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Last edited: 6 October 2025
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The Forever Battery is a rugged, long-life solar battery being developed and assembled in Malawi by Kachione LLC and its partners under the Solar Ku Midzi initiative. It is designed specifically for rural households and village solar shops that need affordable, durable, and low-maintenance energy storage.
Key Features[]
- Chemistry: Uses Lithium Titanate (LTO) cells, known for their exceptional cycle life (10,000–20,000 charge/discharge cycles).
- Longevity: Expected to last 10–20 years, far longer than typical lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries used in small solar systems.
- Durability: Built to withstand heat, dust, and rough handling in rural Malawi.
- Maintenance: Designed for plug-and-play use in small solar home systems, irrigation pumps, and solar cooking setups.
- Affordability model: Distributed through women-led solar shops at subsidized prices, with costs partly covered by donors and carbon credit revenues.
Technical Specifications[]
- Chemistry: Lithium Titanate (LTO)
- Models available:
- 5-cell / 12V (120 Wh)
- 8-cell / 19V (200 Wh)
- Cycle life: 10,000–20,000 charge/discharge cycles
- Expected lifespan: 10–20 years (compared to 2–5 years for lead-acid)
- Control system: Built-in electronic control board for safety and efficiency
- Data logging: Includes an SD card that records energy use, enabling customers to qualify for poverty-reduction and CO₂-reduction credits toward future solar purchases
Importance in Malawi[]
- Energy poverty: Most rural households lack reliable electricity; batteries are essential for storing solar power.
- Deforestation & charcoal use: By powering solar cooking and lighting, the Forever Battery helps reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal.
- Economic empowerment: Distributed through local women entrepreneurs, creating income opportunities in villages.
- Sustainability: Its long lifespan reduces electronic waste and replacement costs.
Assembly and Distribution[]
- Assembled at the Kachione Blantyre Workshop in Malawi.
- Distributed through a network of 20+ women-led solar shops under the Solar Ku Midzi program.
Summary[]
The Forever Battery is a cornerstone of Malawi’s push toward clean, solar-powered cooking and household energy, offering a decades-long solution where short-lived batteries have failed.