As part of ways to reduce reliance on Kenya’s national grid, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has invested 600 million shillings to provide affordable solar power in Kenya. The investment was received by CrossBoundary Energy, a Nairobi-based firm that funds industrial and commercial solar installation ventures across East Africa.

Head of OPIC, Ray Washburne said the fund was to enable CrossBoundary Energy to implement six projects at various corporate sites in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana to produce a total of 5.75 megawatts.

“We are pleased to be supporting them to expand the provision of cleaner and cheaper power that helps African enterprises grow and bolsters the mission of Power Africa,” said Washburne.

In a bid to increase electricity capacity above 2,352 megawatts, Kenya commissioned the largest solar project in East Africa earlier this week, with the plant consisting of 210,000 solar photovoltaic panels set on an 85-hectare land.

The 54.6 MW solar plant located in Garissa County in the northeastern region of Kenya is considered the largest in East and Central Africa.

In the same light, Kenya rose to become sub-Saharan Africa’s top market for the off-grid power products following its demand of Sh4 billion worth of solar kits in the first six months of 2018.

The global off-grid solar market report reads “The off-grid sector in Kenya continues to see expansion to new regions across the country with new markets seeing strong growth.”

CrossBoundary’s co-Managing Partner, Matthew Tilleard said the fund would help the selected companies reduce reliance on the national grid and provide access to affordable solar power that is environmentally friendly.