The installation is expected to offset a significant portion of daytime power consumption
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The project, installed by Safer Power Limited, comprises a 40.92-kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic system, a 40-kilowatt alternating current hybrid inverter and an 80-kilowatt-hour energy storage system.
The installation is expected to offset a significant portion of the school’s daytime electricity consumption while providing battery-backed power during outages.
Speaking during the commissioning, Lukenya Schools Director Mutheu Kasanga said the investment was a step towards achieving energy independence.
“Today we have commissioned a solar plant and hope to move completely out of the grid,” Kasanga said.
She noted that the institution had experienced persistent challenges with unreliable electricity supply, particularly because of its location in a rural setting, forcing it to invest in backup systems to keep operations running.
“Some of the challenges we have had with the grid being a rural school are quite significant. It takes a lot to resolve some of the issues, and we have had to invest in the past in a backup system when we have grid failure,” she said.
Kasanga said the school’s boarding status meant it required a dependable electricity supply throughout the day and night to support academic activities, accommodation and essential services.
She added that the new system would provide greater certainty during prolonged outages, particularly during rainy weather and the examination season.
The reliable supply is also expected to protect food stored in freezers and reduce losses caused by power interruptions, which have previously forced the school to use food earlier than scheduled to prevent it from spoiling.
Safer Power Group Chief Executive Officer Dalmus Mbai said the project demonstrated how renewable energy could help African institutions address persistent electricity challenges while creating a better environment for learners.
“When you look at the problems facing Africa, 90 per cent of those are related to power,” Mbai said.
“Today I am the luckiest person. We have switched from one system to another,” Mulwea said.
She recalled that 34 years ago, she had to pay commercial rates to extend electricity infrastructure from the main road to the school.
“Thirty-four years ago, the troubles we had, I had to pay commercial rates to get power from the road to here,” she said.
Mulwea noted that the cost of securing electricity infrastructure in the past had been substantially higher than the investment in the new solar project.
The installation marks a shift towards renewable energy at the institution, with the school seeking to improve operational efficiency, strengthen energy security and reduce its exposure to disruptions in the national grid.
