Britam Tower is cementing its place as one of Africa’s tallest green buildings after a new solar project enabled the Nairobi skyscraper to generate enough electricity annually to power about 2,000 households for a month.
Data from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) shows households in urban areas like Nairobi consume about 200 kilowatt-hours monthly.
The insurer revealed in its 2025 Sustainability Report that the solar installation at Britam Tower, commissioned on October 1, 2025, is projected to produce 390,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually. 
The output now supplies 50 per cent of the 32-floor building’s electricity demand while significantly lowering its carbon footprint and reducing reliance on the national grid.
The electricity generated is also enough to meet the energy needs of a typical multi-storey commercial building in Nairobi’s central business district for about nine months.
EPRA audits indicate that most office buildings in the CBD consume between 30,000 and 50,000 kWh of electricity every month, placing Britam Tower’s annual solar production among the largest rooftop commercial installations in the country.
The grid-tied rooftop solar photovoltaic system has an installed capacity of 250 kilowatt-peak (kWp) and uses high-efficiency 650-watt solar panels mounted on a purpose-built steel structure above the tower’s parking silo.
Beyond generating electricity, the structure was designed with an additional commercial purpose. 
The space beneath the solar panels has been converted into a shaded events venue fitted with windbreaker glass, soundproof flooring, plumbing and washroom facilities, allowing the company to earn additional revenue from the installation.
Britam disclosed that the project has already generated Ksh1.18 million in income since it was commissioned.
The insurer estimates the solar installation will prevent about 198 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions every year. 
According to the company, that reduction has the same environmental impact as planting approximately 10,800 trees annually.
The project forms part of Britam’s broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, which seeks to reduce emissions across its operations while increasing investment in climate-focused initiatives. 
Britam Tower already incorporates energy-efficient features including LED lighting, motion sensors and biophilic architectural design under its EDGE green building certification. The Grade A skyscraper, which has set a benchmark for sustainable office developments in Africa, was the first building in Kenya to earn the prestigious EDGE certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its pioneering efficiency in energy, water and materials. 
The sustainability report also shows the company recorded a sharp reduction in water consumption, with group usage falling to 71,626 cubic metres in 2025 from 88,120 cubic metres the previous year. 
Britam also expanded ecosystem restoration programmes, restoring more than 444 acres of tree cover, planting 86,000 trees at the Mt Elgon Water Tower, another 10,000 in Rwanda and more than 5,700 trees in public schools, initiatives the company says created 1,358 green jobs.

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