Page 7 - AfrElec Week 28 2021

AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec

InfraCo Africa, RVE.SOL to build

22 solar mini-grids in Kenya

KENYA INFRACO Africa is to invest $4.2mn in Kenya clean, reliable solar energy in rural areas, but will
solar developer Rural Village Energy Solutions’ also pilot the provision of street lighting, pump-
(RVE.SOL) plans to develop 22 solar mini- ing and water purification, as well as financing of
grids as part of wider efforts to boost rural appliances, so that communities and businesses
electrification. can truly maximise the health, safety and eco-
InfraCo Africa, part of the Private Infra- nomic benefits of clean, renewable energy,” says
structure Development Group (PIDG), is to buy Gilles Vaes, InfraCo Africa’s chief executive.
a 40% stake in project operator Kudura Power The mini-grids will provide 7,000 connec-
East Africa (KPEA) from RVE.SOL. tions in rural Busia County. Work on the instal-
KPEA is to electrify several villages in Busia lation of the 22 solar mini-grids will begin in the
County in western Kenya, close to the Ugandan first quarter of 2022, with full commissioning
border, in a project worth $8mn. expected in the third quarter of the same year.
Green Mini Grid Kenya, a funding facility This electrification project follows a first phase
backed by UK Aid, the European Union African in which KPEA electrified 11 villages in Kenya.
Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF) and the Elsewhere in Africa, InfraCo has developed
Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), is the Khoumagueli Solar IPP Guinea.
to progide grants totalling $3.8mn. InfraCo Africa is part of the Private Infra-
KPEA has also received a technical assistance structure Development Group (PIDG); it is
grant of $235,000 from the PIDG. managed as a private company, although funded
KPEA intends to install 22 mini-grids pow- by governments in the UK (FCDO), the Nether-
ered by solar photovoltaic (PV) energy. Each lands (DGIS) and Switzerland (SECO).
mini-grid will have a storage system to ensure Since its establishment in 2004, InfraCo
that people can continue to benefit from elec- Africa has developed fourteen projects through
tricity after sunset or in bad weather. to financial close. Of these, it has successfully
Each installation will have a capacity of exited four projects and is overseeing the con-
between 10 and 60 kWp, for a total of 512 kWp. struction and operation of the remainder. ™
“The project will not only expand access to

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