Solarcentury
Solarcentury develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale solar photovoltaic plants through its subsidiary Solarcentury Africa, selling electricity directly via the Southern African Power Pool to utilities and buyers across Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Solarcentury does
Solarcentury, founded in 1998 and headquartered in London, is a private renewable energy developer whose current operational focus is delivered through its subsidiary Solarcentury Africa Limited, a BB Energy-owned entity that develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale solar photovoltaic plants in Southern Africa. The company's core technology is grid-connected solar PV delivered under a merchant model: rather than selling output under long-term bilateral power purchase agreements, Solarcentury Africa dispatches electricity directly into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), enabling cross-border trading across Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.
Its installed base currently comprises the 25 MWp Mailo Solar Plant in Zambia and the 19.3 MWp Gerus Solar Farm in Namibia (44.3 MWp operational). Gerus, commissioned in December 2025, is the first merchant solar plant in Namibia and the second purpose-built merchant solar project in Africa, generating approximately 50.8 GWh annually and powering over 14,000 homes. The pipeline includes a 34 MWp Mailo Phase 2 expansion targeted for Q2 2026 commercial operation and the proposed 113 MW Lotsane Solar Plant in Botswana, taking identified capacity to 165.3 MWp and supporting a stated target of over 320 MWp of fully merchant solar capacity by 2027.
Solarcentury Africa makes money by selling electricity on a transaction-fee-equivalent basis into the SAPP day-ahead market, monetizing the price spread between solar generation cost and pool clearing prices without a contracted offtaker. Capital has been raised through approximately $20M of debt from parent BB Energy for Gerus and an $80M FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank) facility split between refinancing operational assets and funding Lotsane. Development is executed in partnership with Sino Energy as EPC/co-development counterparty, and the go-to-market is institutional/B2B, engaging development finance institutions, regional power authorities, and energy-sector press rather than retail channels.
Solarcentury firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solarcentury
- Legal name
- Solarcentury Africa Limited
- Website
- https://solarcentury.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Solarcentury develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale solar photovoltaic plants through its subsidiary Solarcentury Africa, selling electricity directly via the Southern African Power Pool to utilities and buyers across Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solarcentury industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Utility-Scale Solar Power Generation
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)
Keywords
Where Solarcentury is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Solarcentury business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Merchant Electricity Sales: Solarcentury Africa operates merchant solar plants that sell electricity directly through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), allowing direct cross-border power trading. This model diversifies regional energy mixes and improves energy security amid hydropower shortages caused by drought.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Solarcentury product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solarcentury develops, constructs, owns and operates utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plants, with its current strategic focus on merchant solar projects in Southern Africa (Zambia, Namibia, Botswana) that sell electricity directly through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). Active plants include the 19.3 MWp Gerus Solar Farm in Namibia and the 25 MWp Mailo Solar Plant in Zambia, with a 34 MWp Phase 2 Mailo expansion and a proposed 113 MWp Lotsane Solar Plant in Botswana in development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gerus Solar Farm (19.3 MWp) 19.3 MWp photovoltaic solar plant in Namibia, operational since December 2025, that trades electricity directly through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP); expected to generate approximately 50.8 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power more than 14,000 Namibian homes.
- Mailo Solar Plant (25 MWp, with 34 MWp Phase 2 expansion) 25 MWp operational solar plant in Zambia, with a 34 MWp Phase 2 expansion underway that is expected to reach commercial operation in Q2 2026; sells electricity through the Southern African Power Pool alongside the Gerus plant.
- Lotsane Solar Plant (113 MWp, proposed) Proposed 113 MW solar facility in Botswana intended to be funded under the $80 million FMO financing package and to form a central part of Solarcentury Africa's expansion toward more than 320 MWp of fully merchant solar capacity by 2027.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50.8 GWh of clean electricity generated annually from Gerus plant
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Solarcentury
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Solarcentury technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Solarcentury partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sino EnergycoreSolarcentury Africa developed the 19.3 MWp Gerus solar photovoltaic plant in partnership with Sino Energy. The project was completed on a 12-month construction schedule and represents a collaborative development effort for merchant solar infrastructure.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solarcentury competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- juwi Renewable Energies: German-headquartered renewable energy developer with utility-scale solar EPC and operational projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable as a developer/constructor of utility-scale solar plants targeting Southern African grids.
- Cennergi: South African renewable energy IPP with operational and pipeline utility-scale solar projects in the SAPP region. Directly comparable as a regional renewable IPP selling into the same Southern African power markets.
- Globeleq: Africa-focused power developer and IPP operating renewable generation assets across multiple African countries. Directly comparable as a Southern/Central African power developer with utility-scale solar and wind in similar jurisdictions to Solarcentury Africa.
- Scatec: Norwegian-listed renewable IPP with significant solar generation assets across Sub-Saharan Africa. Closely comparable as a utility-scale solar developer/owner/operator targeting similar emerging-market grids with a mix of PPA and merchant exposure.
- Lekela Power: Africa-focused renewable IPP backed by Actis, operating utility-scale wind and solar projects across South Africa, Egypt, and Senegal. Comparable as a regional renewable developer/operator targeting similar African power markets and similar project structures.
- Mainstream Renewable Power: Global renewable IPP with an established Southern African development pipeline, including utility-scale solar projects in South Africa and neighboring SAPP countries. Comparable business model as a developer/operator of utility-scale solar in Southern Africa.
Broad incumbents
- Statkraft: Europe's largest renewable energy generator with diversified solar, wind, and hydro portfolio across multiple continents including solar development in Southern Africa. Comparable as a much larger incumbent IPP operating in overlapping geographies and power markets, including SAPP.
- EDP Renováveis (EDPR): Global renewable energy developer with utility-scale solar and wind operations including projects in Southern Africa. Comparable as a large multinational IPP active in overlapping geographies, though with a much broader technology and geographic portfolio.
- Enel Green Power: Global renewable energy IPP owned by Enel Group, with utility-scale solar and wind operations across multiple African markets. Comparable as a large multinational incumbent with broader portfolio but overlapping customer base and geographies.
Regional players
- Solfácil: Latin American distributed and utility-scale solar financing platform operating primarily in Brazil. Comparable as a regional solar financing and ownership platform applying platform-style capital deployment to solar assets, but in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Solarcentury social profiles
Digital presenceSolarcentury financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solarcentury leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Solarcentury funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solarcentury M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solarcentury
What does Solarcentury do?
Solarcentury develops, constructs, owns and operates utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plants, with its current strategic focus on merchant solar projects in Southern Africa (Zambia, Namibia, Botswana) that sell electricity directly through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). Active plants include the 19.3 MWp Gerus Solar Farm in Namibia and the 25 MWp Mailo Solar Plant in Zambia, with a 34 MWp Phase 2 Mailo expansion and a proposed 113 MWp Lotsane Solar Plant in Botswana in development.
Is Solarcentury a public or private company?
Solarcentury is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Solarcentury founded?
Solarcentury was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Solarcentury based?
Solarcentury is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Solarcentury make money?
One revenue line is on record: merchant Electricity Sales.
Who are Solarcentury's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are juwi Renewable Energies, Cennergi, Globeleq, Scatec, Lekela Power and Mainstream Renewable Power. Broad incumbents are Statkraft, EDP Renováveis (EDPR) and Enel Green Power. Solfácil is listed as a regional player.
Does Solarcentury have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solarcentury.
What industry is Solarcentury in?
Solarcentury's product category is Utility-Scale Solar Power Generation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACAGAC, PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations), with a secondary code of EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.