Sun King Targets 2 Million Ethiopian Customers with $150M Off-Grid Solar Investment by 2030
Kenya-based solar company Sun King plans to invest up to $150 million to expand access to electricity in Ethiopia by 2030, aiming to reach around 2 million households and small businesses outside the national grid.
The announcement was made in a joint statement with the Ethiopian Investment Commission, which confirmed that Sun King will establish a local subsidiary as part of its entry into the Ethiopian market.
The investment is part of the company’s broader $1.3 billion expansion strategy across Africa.
Focus on off-grid solar solutions
Sun King will deploy solar home systems and other off-grid technologies designed for areas not connected to the national electricity grid.
The company primarily uses pay-as-you-go models, allowing customers to make small, incremental payments over time.
The firm said the approach has already been successfully implemented across several African markets, where it currently operates in 14 countries.
“Our goal is to make reliable and affordable solar energy accessible to households and small businesses that are currently underserved,” Sun King said.
Ethiopia’s electrification challenge
Ethiopia, a country of more than 120 million people, has expanded power generation in recent years, including large-scale hydropower projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. However, electricity access remains uneven, particularly in rural areas.
While the country exports electricity to neighboring states, many remote communities still lack reliable access due to high infrastructure costs and difficult terrain, which slow national grid expansion.
The Ethiopian Investment Commission said the partnership supports national efforts to expand energy access through private-sector participation, noting that off-grid solutions can complement ongoing grid development.
Growing role of distributed energy
Across sub-Saharan Africa, governments are increasingly combining grid expansion with decentralized energy systems to improve electrification rates.
Off-grid solar is seen as a faster and more cost-effective solution for reaching remote populations where grid extension is not immediately feasible.
In Ethiopia, distributed solar systems are already being used to provide lighting, mobile charging, and basic electricity services in underserved communities.
Sun King’s expansion into Ethiopia is expected to strengthen its presence in East Africa as demand for off-grid energy solutions continues to grow.
