Lukenya Schools in Athi River has commissioned a solar power system installed by Safer Power Limited to reduce the institution's reliance on the national grid and ensure reliable power for boarding and learning.
The system comprises a 40.92 kWp solar plant, a 40 kW hybrid inverter and 80 kWh of battery storage to power the institution during the day and provide backup during outages.
Safer Power Group CEO Dalmus Mbai said the project demonstrates how African institutions can harness solar potential to address energy challenges.
“When you look at the problems facing Africa, 90 per cent are related to power. Yet Africa has the highest sun hours. Why are we not tapping into that potential? It has to start somewhere,” Mbai said.
Solar installation to address frequent power outages
Lukenya Schools Director Mutheu Kasanga said the school had struggled with frequent outages, vandalism of power lines and reliance on generators, which disrupted learning and food storage.
“We are a boarding school with day and night power consumption. We wanted a reliable source in our control. When we had extended outages, we were forced to consume food meant for another time to avoid spoilage,” she said.
School expects savings from renewable energy
Kasanga said the plant would cut costs and improve budgeting, with savings reinvested in learning facilities.
She noted that the batteries come with a 15-year guarantee.
“Today we are our own source of power after 34 years of grid, the milestone is historic,” Kasanga said.
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