Abyssinia Iron and Steel has recently inked a 25-year power purchase agreement with Empower New Energy, a leading solar power financier based in Norway. The deal entails the construction and operational responsibilities being shouldered by Spenomatic Group, a player in renewable engineering, procurement, and construction in East Africa.The 2.5 MWp solar project is Empower New Energy’s first investment in Kenya and marks a step in Abyssinia’s journey towards becoming 100 percent powered by renewable energy.
By harnessing the abundant solar resources in Kenya, the project will generate about 4,8 GWh of clean electricity per year, saving about 2,500 metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Ground-mounted solar options have the advantage of easy access for maintenance and cleaning, as well as increased air flow for more efficient energy production.
“We are thrilled to partner with Abyssinia Steel and Spenomatic to bring cost-saving and clean energy solutions to Kenya,” said Terje Osmundsen, CEO of Empower New Energy.
Spenomatic will provide engineering, procurement, and construction support for the project.
Berjeesh Surty, Managing Director of Spenomatic, described this as a transformative solar project.
“Together, we set a benchmark for clean energy adoption in the industrial sector,” Surty said.
Members of the Norwegian diplomatic corps and representatives from Norfund East Africa attended the signing event at the Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi.
Norfund’s regional director for East Africa, William Nyaoke, emphasised that forging such partnerships enables us to chart a course towards a greener and more prosperous future for all.
