Kenya-based solar leader Sun King raises major equity backing to expand decentralized energy access and strengthen distribution, product and service infrastructure.
Major Equity Funding Boost for Off-Grid Solar
Sun King, a Nairobi-based off-grid solar energy company active across multiple African markets, has secured US $40 million in equity financing from global sustainable investor Lightrock. This injection of capital will support the firm’s expansion of decentralized solar operations across Africa and Asia, reinforcing both product development and on-the-ground distribution and service networks.
The equity round underscores continued investor confidence in solar solutions that bring reliable electricity to rural and underserved populations where grid infrastructure remains weak or absent.
Scaling Clean Energy Solutions Beyond the Grid
Founded nearly two decades ago, Sun King combines solar generation with energy-efficient appliances, installation services and customer financing, often through pay-as-you-go plans, to deliver decentralized power solutions.
The company offers affordable solar kits for basic home lighting and phone charging to multi-kilowatt solar inverter systems that power large residences, schools, health clinics, farms and commercial facilities.
“Sun King has grown from delivering 10,000 solar kits a month in 2017 to more than 330,000 each month today. We are working to expand to one million solar kits each month by 2030 to meet the basic energy needs of, at least, 200 million people, and this investment is part of the overall financing required to reach that operational scale,” said CEO and co-founder Patrick Walsh.
With the new funding, Sun King aims to strengthen its product offerings.
Geographic Reach and Operational Footprint
Sun King currently operates in around 11 African countries and continues to expand its reach to deliver affordable and reliable solar solutions to over 470 retail outlets. The company’s distributed energy model is designed to bring clean power to communities where grid access is limited or non-existent, a persistent challenge across much of sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
Expanding from product delivery to a broader service and installation network helps ensure that the company doesn’t just sell solar kits, but also builds lasting infrastructure capable of supporting widespread and sustained energy access.
Investment Signals Confidence in Distributed Energy
Lightrock’s equity commitment reflects broader interest from impact investors in decentralized clean energy solutions, especially those that combine technology with scalable delivery models in emerging markets. By bolstering Sun King’s financial foundation, the funding is expected to accelerate access to decentralized electricity for underserved households and small businesses.
Sun King’s model, which integrates solar system sales, flexible financing options and field-level support, positions it to reach deeper into rural and peri-urban regions where conventional grid expansion is prohibitively expensive.
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