Gary Bradshaw of Omniflex outlines key needs for remote monitoring. (Image source: Omniflex)

Power grids, water systems, and various industrial operations often stretch into isolated regions where regular in-person supervision is not viable. In these cases, remote monitoring offers a practical solution — but only when the equipment is specifically built to endure the surrounding conditions

Gary Bradshaw, director at remote monitoring specialist Omniflex, outlines the technical demands of deploying such systems in harsh and inaccessible locations, and illustrates their use through a project with a major South African electricity utility.

Monitoring infrastructure in remote areas is fraught with challenges. These environments are frequently subject to extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, humidity, dust, and electrical storms — all of which can compromise the performance and durability of monitoring equipment. Complicating matters further is the lack of readily available maintenance; deploying technicians to these areas involves considerable time, effort, and cost.

Another major hurdle is the absence of consistent power supply. With no mains electricity, these monitoring systems are reliant on batteries or, where feasible, solar power. Therefore, efficient energy usage is critical, along with pre-emptive battery replacement to prevent system failure and data loss.

Communication is also an obstacle. Remote locations often lack mobile network coverage, and traditional wired connections are cost-prohibitive to install. In such cases, radio and satellite communication are typically the only viable alternatives.

These issues are compounded by concerns about the longevity of monitoring systems. Many commercially available monitoring products are built with planned obsolescence, requiring full system replacements every few years. For hazardous and difficult-to-access sites, this poses both financial and safety concerns.

“For installations in remote and dangerous locations, this is not practical as sending engineers out to regularly replace equipment presents all the same challenges as in-person monitoring and equipment maintenance in terms of cost and risk. For these systems, remote monitoring equipment should ideally maintain full serviceability and compatibility for decades to minimise the need to dispatch engineers and technicians.”

Eskom’s remote monitoring evolution

In the early 1990s, South Africa’s electricity supplier Eskom faced operational difficulties in overseeing its remote assets, particularly 11kV and 22kV distribution lines that passed through isolated rural terrain. Frequent storms brought lightning strikes and fallen branches, which often triggered the auto-reclosers and sectionalisers, disrupting supply.

Restoring these services meant engineers had to navigate long distances — often at night and in hazardous conditions — just to diagnose and manually reset equipment. The problem was exacerbated by poor telecom infrastructure in those regions, causing delays in reporting and response.

To address this, Eskom partnered with Omniflex to implement a remote monitoring system capable of continuous, centralised supervision. The solution involved deploying Maxiflex remote terminal units (RTUs), mounted on power line poles and equipped to operate independently in the field.

“Maxiflex is a modular product that can be configured to suit a wide range of applications and its hot-swappable I/O modules enable maintenance without powering down the system, minimising any associated downtime.”

“The Maxiflex pole-mounted RTUs were mounted directly on power line poles alongside switching devices and interfaced to a central control centre over unlicensed radio bands for secure 24/7 monitoring. This solution allowed operators to receive real-time fault alerts and enabled them to remotely isolate line sections or reset devices without dispatching engineers.”

This was among the earliest deployments of Maxiflex and set the stage for its adoption in various critical infrastructure environments. Since then, the system has been employed in diverse applications globally — from nuclear radiation monitoring in the UK to alarm management and event sequencing in sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, and utilities.

OEPA aims to support transformative projects such as rooftop solar installations, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and grid improvements

Octopus Energy has launched its first African energy fund, the Octopus Energy Power Africa Fund (OEPA), which aims to drive major investments in clean energy projects across sub-Saharan Africa

This initiative marks a significant milestone in Octopus Energy’s global mission to expand access to renewable energy. It was officially announced on June 18, 2025, at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town.

The OEPA is designed to both fund and unlock opportunities that accelerate the adoption of affordable, homegrown, green energy solutions across Africa, a continent with nearly 40% of the world’s renewable energy potential. Despite this abundance, Africa currently attracts only 2% of global clean energy investment.

Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, the OEPA aims to support transformative projects such as rooftop solar installations, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and grid improvements.

The fund was launched with an initial investment of US$60mn, with a target to raise US$250mn over the next three years. Octopus Energy is establishing a model for unlocking green investments in emerging markets through partnerships with investment specialists such as Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers (PRIM). This model also provides opportunities for investors who want to support Africa’s energy transition.

Africa’s energy market is growing rapidly, driven by its unparalleled solar and wind resources. These vast renewable energy assets position the region as a potential global leader in clean energy. The OEPA aims to harness this potential by mobilizing the funding necessary to deliver reliable power to communities and businesses across the continent.

Octopus Energy has already made meaningful progress in the African renewable energy sector. It has invested in MOPO, a solar battery innovator that powers off-grid homes and businesses in Africa. The OEPA is also developing Sierra Leone’s first wind farm on Sherbro Island through a partnership with Akuna Group, bringing clean energy to areas without dependable electricity access.

With the launch of this fund, Octopus Energy takes a major step toward delivering affordable, sustainable energy to millions across Africa and supporting a greener, more resilient energy transition.

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO at Octopus Energy Generation, commented, “Africa is abundant with clean energy potential – enough to build the next-generation renewable powerhouse and a greener, fairer future fuelled by sunshine and wind. By partnering with local experts, such as Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, we aim to accelerate that future and create new green pathways.”

Globeleq's Menengai project advances

Globeleq has finalised an agreement with African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) for the provision of a payment guarantee to the 35 MW Menengai geothermal project in Kenya’s Nakuru County

The facility — issued via ATIDI’s Regional Liquidity Support Facility (RLSF) — covers the risk of non-payment by the Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC) and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).

With the guarantee in place, the project and its lenders – the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Eastern and Southern African Development Bank (TDB), and the Finish Fund for Industrial Cooperation (Finnfund) – get enhanced payment security ahead of the project’s scheduled commercial operations date.

“Signing the RLSF agreement is a major milestone for our Menengai project, significantly enhancing the project’s risk allocation,” said Edouard Wenseleers, managing director, business development and head of East Africa at Globeleq.

Once operational, the Menengai project will deliver clean and affordable baseload power to the national grid supply and significantly contribute to the Kenyan government’s goal of a clean energy mix by 2030.

Wenseleers called it an honour for Globeleq to contribute to the issuance of Kenya’s first RLSF policy in Kenya through the Menengai project.

“We hope this will pave the way for more renewable energy IPPs to benefit from this innovative instrument in the country.”

To date, ATIDI’s RLSF has supported nine renewable energy projects across four African countries, enabling 181.95 MW in new renewable energy capacity and mobilising US$324mn in total financing.

“Whilst we have supported several projects in the region, this marks the first RLSF policy issued in Kenya, as well as the first in support of a geothermal project,” said Obbie Banda, senior underwriter and RLSF coordinator.

“This milestone confirms the bankability of the RLSF product for a leading project developer and for the DFI lenders involved in this project — it also demonstrates our commitment to moving from concept to execution of our innovative instruments."

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Globeleq to support Zambia hydro project

A milestone in Kenya's energy transition

Globeleq keen on Zambian hydro sector

Power developer Globeleq has signed a share purchase agreement with Norfund, the Norwegian development institution, for the proposed acquisition of a 51% equity stake in Zambia's Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company (LHPC)

Based in Kabwe, in Zambia’s Central Province, LHPC operates two hydroelectric power plants totaling 56MW and is currently constructing a 20MW solar PV project.

The remaining 49% is owned by Zambian-based infrastructure investment group, Wanda Gorge Investments.

LHPC sells power to the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco) through a power purchase agreement (PPA) and a portfolio of private customers, which include Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) and Jubilee Metals. It also holds a Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) electricity trading license.

Jonathan Hoffman, Globeleq’s CEO, said the agreement marks a pivotal step in the company's Zambian energy market entry.

“We are excited about this opportunity to enter the Zambian market," he said.

"LHPC’s established team, operations and trading capabilities combined with our extensive experience in Africa, create a strong platform to support Zambia’s broader energy objectives and deliver solutions to a range of energy consumers in the region.”

The acquisition also marks the company’s first investment in hydropower in Africa, further enhancing its diversified renewable portfolio which includes solar, wind, battery energy storage (BESS), hybrid solar plus BESS, and geothermal power plants.

Zambia is a priority country for Globeleq’s growth strategy, where the company is leading the development of a 400MW+ greenfield portfolio of solar, wind power, BESS and hybrid projects, including its 54MWp Kafue solar project awarded under the GETFiT Zambia programme.

The completion of the LHPC transaction is expected to be finalised in the latter half of 2025.

Øystein Øyehaug, Norfund investment director, said Globeleq's involvement would unlock LHPC's long-term growth potential.

"With more than 20 years of experience operating in Africa, we are confident that Globeleq is the right fit to lead the LHPC into its next chapter."

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Globeleq signs up Sungrow for Red Sands project

Zambia's CEC scaling up on solar

Luapula hydropower project inches closer