January 28, 2025

KenGen to enter captive power market in Kenya

January 29, 2025

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) plans to enter the captive power market, selling directly to end-users. It has invited consultants to assess the opportunities in captive solar PV & geothermal technologies. The planned market entry is driven by the growing trend of customer defections from the national grid.

  • KenGen is the main supplier of electricity to Kenya Power, the national utility, accounting for about 60% of electricity while independent power producers account for 40%. The exit of customers from the grid directly affects KenGen's revenue stream.

  • In the tender advert, KenGen states, "This has led to the suppression of grid power demand, reducing the revenue base for KenGen. As part of KenGen's expansion and diversification strategy, the organisation intends to venture into the business opportunity that the new market niche of captive power has presented."

  • Our take: KenGen's established relationship with government agencies, long-term experience in the sector, and deep understanding of the regulatory landscape could provide a competitive edge… Read more (2 min)

The Abu Dhabi-based distributed renewable energy (DRE) company Ignite Power has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of ENGIE Energy Access. This acquisition will create a new entity, Ignite Energy Access, with an expanded reach across 14 African countries, delivering solar power to 15 million people.

  • The transaction will be the fourth for Ignite Power in the past 24 months. The company in December 2024 raised $15 million from Afrigreen to support its growing Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar projects. The agreement is expected to be completed in the next few months.

  • ENGIE specialises in providing solar solutions for homes, businesses, and mini-grids across nine countries, mainly in West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast) and East Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia). Ignite brings expertise in solar, financing and digital solutions. Together they will be Africa’s largest provider of the full range of distributed renewable energy solutions.

  • Our take: Ignite Energy Access, now with more money and market presence, stands to benefit big from this acquisition… Read more (2 min)

MOPO (Mobile Power), a technology firm dedicated to delivering sustainable energy solutions in Africa, has secured $7 million from the British International Investment. This funding will enable MOPO to expand its solar-powered battery rental business in the DR Congo, providing affordable & clean energy to one million people.

  • MOPO operates on a unique pay-per-use business model in that customers can rent, return, and exchange batteries at MOPO’s solar-powered hubs, operated by local agents. 

  • It offers two types of rental batteries: The compact MOPO50 is ideal for lighting, phone charging, and powering DC devices, while the larger MOPOMax replaces petrol generators and serves as battery swaps for e-motorbike taxis, supporting 230V appliances.

  • Our take: The next goal would be to provide enough energy to meet more than basic lighting and phone charging needs… Read more (2 min)

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Moi University students after installing solar panels on the university premises in Eldoret, Kenya

Events

📅 Arusha to host the East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (Jan 29)

📅 Cape Town to host Solar Power Africa (Feb 10)

📅 Cape Town to host IPP and PPA Conference 2025 (Mar 6)

Jobs

👔 CIMMYT seeks a Regional Knowledge Management and IT Manager (Kenya)

👔 Plentify seeks a Communication Designer (South Africa) 

👔 Aptiv seeks a Production Coordinator (Morrocco)

👔 Husk Power Systems seeks a Surveillance Engineer (Nigeria)

Various 

💸 Ezra Group launches a 20-megawatt solar power plant in Juba, South Sudan

💸 UK adds $10.6m for the SEFA run by the African Development Bank

💸 Zanzibar requests bids for 18 MWp solar PV plant

Seen on LinkedIn 

Nasieku Seur, Technical Support Energy at GIZ, says, “With its abundance of lakes, reservoirs, and calm waters, Kenya has the perfect conditions to harness the power of floating photovoltaics.”

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