PowerGen Renewable Energy, a leading player in Sub-Saharan Africa’s fledgling, but fast growing markets for microgrids, minigrids and micro-utilities, acquired the Tanzanian microgrid assets of another emerging market leader, Rafiki Power, aka E.ON Off-Grid Solutions.
The acquisition furthers PowerGen Renewable Energy’s goal of creating micro-utilities, entities that sell small amounts of local electricity, often generated from microgrids or minigrids.
The deal indicates that the Sub-Saharan microgrid and minigrid market is moving into a new phase of evolution.
“This deal is a great opportunity for PowerGen to build on its existing momentum and give us more leverage to show investors, governments, and donors that minigrids are an excellent solution to the energy access challenges facing Africa…By bringing clean, reliable power to communities who previously lacked electricity, PowerGen minigrids open up an enormous range of new economic activity while improving quality of life and health,” PowerGen Renewable Energy CEO Sam Slaughter told Microgrid Knowledge.
The acquisition will bring PowerGen Renewable Energy’s micro-utility customer base to over 50,000 in four Sub-Saharan countries, adding momentum to growth of micro-utilities across the African continent, added Benson Kbiti, communications director for international, non-profit sustainable energy advocacy Power for All.
“Governments in Africa now realize providing energy access and low-cost power for productive uses to the communities is core to powering rural economies and creating a foundation for economic development. Microgrids are a key tool to do this,” Kbiti said.
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