Solarcentury launches commerical solar arm for East Africa

Posted on :Wednesday , 21st January 2015

Global PV developer, Solarcentury, is formalising its growing operation in East Africa by joining forces with Kenyan firm, East African Solar, to form Solarcentury in East Africa.

The new company will deliver solar projects throughout East Africa, where solar is emerging as a promising alternative to expensive diesel-generated power.

Both companies have solid experience of the nascent solar market in Kenya, having independently worked on commercial PV projects as well as collaborating last year on a 1MW plant at the Williamson Tea farm in western Kenya.

Solarcentury opened a Nairobi office in 2013 headed by one of the company’s founders, Dan Davies. East African Solar, meanwhile, was responsible for developing Kenya’s first commercial PV project.

Davies will head the new company, with East African Solar’s founder and CEO, Guy Lawrence, operating as its business development director. The pair will be supported by a seven-strong local team.

Davies said of the move: “Since opening the office in Nairobi almost 18 months ago, we have made significant inroads into the solar market in Kenya, with two sizeable projects under our belts. Now, working with Guy Lawrence, we have an even stronger solar offering that we believe will appeal to many businesses in East Africa. Government support for renewables in this region is growing – it’s encouraging that in Kenya, for example, the government’s Kenya Vision 2030 recognises the opportunity for renewable energy to support economic growth and the need for the country to switch to more sustainable energy sources.”

Lawrence added: “Joining Solarcentury creates a highly competitive offering which is already proving appealing to businesses serious about cutting their energy bills and carbon emissions by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels. Solar is especially beneficial for high energy users such as those in the tea, flower, horticulture and manufacturing sectors where high energy costs can reduce their global competitiveness.”

In addition to building the Williamson Tea project, Solarcentury is working on what is said to be the largest solar car port project in Africa at a new retail complex in Nairobi.

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