The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) is providing Solarise Africa with €1 million to help it grow operations in Uganda and Zambia. The company will contribute an equal €1 million, doubling the total to €2 million over 24 months.
This funding will help establish and expand operations in both countries, deploying decentralized renewable energy systems for commercial, industrial, and social institutions. The program aims to add 3 MW of new renewable energy capacity, including solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and heat pump technologies.
Founded in 2018, Solarise Africa provides renewable energy solutions through a leasing model that combines project financing, engineering, operations, maintenance, and energy management services. It operates across Southern and East Africa, allowing businesses to access renewable energy infrastructure without the full upfront cost.
The EEP Africa grant will strengthen local partnerships, operational capabilities, and project pipelines in Uganda and Zambia. Jan Albert Valk, Co-Founder and CEO of Solarise Africa, stated, “This grant represents much more than entry into two new markets. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that a model we have spent years building and refining can be successfully replicated across Africa.”
Valk added, “Businesses across the continent face the same fundamental challenge: they need energy that is more reliable, more affordable, and cleaner, but the capital and financing structures required to make that transition are not always readily available. Our role is to bridge that gap.”
Under the program, Solarise Africa will report and verify at least 4.5 GWh of renewable electricity generation and 3,600 tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emissions. The company has previously secured equity and debt financing from African and international investors to support its expansion beyond Kenya.
EEP Africa’s funding aims to reduce costs and risks associated with entering new markets while creating a platform for additional private investment in commercial and industrial renewable energy projects. Sakkie van Wijk, Co-Founder and COO of Solarise Africa, noted, “The long-term opportunity goes far beyond this project.”
Van Wijk explained, “Our objective is to build commercially sustainable operations in Uganda and Zambia that can continue deploying energy infrastructure well beyond the grant period.” Solarise Africa plans to expand its project portfolio in Uganda and establish its first portfolio in Zambia, with the goal of continuing investment and deployment after the grant period ends.
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