As a mini-grid developer committed to powering underserved communities, Renewvia faced a familiar challenge: surplus solar energy generated during the day often went unused due to limited commercial electricity consumption. Recognizing the need to stimulate demand and diversify energy use, the company sought to strengthen its business model by unlocking opportunities for productive energy use.
Renewvia recently concluded a successful Technical Assistance (TA) project that was funded by CEI Africa focused on integrating Productive Use of Energy (PUE) within the Kalobeyei settlement in Turkana County, Kenya. This initiative supports Renewvia’s ambitious plan to scale its mini-grid capacity —ultimately aiming to serve up to 14,000 connections, enabling refugees, women & children and low income earners access to energy.
The TA support enabled Renewvia to conduct a detailed market research, assess the potential for productive energy applications, and develop viable business and financing strategies. A key component of the project included capacity-building sessions, empowering Renewvia’s internal team with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively integrate and scale PUE initiatives. They developed five different PUE business models as part of their TA trajectory and received training on how to implement these.
This initiative marks a critical milestone in Renewvia’s journey toward greater operational efficiency and long-term financial sustainability. Through tailored technical support, CEI Africa helped Renewvia uncover actionable insights into community energy needs, economic activities, and opportunities to embed small enterprises into the local energy ecosystem. By aligning energy provision with community-driven demand and strengthening internal capabilities, Renewvia is enhancing the economic viability of its mini-grids, improving its attractiveness to investors, and positioning itself for scalable growth.
This partnership reflects CEI Africa’s broader mission of supporting financially sustainable mini-grid operators across Sub-Saharan Africa. Integrating PUE not only expands energy access—it also fosters local economic development, job creation, and an improved quality of life for both host and refugee communities, ultimately paving the way for increased access to funding and long-term sector resilience.
