The Malindi Solar utility-scale PV project in Kenya provides another example of Nextracker’s project management and product technology excellence in challenging emerging markets.

Project Overview

Located on the coast of Kenya, the 52 MWp Malindi Solar plant is one of the largest utility solar farms in East Africa. The project was developed by Malindi Solar Group Ltd (MSG), which is owned by Globeleq (90%), an African independent power producer (IPP), and its partner AEDC (10%). Project financing was provided by BII (formerly CDC Group) and DEG, the development finance institutions of the UK and Germany, respectively. Sterling and Wilson was contracted by MSG to perform the engineering, procurement and construction work for the project. Construction on the project began in 2019 and was completed in 2021. The plant has been generating clean electricity since mid-December 2021 and selling it to national utility Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) under the terms of a long-term power purchase agreement. The project also included the construction of the new 220 kV Weru substation, which is now part of KPLC’s national grid infrastructure.

Nextracker was chosen for the Malindi Solar project because of its world-leading solar tracker technology and proven track record of on-time delivery, engineering and project management expertise, and comprehensive global services organization.