By: Ecofin agency

Empower New Energy announced on Wednesday, September 17, that it has received approval from the Kenyan Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to develop a 4 MW solar power plant in Awasi, western Kenya. The company also signed a $2.5 million contract with Abyssinia Group of Industries (AGI), a major steel producer in East Africa, to supply its plant with clean energy.

With this facility, Empower’s total installed solar capacity for Abyssinia will reach 9 MW. Together, the plants are expected to generate about 14 GWh of electricity annually, avoiding more than 7,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. “This fourth solar project with Abyssinia Group is a testimony of the mutual benefits of our partnership. “Together, we are building one of the largest industrial solar portfolios in Kenya,” said Terje Osmundsen, the company’s CEO.

Empower is actively expanding in several African markets. In August 2025, it commissioned a 1.1 MW solar plant for L’Oréal Egypt, producing 1.6 GWh of clean power per year. It also launched a solar program for the Justrite retail chain in Nigeria and invested in installations for Barry Callebaut in Ghana. In December 2024, the company signed a $50 million deal with Engazaat to finance a 40 MW portfolio in Egypt.

This expansion underscores Empower’s strategy to target industrial and commercial sectors with innovative financing and fast execution. It also highlights the growing role of solar power in boosting competitiveness for large African companies. For Kenya, which aims to cut emissions by 32% by 2030 under the Paris Agreement, such initiatives support both the energy transition and industrial growth.