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BIG LEAP strengthens its African outreach through a new cooperation with IRESEN

13May

BIG LEAP strengthens its African outreach through a new cooperation with IRESEN

News

BIG LEAP is pleased to announce a new cooperation with the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN), a leading Moroccan research organisation dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency. The cooperation is part of a broader collaboration framework established by our partner RES4Africa Foundation, and reinforces BIG LEAP’s ambition to extend its impact beyond Europe and engage strategic partners across the African continent.

Bringing IRESEN into BIG LEAP’s network expands the project’s Community of Practice and creates new opportunities to share knowledge on second-life batteries, energy storage and Battery Management Systems with one of Africa’s most active research and innovation ecosystems.

About IRESEN

Established in 2011 under the initiative of the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, IRESEN is a key actor of Morocco’s national energy transition strategy. The institute supports applied research and innovation in renewable energies, co-finances collaborative R&D projects, and develops world-class research infrastructure.

IRESEN operates several flagship platforms, including the Green Energy Park and the Green & Smart Building Park in Benguerir, dedicated respectively to renewable energy technologies and to energy efficiency in buildings. These platforms position Morocco as a strategic hub for clean energy R&D between Europe and Africa.

Why this cooperation matters for BIG LEAP

BIG LEAP works on overcoming the technical and systemic barriers that prevent second-life batteries from being reused at scale in stationary energy storage. Achieving real-world impact requires engaging with partners that understand local energy challenges and can help bring innovations closer to deployment.

Africa is one of the regions where second-life battery energy storage systems can deliver the highest socio-economic value, supporting renewable energy integration, improving grid resilience and accelerating electrification. Through this cooperation, BIG LEAP gains a direct connection to a partner with deep expertise in solar energy, energy storage and applied research, as well as access to a vibrant network of Moroccan and African stakeholders.

A growing Community of Practice

This cooperation is fully aligned with BIG LEAP’s strategy to build a Community of Practice (CoP) that brings together researchers, industry players and institutional actors across Europe, Africa, India and beyond. Coordinated by RES4Africa, the CoP plays a central role in sharing project results, gathering feedback from end users, and identifying replication and upscaling opportunities for second-life battery technologies.

Welcoming IRESEN into this network reinforces BIG LEAP’s international footprint and strengthens its commitment to a global, inclusive approach to the energy transition.

“Expanding our cooperation network to include partners such as IRESEN is essential to ensure that the innovations developed in BIG LEAP can have real impact beyond Europe. Africa is a key region for second-life batteries, and this collaboration brings us one step closer to scalable, locally relevant solutions.” — BIG LEAP project team

Stay tuned

To follow upcoming joint activities and the latest project updates, visit the BIG LEAP Related Initiatives page and follow BIG LEAP on LinkedIn. You can also learn more about IRESEN on the IRESEN website.

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