When electricity becomes unreliable or unaffordable, households in informal settlements often turn to candles, paraffin lamps and other alternatives that can pose safety risks. Vincent Mosebe, founder of Mosebe Enterprise, is leading an effort to address this challenge through portable solar power stations designed for underserved communities.
The enterprise is developing solutions to help households access essential electricity for lighting, charging mobile phones and operating small appliances, particularly where conventional electricity infrastructure is unreliable or inaccessible.
Mosebe Enterprise developed the Tsepho portable power station, followed by the Tshepo V3 system, a compact, modular solar-powered solution designed with informal-settlement households in mind. Its portable design allows users to move the unit to where power is needed without requiring a fixed installation.
The technology aims to reduce reliance on potentially hazardous lighting alternatives while making essential energy more accessible to households facing frequent outages and high electricity costs.
The initiative reflects an approach to entrepreneurship that starts with the challenges communities experience daily. Rather than expecting households to adapt to conventional energy products, Mosebe Enterprise is exploring how portable solar technology can respond to local needs and affordability constraints.
In May 2025, the National Development Agency reported that the enterprise’s Tshepo V3 smart solar system secured second place at the BRICSplus Youth Innovation Summit in the renewable-energy and digital-access category.
The company received further recognition later that year, winning the Infinity Power “Ready to Launch” prize at the Youth Energy Summit’s Entrepreneurs Launchpad. The award included a US$5,000 grant to support the next stage of development.
In an interview published by YES! Connect in August 2025, Leandro Antonio discussed the enterprise’s portable solar technology and plans to use the funding to pilot 44 units and refine the product through community feedback. The proposed pilot was intended to help assess the system’s practical performance and inform further development.
However, recognition and planned rollouts are only part of the process of bringing an innovation to market. Its long-term impact will depend on reliability, affordability, production capacity and access to maintenance and after-sales support.
For households experiencing energy insecurity, the potential benefits extend beyond having light at night. Reliable lighting can help children study after dark, while access to phone charging supports communication and connectivity. Reducing dependence on open flames could also help address some fire risks associated with alternative lighting methods.
Mosebe Enterprise’s work highlights how locally developed innovations can contribute to addressing energy challenges in underserved communities. The next step is to demonstrate that its portable solar technology can provide dependable power at a price households can afford.
If successfully scaled, the solution could offer families another option for meeting essential energy needs while contributing to broader efforts to expand access to safer, cleaner energy.
Description
Vincent Mosebe, founder of Mosebe Enterprise, is developing portable solar power solutions designed to help households in underserved communities access essential electricity. The initiative aims to address unreliable power, rising energy costs and the safety risks associated with alternative lighting methods.
Editor’s Note
Energy poverty affects more than access to electricity. It can influence household safety, children’s ability to study after dark, communication and the cost of meeting everyday needs. In informal settlements, where reliable electricity infrastructure may be limited, affordable and practical alternatives could make a meaningful difference. Mosebe Enterprise’s portable solar technology offers one approach to addressing these challenges, although its long-term impact will depend on affordability, reliability and successful implementation.
