- GSK Kenya has deployed a 1.05MWp solar plant in its factory.
- The facility will save the company $18,390 monthly.
- C&I customers are increasingly looking to solar for cheaper and cleaner energy.
British pharmaceutical and health company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has installed a solar plant at its Nairobi factory. GSK awarded the contract to install a 1.05MWp solar plant to Ofgen, a Nairobi based commercial and industrial developer. GSK installed the panels on the roof and car park of its Nairobi plant. The installation required a total investment of Sh108 million ($993,000). According to GSK Site Director, Paul Arunga the solar switch will reduce its energy costs by 50 per cent, saving the company about Sh2 million ($18,390) every month. “Embodying the solar technology as an organisation has helped us lower power costs, a significant component in our product cost, hence enabling us to be more competitive and to deliver our products at better prices to our customers,” Arunga added.
Commercial and industrial consumers are increasingly turning to solar energy to save on power costs and ensure reliability and meet clean energy targets. Ofgen says it has installed similar solar units for cigarette producer British American Tobacco (BAT Kenya), automaker Toyota Kenya, hospitality group Serena Hotels and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). The company plans to increase its C&I solar portfolio to over 50MWp over the next three years.
Ofgen’s CEO Mohamed Jibril Omar stated: “Kenya has committed to lowering her greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030. We are happy that as a company, we are on the right track by offering clean energy solutions to industries, companies and even households.”