East African Power

What East African Power does

East African Power (EAP) is a Kigali-headquartered, Canadian-founded integrated renewable energy developer and engineering company that develops, designs, builds, finances, and operates hydropower and solar PV plants across East and Central Africa. Founded in 2012 by Dan Klinck and operating with roughly 130 staff and 300+ years of combined energy experience, EAP runs three core service lines — Advisory (feasibility, permitting, PPA negotiation, financial structuring), full-scope Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) for hydro and solar at utility, commercial & industrial, and mini-grid scales, and long-term Operations & Maintenance with 24/7 remote monitoring — and also operates as an Independent Power Producer under multi-decade PPAs with national utilities.

The company's underlying technology stack combines conventional run-of-river hydropower (Francis turbines) and utility-scale solar PV with two notable proprietary/integration elements: a containerized plug-and-play hydropower architecture (deployed at Rubagabaga 0.45 MW, the first such project in Africa) and integration of Zola Electric's Infinity Grid platform for peer-to-peer AC mini-grid systems coupling storage with micro-inverters (deployed at Gakagati). Its cumulative CAPEX deployment of $60 million across 18 projects, combined with a stated 1 GW-by-2030 pipeline and the 2023 acquisition of an 85% stake in two 133 MW DRC solar projects with 20-year PPAs from SNEL, anchor the business in long-duration utility-scale renewable infrastructure.

EAP's commercial model blends project development fees and equity stakes, fixed-price EPC contracts, recurring O&M contracts, and PPA-based power generation revenue. Customers are primarily national utilities and government agencies (EWSA, SNEL, EUCL, Umume), mining operators in the DRC copper belt, commercial & industrial clients (I&M Bank, Green Hills Academy, Norrsken Kigali House, Sawa Energy healthcare facilities), and rural communities via mini-grid partnerships. The company monetizes through DFI-backed project finance (TDB as mandated lead arranger, EEP Africa, Nordic Development Fund, Austrian Development Agency, USAID), direct enterprise sales, and a separately incorporated non-profit (Empowering Villages) that anchors community-development scope on every utility-scale project.

Name

East African Power

Legal name

East African Power

Website

https://eastafricanpower.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

East African Power is a Kigali-based integrated renewable energy developer that designs, builds, finances, and operates hydro and solar plants as an IPP and EPC contractor for utilities, mining operators, commercial clients, and rural communities across East and Central Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kigali

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Development Services: EAP develops renewable energy projects from ground up, providing development services including feasibility studies, permitting, PPA negotiation, and financial structuring. Generates revenue through development fees and equity stakes in completed projects.
2. Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC): Full EPC services for hydro and solar projects across utility-scale, C&I, and mini-grid segments. Revenue generated through construction contracts with fixed pricing based on project scope.
3. Operations & Maintenance: Long-term O&M contracts for hydropower and solar plants, including asset management, preventive maintenance, 24/7 emergency response, and performance monitoring. Provides recurring revenue stream.
4. Power Generation (IPP): As an Independent Power Producer (IPP), EAP owns and operates power plants generating revenue through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with utilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

East African Power is an integrated renewable energy developer that originates, finances, designs, builds, and operates run-of-river hydropower and solar PV power plants across East Africa. It sells electricity to utilities and commercial off-takers under long-term PPAs and provides advisory, EPC, and O&M services to third parties.

Product overview

East African Power is an integrated renewable energy development and engineering company offering three core services: Advisory Services (project development support from feasibility to commercial operation, including permitting, PPA negotiation, and financial structuring), Engineering Procurement & Construction (full EPC for hydro and solar projects across utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and mini-grid segments), and Operations & Maintenance (turnkey engineering solutions for 1-50 MW projects with 24/7 monitoring). The company develops, designs, builds, and operates hydro and solar power plants as an IPP. Their project portfolio includes operational hydropower plants (Rubagabaga 0.45MW, Rwaza 2.6MW, Gaseke 0.5MW), projects in development (Bihongora 4.22MW, Latoro 4.2MW, Rwenzori 12MW), utility-scale solar projects (Kolwezi 266MW in DRC, Canotek 300MW in Zimbabwe), and distributed solar installations for commercial clients and community mini-grids. They pioneered Africa's first containerized plug-and-play hydropower plant and developed East Africa's first utility-scale solar plant.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empowering Villages (EV): Non-profit organization incubated by EAP focused on implementing next-generation utilities, incubating strategic enterprises, and leveraging technology to unlock new opportunities in African villages. EV operates EMPWR Hubs for community development.
• Canotek Power
• Afritech

Products and services

• Advisory Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 494 GWh per annum clean energy injection into DRC grid
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Empowering Villages (EV)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAP's CSR spin-off non-profit focused on next-generation utilities and community development. Every EAP utility-scale project includes an EV project. EV develops EMPWR Hubs to stimulate micro-economic environment.
• Frontier EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for Bihongora hydropower development providing engineering expertise.
• Global ExcelcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for Rubagabaga hydropower project with expertise in project delivery.
• Haneseth EnergicoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for Rubagabaga hydropower project.
• SediconcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for Rubagabaga hydropower project.
• Novel EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Gaseke hydropower project.
• Equatorial PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewable energy developer pioneering off-grid electrification. EAP partnered on Gakagati mini-grid with 1,000+ connections using Zola Electric's Infinity Grid platform.
• KPMGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional services partner providing audit, tax, and advisory services.
• Women in Renewable Energy Network (WIRE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional development group for women in energy. EAP partners with WIRE for staff training and apprenticeship programs, including full-time employment of WIRE apprentices.
• Foundations for FarmingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner for agricultural center of excellence and sustainable farming techniques training.
• Canotek SolarflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAP's Zimbabwe branch developing 300MW of solar projects through Canotek Power. First phase of 25MW operational, with community centers and farming activities at each site.
• Terrain Energy Solutions (TES)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Rwenzori hydropower project (12MW) in Uganda.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Equatorial Power: Ugandan mini-grid and renewable IPP that is an active partner of EAP on the Gakagati mini-grid. Operates distributed solar and storage systems across East Africa, directly comparable in scale, geography, and product offering.
• Zola Electric: Off-grid solar and storage provider whose Infinity Grid platform EAP integrates for mini-grid projects (Gakagati). Comparable technology platform and East African customer base in distributed renewable energy.
• BBOXX: UK-based off-grid and mini-grid solar developer with major East Africa operations (Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania). Directly comparable to EAP's distributed solar and rural electrification activities, including pay-as-you-go and mini-grid offerings.
• Husk Power Systems: Hybrid mini-grid IPP operating across Africa and Asia, combining solar, biomass, and storage. Comparable business model to EAP's Gakagati mini-grid and distributed renewable IPP strategy in rural/off-grid segments.
• Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet): Leading distributed solar provider across East Africa and South Asia, offering pay-as-you-go solar home systems. Comparable in East African off-grid and C&I solar market, though focused more on PAYGO than IPP generation.
• PowerGen Renewable Energy: Pan-African renewable energy mini-grid and C&I solar developer with deep East Africa footprint (Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria). Closest direct peer to EAP's mini-grid and C&I solar business lines, both developing and operating distributed renewable assets.

Emerging players

• Windlab Developments: Australia-based renewable energy developer with African wind and solar projects. Comparable as a multi-technology IPP targeting sub-Saharan utility-scale opportunities with project development capabilities.
• SolarArise Africa: India-rooted solar IPP expanding into sub-Saharan Africa with utility-scale solar development. Comparable in business model and target market — utility-scale solar PPAs in Africa — though at an earlier commercial stage than EAP's operational fleet.

Broad incumbents

• Scatec ASA: Norwegian renewable energy IPP with established sub-Saharan Africa operations including utility-scale solar. Comparable as a large-scale solar IPP targeting emerging markets with PPA-based revenue structures.
• Globeleq: UK-based pan-African power generation platform operating utility-scale wind, solar, and thermal across Sub-Saharan Africa. Broader incumbent operating multiple technologies and geographies, directly comparable to EAP's utility-scale IPP ambitions in DRC and Zimbabwe.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eastafricanpow1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUQXbuMC3dCjdrjzwmkBEeA
• Facebookfacebook.com/EAP.EastAfricanPower
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-african-power
• Instagraminstagram.com/east_african_power

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 East African Power