New hybrid solar system to help off-grid areas get clean energy

Solars at the Talek Community Solar Hybrid Mini-grid Project. [File, Standard]

Lodwar town in Turkana County has become one of the new towns to get a modular containerised solar hybrid system that aims to help millions of Kenyans living in off-grid areas access clean and affordable electricity.

This follows the installation of a 50 kW solar hybrid inverter and a 70 kWh battery storage system that provides steady power throughout the day and night.

This substantially reduces reliance on diesel generators, which are costly and environmentally harmful. The system is fully assembled, easy to transport and quick to install. Designed specifically for remote locations, it is ideal for rural communities, schools, clinics, trading centres, businesses and humanitarian operations.

Its compact, plug-and-play design means it can be deployed rapidly even in harsh or isolated environments.

“This is an important step in delivering clean, reliable energy to areas long without access,” said Davis & Shirtliff Managing Director Edward Davis. “By offering a ready-to-use system, we are helping communities gain electricity faster and more affordably, supporting both economic growth and social development.”

According to statistics from the Ministry of Energy, around 43 per cent of Kenya’s population remains unconnected to the national grid, with rural areas being particularly underserved.

Kenya’s mini-grid and off-grid sector is growing, with solar hybrid systems widely viewed as the most cost-effective solution for powering remote communities.

According to the State of the Global Mini-Grids Market 2024 report, funded by UK aid, Kenya needs solar hybrid mini-grids to serve at least 1.3 million people and add 125 MW of capacity to achieve universal power access by 2030 through least-cost solutions, a transition expected to require an investment of about $281 million (Sh36.53 billion).

Studies of mini-grid systems in Kenya have found that access to reliable power can lead to meaningful socioeconomic benefits: increases in household income, improved business hours, better educational outcomes and greater safety.

 The rapidly deployable system addresses the growing need for decentralised energy solutions.