Solar energy developments in Chad and Kenya are demonstrating how African countries can turn renewable energy plans into funded projects, offering potential lessons for Nigeria as it expands financing for distributed electricity systems, according to Nigerian renewable energy company Kowatek Solar LTD.
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The company points to two initiatives: hybrid solar power plants in Chad that have reached financial close and received their first disbursement, and new contracts under Kenya’s Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP). Both illustrate approaches to expanding electricity supply through combinations of solar generation, battery storage and infrastructure designed around the needs of specific customers and communities.
In Chad, the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced on October 2, 2026, that Qair’s Gassi and Lamadji hybrid solar plants had reached financial close and received their first disbursement. The projects have a combined solar capacity of 30 megawatt-peak (MWp) and include 8 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage.
The plants are being developed under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Tchadelec. Their financing includes a €37.9 million package structured by the AfDB alongside Proparco, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and the Green Climate Fund.
The projects form part of broader efforts to accelerate electricity access and renewable energy deployment across Africa, including the AfDB’s Desert to Power initiative and Mission 300, which seeks to expand electricity access across the continent.
Battery storage is a central feature of the Chad projects. While solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours, batteries can store some of that energy for use when generation falls, helping improve the usefulness of solar power for electricity systems. The effectiveness of such arrangements depends on factors including battery capacity, demand patterns, system design and the availability of complementary power sources.
Kenya offers another model, particularly for communities and public institutions that are difficult or expensive to connect to the national grid.
Under KOSAP, contracts worth approximately US$64 million have been signed as part of a wider US$150 million World Bank-backed programme. The contracts cover 113 mini-grids in arid and semi-arid counties, alongside stand-alone solar systems intended for hundreds of health facilities, schools and government offices.
The wider programme aims to benefit more than two million people across 14 counties through a combination of off-grid solar solutions, including approximately 146 solar mini-grids. By combining community-level electricity networks with individual systems for essential services, the initiative seeks to improve access in areas where extending conventional grid infrastructure may be challenging.
The projects in Chad and Kenya illustrate two complementary approaches to distributed renewable energy. Hybrid plants can support broader electricity systems and utility supply, while mini-grids and stand-alone solar installations can bring power to communities and institutions that remain underserved.
Kowatek Solar argues that these approaches offer relevant lessons for Nigeria’s US$300 million Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, which is designed to support distributed energy development with an emphasis on local developers. The company identifies a shared principle across the initiatives: projects are more practical when solar generation and storage are matched to a clearly defined customer, whether a utility, healthcare facility, commercial property or community.
For Nigerian businesses such as hotels, residential estates and clinics, hybrid solar systems can offer an alternative or supplement to conventional electricity supply. Their suitability depends on the customer’s energy demand, local conditions, financing arrangements and the cost of installation and maintenance.
The wider opportunity extends beyond electricity generation. Properly designed distributed energy systems can help essential services maintain power, support commercial activity and reduce reliance on less suitable or more costly sources of electricity. However, the long-term success of these projects depends on reliable equipment, sustainable financing, technical expertise and arrangements for ongoing operations.
For Nigeria and other African markets, the experiences of Chad and Kenya underline the importance of moving beyond funding announcements towards projects that have secured financing, identified customers and established practical delivery plans.
As investment in renewable energy expands across the continent, combining solar power with storage and customer-focused infrastructure could play an important role in improving electricity access. The extent of the impact will depend on how effectively funding is converted into operational systems that communities, institutions and businesses can afford and rely on.
