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Fuel Flip Technologies: Innovating Renewable Energy Solutions in Zimbabwe

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Tichaona Matte and Tendai Chipatiso are the visionaries behind Fuel Flip Technologies, a renewable energy company focused on developing biomass utilization systems that convert waste into energy.

The company’s mission is to address Zimbabwe’s energy needs by tapping into locally available resources such as biomass, which is abundant in the country. Fuel Flip Technologies produces and sells charcoal briquettes made from sawdust, which are branded as Xero Charcoal. These briquettes are sold in Mutare and other regions, with additional distribution in Harare and Bulawayo.

The process of converting sawdust into charcoal has its origins in the chemical and processing engineering field. American inventor Henry Ford is often credited with commercializing and popularizing this concept. However, Fuel Flip Technologies has refined Ford’s process, making it more efficient and less mechanically intensive.

Tichaona and Tendai prioritized the development of an energy-efficient system during the company’s formative years, ensuring it had low energy input demands and could be easily deployed. They also innovated by recognizing the potential of a local waste byproduct as a sustainable source of energy.

The process of creating charcoal from sawdust involves burning the material with minimal oxygen to produce char dust, which is then compressed into small charcoal blocks or balls.

Currently, the Fuel Flip Technologies charcoal production plant employs 10 permanent staff members, along with an additional 30 temporary workers. The company also operates as a research and development think tank, focusing on the use of locally available resources. They frequently collaborate with technical experts, including engineers and business development professionals.

While it may seem that Tichaona and Tendai were destined to start their own business, the idea for Fuel Flip Technologies emerged after they completed their tertiary education. Tichaona studied chemical and processing engineering, while Tendai pursued a degree in business management and entrepreneurship.

The two childhood friends founded the company in 2019, driven by a shared passion for entrepreneurship that prioritizes environmental preservation through the use of green energy.

Tichaona serves as the company’s chief technology partner, Tendai handles business development, and Tsitsi Masendu is the managing partner.

The enthusiasm Tichaona and Tendai demonstrate when discussing their company is evident, as it is clear that Fuel Flip Technologies represents more than just a business to them. In a Facebook post, Tendai shared that Fuel Flip Technologies came into being when Tichaona approached him with the idea.

“Fuel Flip Technologies was formed after I was approached by Tichaona to establish a partnership and build a renewable energy company with a vision for a greener, productive, and sustainable society,” Tendai revealed.

“We embarked on a journey to formalize this vision, test our renewable energy product, and use the brand to change people’s mindsets about waste-to-energy products for productivity and personal consumption.”

Tendai added, “Our products are branded Xero, symbolizing our goal to achieve carbon neutrality and sustainable productivity. Fuel Flip manufactures and installs high-quality products made from locally available biomass that is often discarded as waste by the general population.”

Tichaona explained that the name of the company reflects their broader mission within the African energy space.

“We have a continental vision and aspire to become a renewable energy powerhouse in Africa. We aim to drive energy development across the continent through the use of locally available resources. We are currently working on micro-hydro power, biogas, fuel cells, and biomass energy projects. In the next five years, we hope to deploy significant technological equipment across all SADC countries,” Tichaona shared.

Zimbabwe’s economic challenges make it difficult for startups to access funding for several reasons. Financial institutions typically require collateral before extending loans, and the interest rates are often prohibitively high, making it hard for small businesses to benefit from these loans.

Moreover, a lack of government support is a common obstacle for startups. While Fuel Flip Technologies has received funding from international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), local support has been minimal.

Tichaona elaborates: “Zimbabwean financial institutions are reluctant to take risks on innovative ventures. The volatility of our currency also makes business operations challenging, and the lack of professionalism from some customers towards small businesses is disheartening. For example, late payments and disregard for contracts are common. As a result, we’ve had to seek funding from outside Zimbabwe.”

Despite these challenges, Tichaona is excited to share the milestones Fuel Flip Technologies has achieved in recent years.

“Recently, we were awarded a grant by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security to investigate the potential impact of using charcoal as a substitute for firewood in tobacco curing in Zimbabwe. Fuel Flip Technologies was also recognized as the best Entrepreneur in the 2024 edition of the Total Energies Startupper of the Year competition,” Tichaona proudly shared.

Zimbabwe is home to many entrepreneurs who are overcoming the odds and contributing positively to the country’s economic development. Tichaona Matte and Tendai Chipatiso are prime examples of this.

Through Fuel Flip Technologies, they have become a shining example to Zimbabwe and Africa of how environmentally friendly business solutions can drive innovation and help achieve both business and sustainability goals.

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