KWAL Commissions 700kV Rooftop Solar Plant, Cutting Energy Costs and Advancing Green Manufacturing in Kenya

Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL) has officially commissioned a new 700kv rooftop Solar Power Plant at its state-of-the-art Tatu City manufacturing facility, marking a major milestone in the organization’s long-term sustainability and energy-efficiency goals.

The system was developed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and was completed after eight months of installation, with full switch-over achieved this week.

“This investment reflects our broader ambition to accelerate our push to drive efficiencies, build a more sustainable business, and embrace the opportunity to be part of Kenya’s ongoing renewable energy journey,” said Lina Githuka, Managing Director, KWAL.

The Solar Plant is a grid system designed to power factory operations using solar energy during the day and seamlessly transition to the national grid at night. This approach optimizes renewable power use while maintaining uninterrupted operational reliability.

With the new plant operational, KWAL will now generate a minimum of 15 per cent of its annual electricity from solar energy, translating to an annual savings of 7.5 per cent in reduced energy costs based on the factory’s consumption trends.

Driving Sustainable Manufacturing

KWAL’s decision to invest in solar energy aligns with its ongoing ambition to adopt green manufacturing practices.

KWAL’s Tatu City facility is EDGE-certified, having been designed from inception as a water and energy-efficient plant prioritizing renewable energy solutions. The solar installation reinforces KWAL’s wider sustainability strategy and Kenya’s goal of achieving 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

The EDGE certification will position KWAL for enhanced access to low-interest green financing for energy-efficient infrastructure development.

“Our certification supports our ongoing drive to ensure we pursue a lower carbon footprint for our current operations and tap into sustainable solutions for our future production needs. Our goal is to undertake a phased approach to expand our solar capacity to 1,500kv to maximise our use of renewable energy sources,” said Mwenda Kageenu, Director, Supply Chain, KWAL.

EDGE is a green building certification system established by the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, that certifies buildings that have become more resource efficient.

The zero-carbon certification is awarded to buildings that have achieved carbon neutrality in operations on an annual basis.

It is the highest internationally recognized EDGE green building standard. An EDGE Zero Carbon building must be awarded final certification at the EDGE advanced level with at least 40 per cent energy savings and satisfy all its remaining energy needs with renewable energy sources or purchase carbon offsets to achieve carbon neutrality during operations.

The project was executed in collaboration with key partners, including OFGEN Africa, the contracted PPA provider, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The groundbreaking project at KWAL’s headquarters has also received all the required approvals from the relevant bodies, including the Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Tatu Power, and Tatu Development Control Company.

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