New partnership with SOLARKIOSK to expand off-grid energy for productive use
Energy 4 Impact is excited to announce its new partnership with SOLARKIOSK to bring energy access to entrepreneurs in rural off-grid communities in Kenya.
SOLARKIOSK AG designs, manufactures, implements and operates energy-autonomous and solar-powered retail hubs – E-HUBBs. Since its inception in 2011, the company has established an ever-growing Pan-African network of close to 200 E-HUBBs, providing a last mile distribution channel for solar products, energy-based services like mobile phone charging, refrigeration and sustainable consumer goods.
The E-HUBB microgrid capacity has allowed SOLARKIOSK to enable local entrepreneurs in several E-HUBB communities by providing them with infrastructure, energy and connectivity and thus establishing ‘connected solar market centres’.
After having implemented around 10 connected solar market centres in Rwanda and Tanzania, now the company is implementing its first centre in rural Kenya, enabling entrepreneurs from local communities to power their businesses with the energy produced at the E-HUBB, thereby strengthening the economic development in these villages.
For the first time barbers and hairdressers, small restaurants, motorbike repair shops, tailors, cyber cafés or cinemas will have the chance to grow and thrive alongside the E-HUBB, benefitting not only from reliable renewable energy but also from the increased foot traffic at the market.
Energy 4 Impact will provide business advisory support to SOLARKIOSK to deploy the connected solar market centres, by providing business consulting on the development of a productive use strategy and creating tools for the development of entrepreneurs and customized businesses for the rural market.
said Diana Kollanyi, Energy 4 Impact’s SMEs Advisor.
“We see great synergies between SOLARKIOSK’s operations and Energy 4 Impact’s mandate to enhance access to clean energy while creating positive economic impact for businesses on the ground," said Diana.