UN and EU fund Solarcentury to build solar mini-grid projects in rural East Africa

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Solarcentury representatives on a previous trip to Africa, for project work in Kenya. Image: Solarcentury.

UK-based PV company Solarcentury is collaborating with the EU and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on a €5.7 million (US$6.56 million) electrification project in East Africa.

The two mini-grid hybrid solar systems, powered by solar PV and lithium-ion batteries, are designed to bring reliable power to agricultural communities Areza and Maidma in Eritrea.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The projects will provide sustainable power for 40,000 people and businesses that are currently using diesel generators, which are expensive and damaging to the environment.

A representative for the Eritrean Ministry of Energy and Mines said the project will be economically and environmentally beneficial and improve local living standards.

The project is being funded primarily by the European Union, with the Government State of Eritrea and UNDP contributing just under €2 million (US$2.3 million) each.

Completion of the project is scheduled for early 2018.

Read Next

Premium
July 8, 2025
ESN Premium speaks with Sahand Karimi, co-founder and CEO of Australian AI-driven energy management company OptiGrid, on the new FPP reform.
July 7, 2025
EU will not meet its 2030 clean energy targets unless cumulative battery storage deployments rapidly accelerate, SolarPower Europe has said.
July 3, 2025
Idaho Power’s updated integrated resource plan adds more solar, wind and energy storage than gas generation, while Public Service Company of New Mexico gets 450MW of solar and storage added to its resource application.
July 2, 2025
Ex-Tesla CTO’s battery recycling and materials company Redwood Materials has launched a new business unit to repurpose second-life EV batteries for energy storage.
July 2, 2025
Utility Ignitis Group has taken a final investment decision (FID) on three large-scale battery storage projects in Lithuania.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter