How ChargePoint Carbon Credits Fund Renewables in Senegal
Producing no tailpipe emissions, EVs offer a significant advantage over traditional fuel-powered vehicles when it comes to air pollution — however their overall carbon footprint also depends on the manufacturing process and how the electricity used to charge them is produced.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) foresees a significant increase in EV sales and with it, a growing role for renewable energy in powering them.
It estimates that EVs will account for between 6% and 8% of total electricity demand by 2035 while renewable energy’s share in global electricity supply could increase to 43% by 2030.
With transport being a sector that accounts for more than 15% of global energy-related emissions, the industry — and those who support it — are turning to renewables to make it more green.
EV charging solutions provider ChargePoint is taking that one step further.
“We’re all in on electric mobility, to build a brighter future for all of us,” it says.
The company has prevented 3.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and is the first EV charging provider to be ENERGY STAR certified for energy efficiency.
EV charging powering Senegalese renewables
Extending its impact beyond transport, ChargePoint is mashing sustainability with technology and social impact through aggregating carbon credits from more than 100,000 EV chargers.
As a result, the company has funded a transformative renewable energy project in Keur Niangane, Senegal.
Partnering with Africa GreenTec, this initiative has brought solar-powered electricity to a rural community of more than 150 families — around 1,000 people — replacing diesel generators and reshaping lives.
The new Solartainer — a mobile solar power plant with integrated energy storage — in Keur Niangane is complemented by photovoltaic (PV) panels and energy storage systems to ensure consistent power availability.
As well as this, 55 solar-powered streetlights were installed along with 4,860 metres of cables and 119 poles to create a robust energy infrastructure.
“At ChargePoint, we believe in the power of technology to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for all,” says Rick Wilmer, ChargePoint’s President and CEO.
“This project is already making a significant difference, particularly to the lives of women and children in this community, and we’re proud to contribute to such a meaningful change.
“We will continue to drive positive environmental and social impact as two of our core values.”
The impact
Lives in this rural community have been improved thanks to the partnership between ChargePoint and Africa GreenTec.
The impact includes:
- Children being able to study at night under safe lighting conditions, improving access to education
- Powering solar streetlights, which enhance security for women traveling after dark
- A boost to the economy, allowing for extended business hours and improved community life —- fostering local entrepreneurship.
"Our strong international partnerships are the key to sustainable rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa,” says Wolfgang Rams, CEO of Africa GreenTec. “ChargePoint is one of these important partners.
“At a time when sustainable and international development is low on the political agenda, it is even more important for the private sector to work together to achieve big goals.
“A great example of the positive impact that can be achieved through collaboration is the electrification of the community of Keur Ndiangane in Senegal, which will empower many people.”
ChargePoint: Breaking down EV barriers
Joe Gorman, Interim Vice President, Europe at ChargePoint, spoke exclusively with Energy Digital about the challenges with EV charging in flats and multifamily homes and what needs to change.
“Battery EVs secured a record market share of 19.6% in 2024,” he says. “Yet, this fell short of the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate target, which required 22% of all vehicles registered to be zero emission.
“To bridge this gap, facilitating charging near home is essential, as drivers often prioritise convenience of charging in their buying decision.”
But it's not just the domestic market ChargePoint is supporting.
It aids with commercial fleets, revolutionising truck electrification. ChargePoint has debuted its latest megawatt charging system, which will enable output of up to 3MW — enough energy to power Wembley Stadium.
“Megawatt technology is the first step toward electrifying the commercial trucking industry,” said Hossein Kazemi, CTO for Hardware at ChargePoint.
“Megawatt charging solves half of the electrification equation for trucking. The companies developing electric trucks can now leverage this infrastructure to test and enable their vehicles until they meet — or even exceed — the distances covered by internal combustion trucks.”
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