Paul Allen, the 21st richest person in the world and Microsoft co-founder, plans to sell 10 solar-powered micro-grids that his private company, Vulcan Impact Investing, built in Kenya over the last two years.
The grids in Kajiado and Samburu counties have capacity ranges of between five to six megawatts. They have been used to transform people’s lives through provision of electricity to schools and business premises.
“We are looking to transfer ownership of the mini grids to private investors or government agencies with whom we are having talks, “Business Daily quoted Courtney Blodgett, Vulcan’s Program officer on Tuesday during a solar conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The ten micro-grids are operated in partnership with SteamCo, a remote monitoring company based in Britain. They have provided connections of clean energy to at least 21,000 residents in the two counties, according to data on the firm’s website.
The electricity tariffs range between $1.80 (Sh 180) per kilowatt to $4 (Sh 400) per kilowatt, which is higher than charges for solar energy connected to the national grid, going for $ 0.1 (Sh 12).
The largest consumers use power worth $15.38 (Sh 1,550) while the lowest is $ 0.4 (Sh 38).
Vulcan Impact Investing has operations in sub-Saharan and focuses on providing off-the grid electricity in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana.
Kenya is one of the leading nations in sub-Saharan in the use of solar energy. In July, the government connected 4,100 primary schools in an ambitious plan to provide electricity for the digital learning system where pupils will use tablets to learn.
At least 625,000 homes will also be supplied with clean renewable energy using 210,210 solar panels of 260 watts each under its rural electrification programme, Renewable Energy World reported.
The project which will cost $125 million, will be financed by the government of China and will be completed by the end of next year.
The government also plans to set up 23 mini-grids to provide solar energy to supply electricity residents in the Northern part of the country.
The project is supported by the French government. It will cost $37 million and will generate 9.6 megawatts of clean energy upon completion.
