SkyPower to Donate Two Million Home Solar Kits in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
SkyPower, the world's largest developer and owner of utility-scale solar projects, recently signed a landmark US $2.2 billion agreement with the Government of Kenya during the 6th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit to develop 1 GW of solar projects. As part of this historic moment for Kenya, Skypower is pleased to announce it will be gifting two million SkyPower Home solar kits to the people of Kenya.
SkyPower, under the guidance of the Government of Kenya, will distribute two million solar kits to homes and working families across the nation currently without access to electricity. The portable SkyPower Home solar kits include a solar panel and an inverter to help Kenyans harness the power of the sun. The home solar kits include LED bulbs, a fan, USB charging capabilities and a radio that will be powered and recharged by the sun.
"This monumental grant marks the largest single commitment in history, which provides an unprecedented solar solution to give power to the people of Kenya and communities without access to basic power," said Kerry Adler, President and Chief Executive Officer of SkyPower. "We are proud to help empower Kenya to harness the abundant power of the sun to improve the lives and economic prospects of its people, ultimately positioning Kenya to become a renewable energy hub for Africa."
SkyPower Home solar kits will help Kenya's citizens leapfrog towards greater energy access and increase the standard of living as a whole. Kenya and its people are realizing rapid growth as the largest economy in East Africa. SkyPower is proud to play an integral role in creating new green energy jobs, advancing opportunities for skills development and training, and providing basic access to energy with its recent commitments in the country.
"We are delighted to work with the Kenyan Government in the rapid implementation of this micro-electrification initiative that will help millions of people," said Charles Cohen, Executive Vice President of SkyPower Global. "This progressive partnership is the next step in generating a brighter future for Kenya."
SkyPower has a long history of working closely with local communities to produce hundreds of millions of kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean electricity every year, while ensuring that those closest to the developments reap the rewards of renewable electrification. This initiative is another step forward in SkyPower's corporate social responsibility program, SkyPower Cares, which helps bring light to communities with limited, intermittent or no access to electricity.
"This collaboration between SkyPower and the Government of Kenya makes me proud to be a Kenyan," said Anwar Hussein, Managing Director for SkyPower Kenya. "The donation of 2 million SkyPower Home solar kits will make a positive impact on Kenyan families, and help Kenya's economic momentum."
ABOUT SKYPOWER
SkyPower is the largest and one of the most successful developers and owners of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) energy projects in the world. With roots dating back to over a decade, SkyPower's global team possesses a vast track record of over 800 years of combined experience in power and large infrastructure projects.
The experienced and accomplished SkyPower team has built, assembled and acquired an extensive pipeline of over 25 GW worldwide - 6 GW of which was recently announced in bilateral agreements to be built on the continent of Africa over the next five years in both Egypt and Nigeria.
Over the past few years alone, SkyPower has secured over two dozen utility-scale solar PV Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Contracts, which in aggregate represent well in excess of US $80 billion worth of long-term renewable energy sales to leading utilities and governments around the world.
The SkyPower team over the past decade has proudly established long-term strategic partnerships with local, in-country developers. As well, SkyPower has consulted for and advised international leaders and Heads of State in its unprecedented approach to working in unison with these leaders to ensure a brighter future for generations to come. Through its dedicated team members, composed of employees, consultants and advisors working out of 33 international offices, SkyPower develops, finances, owns and operates solar energy projects from the initial stages through commercial operation in more than 60 countries around the world.
SkyPower prides itself on its established relationships with world leading banks and financial institutions, as well as with its global and local suppliers, and the indigenous peoples and communities who work hand in hand with SkyPower with the shared objective of producing hundreds of millions of kWh of clean electricity each and every year.
SkyPower is majority owned by CIM Group, a U.S. based transformational urban real estate and infrastructure investment firm founded in 1994 with approximately US $19.8 billion in assets under management. http://www.cimgroup.com
For more information about SkyPower, please contact:
Hando Kang, Vice President, International Public Affairs | hando.kang@skypower.com | +1-647-478-2812
Maria Vorobieva, Director, International Public Affairs | mariav@skypower.com | +1-647-478-1149
Zul Kapadia, Director, Global Intelligence & Integration | zulk@skypower.com | +1-416-419-0631
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