Solarise Africa Secures €1 Million Grant to Expand in Uganda and Zambia

Solarise Africa has secured a €1 million grant from the Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) to expand its renewable energy leasing business in Uganda and Zambia.

The company will contribute another €1 million, bringing the programme’s total value to €2 million over 24 months. The funding will support local operations, partnerships and the rollout of decentralised energy systems for commercial and industrial businesses and social institutions.

The programme targets 3 MW of new renewable energy capacity, combining solar photovoltaic installations with battery storage and heat pump technologies where appropriate.

Leasing Model Targets Business Energy Costs

Founded in 2018, Solarise Africa finances and delivers renewable energy infrastructure through a leasing model. Its services combine project financing, engineering, operations and maintenance, and energy management, allowing businesses to access energy systems without paying the full installation cost upfront.

The EEP Africa grant will help the company establish operations in Uganda and build its first project portfolio in Zambia. It will also support a pipeline of commercial and industrial energy projects intended to attract further private investment.

“This grant represents much more than entry into two new markets. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that a model we have spent years building and refining can be successfully replicated across Africa,” said Jan Albert Valk, Co-Founder and CEO of Solarise Africa.

Valk said businesses need more reliable, affordable and cleaner energy but can struggle to secure the capital and financing required to make the transition. Solarise Africa aims to address that gap through its financing and service model.

Programme Targets 4.5 GWh of Renewable Electricity

Under the programme’s contractual milestones, Solarise Africa must report and verify at least 4.5 GWh of renewable electricity generation and 3,600 tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emissions.

The grant is also intended to reduce the costs and risks associated with entering new markets, helping the company establish operations that can continue beyond the funding period.

Solarise Africa has previously secured equity and debt financing from African and international investors and development finance institutions to support its expansion beyond Kenya.

Co-Founder and COO Sakkie van Wijk said the company wants to establish commercially sustainable businesses in Uganda and Zambia that can continue deploying energy infrastructure after the grant ends.

The next 24 months will focus on developing local partnerships, establishing operating capacity and bringing projects online. The longer-term objective is to build renewable energy portfolios in both markets and continue investing beyond the initial programme.