What Starsight Energy does

Starsight Energy (legal entity: Starsight Power Utility Limited) is a privately held African energy-as-a-service provider headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 2015 to deliver clean on-grid and off-grid power to commercial and industrial (C&I) clients across the continent. The company designs, finances, installs, and operates hybrid solar-plus-battery-plus-grid-plus-generator power systems for clients in banking, education, healthcare, manufacturing, agro-processing, port logistics, and data/telecom sectors, currently spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, and Tanzania with 235MW of installed generating capacity, 83MWh of battery storage, and 17,980HP of cooling capacity across 500+ sites.

Starsight's technical differentiation centers on its proprietary Smart Energy Management System and C&I-specific engineering capabilities, including load profiling, inrush current management for heavy machinery, power quality and harmonics analysis for sensitive IT loads, and custom-engineered hybrid configurations that integrate solar PV, lithium battery storage, national grid feeds, and diesel backup. The company offers five commercial structures: Power-as-a-Service (PaaS), Solar-as-a-Service, Power Purchase Agreements (10-20 year terms), Lease Options (6-12 years), Outright Sale, and Revenue-Tied Instalment — most structured to require zero upfront capital from the client, with monthly usage-based billing per kWh consumed and guaranteed uptime of up to 99.9% on critical circuits.

Revenue mechanics blend long-tenor recurring PaaS/PPA cash flows with shorter-cycle outright sales, lease revenue, and operations & maintenance contracts. Pricing is consumption-based at per-kWh rates positioned 30-50% below grid tariffs. The company is backed by private equity investors Helios Investment Partners and Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), with significant long-term debt from development finance institutions including British International Investment ($15M mezzanine, 2026), Finnfund and Norfund ($20M senior debt, 2021), and Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (N3.6B / ~$9.2M senior debt, 2020). Distribution relies on a direct enterprise sales force organized by sector and geography, supported by thought-leadership content, project case studies, and brand credibility from regional awards and the Prince's Trust Global Sustainability Award.

Name

Starsight Energy

Legal name

Starsight Power Utility Limited

Website

https://starsightenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Starsight Energy is a Lagos-headquartered, pan-African energy-as-a-service provider that designs, finances, and operates hybrid solar, battery, and backup power systems for commercial and industrial clients across seven African countries, offering zero-upfront PaaS, PPA, and lease models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial & Industrial Solar Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Vegetation, Spares, SCADA) (EUACAGAH), Solar Grid Integration & Interconnection Services (Studies, Protection, SCADA, Forecasting) (EUAMABAI)

Keywords

• Commercial solar energy
• Power purchase agreements
• Energy-as-a-service
• Battery storage solutions
• Solar hybrid systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Power-as-a-Service (PaaS): Full hybrid solution including best-fit renewable power sources, efficient cooling systems, cutting-edge battery storage, robust energy management system, and entire operations & maintenance (O&M) services. Guaranteed level of service with up to 99.9% uptime on critical circuits. Zero upfront capital costs.
2. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Clients pay only for the energy from solar plants at a rate up to 50% less than grid price. Terms of 10, 12, 15, and 20 years available. Requires zero capital investment with free maintenance and remote monitoring.
3. Lease Option: CAPEX-free product allowing businesses to own solar system without large upfront investment over 6, 8, and 12 years. Monthly payments while retaining ownership of solar system until end of agreement. Flexible payment terms from 72 to 144 months.
4. Outright Sale: Complete solar energy system purchase in two instalments - one at purchase order issuance and one at commissioning. Secures future energy needs at current prices, shielding from inflation effects.
5. Revenue-Tied Instalment: Buy entire solar system in up to four instalments within one year. Payment terms tailored to align with recurring revenue patterns. Guaranteed ownership after one year.
6. Operations & Maintenance Services: Comprehensive maintenance for solar plants including monthly panel cleaning and quarterly preventive maintenance. Payment due monthly subsequent to service delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Starsight Energy provides end-to-end clean on-grid and off-grid energy solutions to commercial and industrial clients across Africa. Core offerings include Power-as-a-Service (PaaS), Solar-as-a-Service, Cooling-as-a-Service, Operations & Maintenance, and multiple financing models (PPA, Lease, Outright Sale, Revenue-Tied Instalment). All solutions are delivered with zero to low upfront capital costs, guaranteed uptime, and proprietary smart energy management technology integrating solar PV, battery storage, and backup generation.

Product overview

Starsight Energy is Africa's leading clean energy solutions provider serving commercial and industrial clients. The company operates a portfolio of eight distinct offerings: Power-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Solar-as-a-Service as core energy solutions; Cooling-as-a-Service (CPaaS) for climate control; and four financing models (Lease Option, Power Purchase Agreement, Outright Sale, and Revenue-Tied Instalment) providing flexible ways to access solar systems with zero to low upfront capital. Operations & Maintenance services support the full lifecycle. Key differentiators include no upfront capital requirements, guaranteed uptime, proprietary smart technology for energy optimization, and end-to-end service delivery from assessment through installation and ongoing support. The company serves sectors including banking, healthcare, education, manufacturing, agro-processing, and data storage across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Power-as-a-Service (PaaS): A full hybrid solution consisting of renewable power sources, efficient cooling systems, cutting-edge battery storage, and operations & maintenance services with guaranteed uptime
• Cooling-as-a-Service
• SolarAfrica

Products and services

• Power-as-a-Service (PaaS) Comprehensive end-to-end energy solution combining solar power, battery storage, cooling systems, and proprietary energy management for commercial and industrial clients. Includes full operations and maintenance with guaranteed uptime on critical circuits. Zero upfront capital required.
• Solar-as-a-Service Solar PV-only solution for daytime energy optimization with no upfront capital costs. Clients pay a monthly fee with optional battery storage based on needs.
• Cooling-as-a-Service (CPaaS) Integrated cooling solutions for commercial and industrial facilities, combined with power solutions to provide comprehensive energy efficiency. Includes ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
• Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Long-term solar system installation with no upfront costs. Clients pay only for energy produced at rates up to 50% less than grid price. Contract terms available in 10, 12, 15, and 20 years.
• Lease Option CAPEX-free solar system allowing businesses to own the solar system without upfront investment over 6, 8, or 12 years via monthly payments. Includes free maintenance and remote monitoring.
• Outright Sale Direct purchase of a complete solar energy system in two instalments — one at purchase order issuance and one at commissioning. Provides outright ownership and shields the business from inflation.
• Revenue-Tied Instalment Solar system purchase in up to four instalments within one year, with payments aligned to recurring revenue patterns. Starsight maintains ownership until full payment; guaranteed ownership after one year.
• Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Comprehensive maintenance for solar plants including monthly panel cleaning and quarterly preventive maintenance. Covers fault fixing, generator maintenance, air conditioning maintenance, and 24/7 customer support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 35% cost savings on energy expenses
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• PwCsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 May 2026PwC's Deals team provided financial due diligence services to British International Investment for the $15 million mezzanine debt funding into Starsight Energy Africa Group.
• Premier Solar GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2021Starsight acquired 50% stake in Premier Solar Group's East African operations, creating Starsight Premier Energy Group. Extends presence to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Premier Solar brings 2.7MW delivered and 8.8MW in execution.
• Bethesda Child Support FoundationminorOthersCSR partnership for 'Hand in Hand for Children' initiative. Sponsored school feeding programme for Matogun Primary School pupils in Ogun State throughout December.
• Lagos Food Bank InitiativeminorOthersCSR partnership through Starsight's 'Powering People' Impact Day initiative. Distribution of Care Boxes weighing 1,333.5kg to 150 beneficiaries across Lagos communities.
• Ekiti State GovernmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEkiti State government selected Starsight to power a hospital in Ikole Ekiti, providing critical support for the project completed in five days during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DAYSTAR Power: DAYSTAR Power is a leading C&I solar provider in West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Ivory Coast) offering Power-as-a-Service and PPA models with zero upfront cost. Headquartered in Lagos, it directly competes with Starsight in the same Nigerian banking, telecom, and industrial segments.
• CrossBoundary Energy: CrossBoundary Energy develops, owns, and operates distributed renewable energy projects for commercial and industrial clients across Africa. Its Energy-as-a-Service model with PPA structure is directly comparable to Starsight's PaaS offering, serving mining, agriculture, and commercial clients.
• PowerGen Renewable Energy: PowerGen is a pan-African renewable energy company providing C&I solar and hybrid solutions in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda). Its asset-financed renewable energy model targeting commercial clients closely mirrors Starsight's Power-as-a-Service approach.
• Distributed Energy: Distributed Energy provides C&I solar PPA solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, targeting commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and agricultural operations. Similar customer base, financing model, and geographic scope to Starsight.
• SolarAfrica: SolarAfrica is a C&I solar PPA provider in South Africa (now part of Starsight Energy group via merger). It serves the same commercial and industrial customer base with comparable Power-as-a-Service offerings in the Southern African market.

Broad incumbents

• juwi Renewable Energies: juwi is a major global renewable energy EPC with operations across Africa. While broader in scope (utility-scale and C&I), it competes with Starsight in the African commercial solar EPC market with similar hybrid solar-storage solutions.
• Engie Energy Access: Engie Energy Access is a major distributed renewable energy provider serving both off-grid households and C&I clients across Africa. As part of global utility Engie, it has scale advantages but a broader portfolio than Starsight's focused C&I offering.

Emerging players

• Zola Electric: Zola Electric provides distributed solar and storage solutions across sub-Saharan Africa with pay-as-you-go and PPA models. Its focus on African energy access overlaps with Starsight's C&I market, particularly in Tanzania and other East African markets.
• Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Sun King is a leading distributed solar provider across Africa and Asia, primarily serving residential and SME customers with pay-as-you-go solar. While focused on smaller customers, it increasingly serves commercial clients in similar African geographies.
• BBOXX: BBOXX is a UK-based distributed solar company operating across sub-Saharan Africa with pay-as-you-go solar home systems. Though primarily residential/SME focused, it operates in similar African markets and serves adjacent customer segments to Starsight.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starsight-energy
• Xx.com/StarsightEnergy
• Facebookfacebook.com/starsightenergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Starsight Energy