AFRICA ENERGY / CLEAN TECH
📰 HEDNEWS — AFRICA ENERGY / CLEAN TECH
📅 January 8, 2026
South African Startup Hyena Advances Clean Power to Replace Diesel Generators
In much of Africa, unreliable national grids leave millions dependent on diesel generators for electricity — with about **7 million backup generators in sub-Saharan Africa alone, burning over $20 billion worth of diesel each year and contributing to pollution and health risks.
South African energy startup Hyena is tackling this challenge with its POWER POD system — a modular power station that converts liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) into hydrogen and then electricity, producing heat and water as by-products. Because it doesn’t burn diesel, the technology avoids harmful particulates and emits roughly 15 % less CO₂ than traditional generators, according to the company’s co-founder.
The POWER POD units are designed to operate where grid electricity is absent or unstable — such as remote communities, clinics, businesses, and telecom sites — and leverage LPG, a readily available fuel across Africa, to produce cleaner power without excessive new infrastructure.
While fuel cells are not new, Hyena’s approach of generating hydrogen on-site from LPG could enable broader use of fuel cell power across the continent. Still, cost, production scalability, and training requirements remain challenges, and the startup is currently rolling out units gradually as it seeks additional investment to scale.
This innovation signals a practical step toward lowering Africa’s dependence on diesel generation while improving air quality and reducing operating costs for households and enterprises.
