What Sun King does

Sun King (legal entity Greenlight Planet Inc., founded 2007 and rebranded from Greenlight Planet in 2022) designs, distributes, installs, and finances off-grid solar energy solutions for households and small businesses lacking reliable electricity, primarily in Africa and South/Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company operates 440+ company-owned retail shops across 12 countries and reaches an additional 40+ countries via distribution partnerships, with cumulative deployments of more than 31.5 million solar products powering approximately 27.2 million homes and connecting around 300,000 new households per month as of 2025.

Sun King's product portfolio spans portable lanterns (Pico Plus, Pro 400, Boom), three tiers of solar home systems (HomePlus, HomePlus Pro, HomePlus Max), and hybrid inverter systems (PowerPlay Pro at 600W and PowerHub scalable from 2kW to 30kW), with adjacent offerings including the EZ 1 smartphone (locally assembled in Kenya), PowerFreeze solar refrigerator/freezer, and EasyCook clean cooking systems. Core technology uses lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) batteries rated for 10 years / 2,500 cycles, monocrystalline panels, and hybrid inverters with grid-bypass and UPS capability. All products are managed through Sun King Link API, a proprietary GSM-enabled activation and monitoring stack that underpins the company's pay-as-you-go financing infrastructure.

The company generates revenue primarily through hardware sales financed under its EasyBuy PAYG model, where customers pay a small deposit followed by daily, weekly, or monthly installments starting from $0.19 per day; total solar loans extended to households since 2007 exceed $1.71 billion across 13.8 million individual customers. Distribution runs through 41,000+ community-based field agents (Energy Officers) supplemented by the retail shop network. Capital is sourced from a mix of equity (notable investors include BeyondNetZero/General Atlantic, M&G Investments, Arch Emerging Markets Partners, LeapFrog Investments, and Lightrock) and innovative sustainable finance structures, including local-currency securitizations such as the $156 million Kenya shilling deal in 2025 — the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa — alongside debt facilities from IFC, British International Investment, FMO, and Norfund.

Name

Sun King

Legal name

Greenlight Planet Inc.

Website

https://sunking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sun King (Greenlight Planet) designs, manufactures, distributes, and finances off-grid solar products — lanterns, home systems, inverters, smartphones, and appliances — for households and small businesses across Africa and Asia via a pay-as-you-go model delivered through 41,000+ field agents and 440+ retail shops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Off-Grid Solar Energy Solutions

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Off-grid solar solutions
• Solar home systems
• Pay-as-you-go financing
• Solar inverter systems
• Solar lanterns

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Solar Hardware Sales: Sun King generates primary revenue through the sale of solar hardware products including lanterns, solar home systems, solar inverter systems, smartphones, and appliances. Products are sold either as one-time purchases or through the EasyBuy financing model where customers pay deposits followed by installments over 12-24 months. Total solar loans extended exceed $1.7 billion to households.
2. Pay-As-You-Go Financing Interest: Sun King's EasyBuy model enables customers to access solar products through small, manageable payments starting from as little as $0.19 per day. Revenue is generated through the markup on financed products, with customers repaying over 12-24 months. The company has extended $1.71 billion in solar loans to 13.8 million individual customers since 2007.
3. Sustainable Finance and Securitization: Sun King raises capital through sustainable finance instruments including local-currency securitizations, bonds aligned with Social and Green Bond and Loan Principles, and debt facilities. The company completed a landmark $156 million KES securitization in Kenya (2025) and $80 million naira-denominated facility in Nigeria. Approximately one in three Sun King products deployed since 2023 were backed by sustainable financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Sun King designs, engineers, manufactures, distributes, installs and finances off-grid solar energy solutions for households and businesses lacking reliable electricity. The portfolio spans portable solar lanterns, multi-room solar home systems, multi-kilowatt solar inverter systems, off-grid smartphones, solar-powered refrigerators, and clean cooking solutions, made accessible through the company's proprietary EasyBuy pay-as-you-go (PAYG) financing starting at $0.19 per day.

Product overview

Sun King offers a comprehensive off-grid solar product portfolio targeting underserved households and businesses in Africa and Asia. The portfolio spans four main categories: (1) Solar Lanterns including Pico Plus, Pro 400, and Boom for portable lighting with phone charging and entertainment features; (2) Solar Home Systems including HomePlus (entry), HomePlus Pro (mid-tier), and HomePlus Max (premium) with bundled TV and fan add-ons; (3) Solar Inverter Systems including PowerPlay Pro (portable 600W) and PowerHub (2-30kW for homes/businesses) providing complete AC power; and (4) New product extensions including EZ 1 smartphone, PowerFreeze solar refrigerator/freezer, and EasyCook clean cooking solutions. All products are available through EasyBuy pay-as-you-go financing enabling installment payments. The company operates in 12 countries directly with distribution partnerships in 40 more, supported by a manufacturing facility in Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EasyBuy: Pay-as-you-go financing option allowing customers to break down costs into small, manageable payments through mobile money or cash
• PowerFreeze
• EasyCook
• EZ 1

Products and services

• HomePlus Entry-level solar home system providing essential lighting (480 lumens total across three lights), phone charging via USB, and a 10-year LFP battery with a 7W solar panel. Sold via EasyBuy PAYG or cash purchase to off-grid households in Africa and Asia.
• HomePlus Pro Mid-tier solar home system delivering 960 lumens from four tube lights and fast smartphone charging via a USB-A port. Includes a 13W solar panel and battery with up to 55 hours runtime. Available via EasyBuy PAYG or cash purchase.
• HomePlus Max Premium solar home system with four 600-lumen tube lights, a motion-sensing security lamp, 65W USB-C output for laptop charging, 192 Wh LFP battery, 80W panel, and dual solar/grid charging. Compatible with Sun King DC TVs and fans. Available via EasyBuy PAYG or cash.
• Pico Plus Affordable portable solar lantern with built-in solar panel, 50-lumen brightness, USB port for basic feature-phone charging, and up to 72 hours runtime on low-power mode.
• Pro 400 Portable solar lantern with 400 lumen brightness (approximately 40x brighter than kerosene), up to 100 hours runtime, 9.4 Wh battery with 5-year battery lifespan, USB phone charging, and 5.5W solar panel with aluminium frame.
• Boom Versatile solar lantern combining 160-lumen lighting, FM radio, MP3 player, and basic phone charging. Supports USB and SD card media playback up to 32GB, with up to 36 hours runtime.
• PowerPlay Pro Portable hybrid solar inverter system providing 600W AC output for essential home and business appliances. Features an 800 Wh LFP battery with 10-year lifespan, GSM-enabled PAYG activation, dual charging from solar and grid, and Sun King Link API compatibility. Powers TVs, laptops, freezers, and other AC/DC appliances.
• PowerHub Complete AC solar and energy storage system for homes and businesses, customizable from 2 kW to 30 kW AC output. Features LFP lithium-ion batteries with 10-year lifespan, expandable post-purchase. Available in Core (2 kW / 2.5 kWh) and Plus (3.3 kW / 5 kWh) configurations.
• EZ 1 Smartphone Sun King's first Android smartphone engineered for off-grid and unreliable-grid communities with long battery life and durable hardware. Assembled locally in Kiambu County, Kenya. Available via EasyBuy PAYG financing (e.g. KSh 2,999 deposit and KSh 60 daily payments in Kenya; flexible installments across 36 Nigerian states).
• PowerFreeze Solar-powered refrigerator and freezer that runs directly on solar and battery, eliminating the need for grid electricity or generators. Operates as both refrigerator and freezer and can also power phones, laptops, and lighting.
• EasyCook Clean cooking solution combining modern LPG cooking equipment with pay-as-you-go enabled meters. Allows families to pay incrementally for gas; the system monitors fuel use, predicts when cylinders will run low, and triggers timely replacements.
• 16" Solar Fan Portable solar-powered table fan with 16-inch blades, three speed modes, brushless DC motor, up to 18 hours runtime, and a 20W polycrystalline solar panel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of customers report improved quality of life after purchasing Sun King products
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ethiopian Investment CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Sun King signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Investment Commission to formalize market entry with up to $150 million investment by 2030, reaching 2 million households and businesses. The EIC will provide comprehensive facilitation and fast-track support for investment permits, business licenses, and stakeholder introductions.
• Imagine WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSun King partnered with Imagine Worldwide to install solar systems in every primary school in Malawi, managing the entire value chain from manufacturing to installation. The partnership leverages Sun King's 15 years of experience and local presence, with Imagine Worldwide focusing on educational technology programs.
• Nigerian GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSun King established a partnership with the Nigerian government to promote renewable energy access, including the $80 million debt facility from IFC and Stanbic IBTC Bank and the $5.9 million UNDP-backed mini-grid program.

Scale indicators31 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• M-KOPA: Kenya-based PAYG solar company offering solar home systems and energy products to off-grid customers across East Africa. Directly competes with Sun King on product, customer segment, and PAYG financing model.
• d.light: Global off-grid solar company headquartered in Kenya that designs, manufactures, and distributes solar lanterns and home systems to households without electricity access. Competes head-to-head with Sun King across Africa and Asia.
• Bboxx: UK-based PAYG solar provider operating primarily in East and West Africa. Competes with Sun King in solar home systems, PAYG financing, and last-mile distribution to off-grid households.
• Zola Electric: Tanzania-headquartered PAYG solar and energy storage provider serving off-grid customers across East Africa. Directly competes with Sun King's PAYG solar home system and inverter offerings.
• Oolu Energy: Senegal-based PAYG solar provider serving West African off-grid households and small businesses. Directly comparable to Sun King in product line, target customer, and PAYG financing model, with overlapping West African footprint.

Emerging players

• Husk Power Systems: Off-grid energy company operating hybrid mini-grids and solar home systems across Africa and South Asia. Comparable to Sun King in addressing energy access, but uses a different model (community mini-grids vs. PAYG home systems).
• PowerGen Renewable Energy: East Africa-focused mini-grid developer building solar hybrid mini-grids in Tanzania, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. Adjacent competitor in the off-grid energy access space, primarily serving community-level demand.
• Equatorial Power: Uganda-based mini-grid developer operating solar hybrid mini-grids in rural East Africa. Comparable to Sun King in serving off-grid customers, though focused on village-level centralized generation rather than household systems.

Others

• Angaza Energy: San Francisco-based PAYG software platform enabling off-grid solar distributors to manage PAYG financing, inventory, and customer data. Sun King's EasyBuy/Link API competes with Angaza's platform as alternative infrastructure for the industry.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation major offering solar inverters, storage, and electrical equipment across commercial, industrial, and increasingly off-grid markets. Overlaps with Sun King's PowerHub inverter systems at higher power levels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SunKingGlobal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SunKing
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalSunKing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunkingglobal

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds14 records

Investors31 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sun King