Solar firm expands into Uganda and Zambia with €2 million
Solarise Africa has secured a €1 million grant from the Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) to scale its decentralized solar projects into Uganda and Zambia, targeting 3 MW of new renewable capacity within two years. The company will contribute an additional €1 million in matching funds, bringing the total project budget to €2 million. This initiative will deploy solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and heat pumps for commercial, industrial, and social institutions across both nations.
The project expects to produce at least 4.5 GWh of clean electricity while preventing 3,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Since its founding in 2018, Solarise Africa has operated under an Energy-as-a-Service framework, enabling businesses to access solar power without requiring upfront capital expenditures. The model bundles financing, engineering, equipment installation, and maintenance into a single offering.
The latest funding follows a $33.4 million debt facility raised in 2022, supported by the Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI), Oikocredit, and the AfricaGoGreen Fund. That facility included $21.4 million from FEI, $7 million from Oikocredit, and $5 million from AfricaGoGreen. Earlier that same year, the company also received a $3 million investment from EDFI ElectriFI to accelerate expansion in Kenya, representing its third funding round from that organization.
By May 2023, Solarise Africa had accumulated approximately $50 million in combined equity and debt financing. That year, it earned the African Unicorn Award for Greentech and Energy, with active operations in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, and Uganda. The new grant will now support market entry, local partnerships, and project development in Uganda and Zambia, strengthening the company’s position to attract further private investment.
Jan Albert Valk, co-founder and CEO, described the grant as confirmation of the company’s ability to replicate its business approach across Africa. Sakkie van Wijk, co-founder and COO, emphasized that the goal is to establish self-sustaining operations in both countries, ensuring continued deployment even after the grant period ends.
The EEP Africa grant aligns with broader efforts to accelerate renewable energy adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier this year, the AfricaGoGreen Fund secured a €30 million commitment from Germany’s Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) to expand climate-focused investments, including distributed energy systems. While regulatory challenges and financing barriers persist, Solarise Africa’s entry into these new markets signals momentum in the sector.
