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.

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.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

Not ready to commit yet?
  • 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 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

August 29, 2025
Potentia Energy, a joint venture co-owned by Enel Green Power and INPEX, has secured the first environmental approval for a grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) under South Australia’s new Hydrogen and Renewable Energy (HRE) Act.
August 26, 2025
Suriya Edwards and Deborah Harvey, partners specialising in battery energy storage at law firm Freeths LLP, analyse new EU battery regulations around suppliers’ responsibility for collecting, treating and recycling collected batteries.
August 25, 2025
Several new community batteries have been launched in Victoria and Queensland, Australia, to soak up distributed solar PV.
August 22, 2025
State-owned utility Western Power has commissioned five new community batteries in Perth suburbs as part of a federally funded initiative in Western Australia.
August 21, 2025
Two North American companies, Powin and Li-Cycle, were recently acquired by FlexGen and Glencore, respectively, after announcing bankruptcy.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter