many parts of Africa, utilities struggle with the recurring problem of power outages. These outages not only hinder economic progress but also disrupt the lives of millions of people. Outdated infrastructure, insufficient maintenance, and a lack of real-time monitoring systems contribute to the prevalence of power outages in the region, affecting businesses, households, and essential services such as healthcare and education.
The key to overcoming this challenge is the adoption of advanced technology. Metering infrastructure, predictive analytics, and remote monitoring systems have the potential to revolutionize outage management. By enabling utilities to detect and address potential outages proactively, these technologies can significantly enhance service reliability and operational efficiency.
However, technological advancements alone are not enough. Community engagement and empowerment play a crucial role in transforming outage management. By establishing effective communication channels with consumers, educating them about energy conservation, and involving local communities in outage response plans, utilities can develop more efficient strategies.
It’s essential to have supportive policies and regulatory frameworks to drive innovation in power outage management. We need to invest in modernizing power infrastructure, incentivize innovative grid technologies, and facilitate public-private partnerships to minimize outages, especially as the demand for reliable electricity grows in Africa.
As Africa continues its journey toward economic transformation and technological advancement, effective outage management will play a pivotal role in ensuring a reliable and resilient power supply. Beacon Power Services provides advanced outage management solutions for efficient and swift electricity supply restoration during outages. Our innovative technology aligns with the vision of empowering communities by ensuring reliable electricity access.
