SolarSaver
SolarSaver provides capex-free commercial and industrial solar PV and battery storage systems across Southern Africa under rent-to-own and PPA contracts. Operating the region's largest self-financed C&I solar fleet with 700+ systems and 140 MW across four countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBryanston, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SolarSaver does
SolarSaver, legally Sedgeley Solar Energy Holdings (Pty) Ltd, is a South Africa-based commercial and industrial (C&I) solar energy provider founded in 2016. The company operates the largest fleet of self-financed C&I solar installations in Southern Africa, with over 700 systems and approximately 140 MW of aggregate managed capacity deployed across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. SolarSaver's core offering is its "Rent the Sun" capex-free solar model, under which the company finances, installs, and maintains customized solar photovoltaic and solar-battery hybrid systems on client premises; clients pay only for the electricity produced under long-term rent-to-own or power purchase agreement (PPA) contracts, with no upfront capital expenditure, financial guarantees, or ongoing maintenance obligations.
The underlying technology comprises solar PV arrays paired with battery energy storage systems sized to client load profiles, deployed as rooftop installations on retail and manufacturing facilities, forecourt canopies at fuel stations, off-grid systems for remote safari lodges and farms, and grid-tied commercial arrays ranging from 136 kWp to 1,800-panel systems. Sedgeley Energy, a related sub-brand, serves as the exclusive technical services provider to the SolarSaver group, responsible for design, installation, and ongoing portfolio management. The company explicitly does not serve residential customers, limiting its addressable market to commercial and industrial clients.
SolarSaver monetizes its installed base through electricity sales under PPAs (usage-based), monthly subscription payments under rent-to-own contracts (subscription/recurring), and optional outright purchase by clients at contract-stage exit points. Distribution runs through direct enterprise field sales with regional offices in Johannesburg, Windhoek, Gaborone, and Lusaka. In November 2025, SolarSaver closed a $60 million equity round led by Inspired Evolution's Evolution III Fund with FMO and Swedfund participation, and in May 2026 formed a strategic alliance with Sigenergy (battery storage) and SIAAC (distribution) backed by a 100 MWh corporate agreement.
SolarSaver firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SolarSaver
- Legal name
- Sedgeley Solar Energy Holdings (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://solar-saver.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SolarSaver provides capex-free commercial and industrial solar PV and battery storage systems across Southern Africa under rent-to-own and PPA contracts. Operating the region's largest self-financed C&I solar fleet with 700+ systems and 140 MW across four countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SolarSaver industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
Keywords
Where SolarSaver is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bryanston
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices4 records
Markets served
SolarSaver business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Solar Power Generation Sales: Clients pay for cheaper, greener electricity produced by solar systems installed on their premises. Tariffs are priced below grid power rates, enabling immediate savings from day one.
- Rent-to-Own Contracts: Long-term rental agreements where clients pay monthly charges linked to actual system performance. SolarSaver retains ownership during the contract term and remains responsible for all repairs and maintenance. Clients have flexible exit rights to purchase outright.
- Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Clients purchase power generated by solar installations without owning the equipment upfront, paying only for energy consumed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Capex-Free Solar Solution - No upfront capital required |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
SolarSaver product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SolarSaver installs customized solar photovoltaic and solar-battery hybrid systems on commercial and industrial client sites under a "Rent the Sun" capex-free model. Clients pay no upfront capital; instead they pay recurring rent-to-own subscription fees or usage-based tariffs under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for electricity generated by the system, with SolarSaver retaining ownership and responsibility for all ongoing maintenance. Tariffs are priced below grid power to deliver immediate day-one savings, and clients retain flexible exit rights to purchase the installation outright during the contract term.
Product overview
SolarSaver operates as a unified capex-free solar solutions platform offering three integrated components: (1) the 'Rent the Sun' core product—a rent-to-own or PPA model that eliminates upfront capital requirements for commercial and industrial clients; (2) Solar-Battery Systems that combine photovoltaic and energy storage technology; and (3) Sedgeley Energy as the exclusive technical services provider handling installation, ongoing management, and maintenance of the portfolio. The company runs the largest fleet of self-financed C&I solar installations in Southern Africa with over 700 systems spanning South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sedgeley Energy: The exclusive technical services provider to the SolarSaver group, responsible for ongoing management of the group's solar energy portfolio and provider of customised solar photovoltaic and solar-battery hybrid solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 140 MW aggregate capacity across 700+ installations
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SolarSaver
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SolarSaver technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SolarSaver partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- SigenergycoreStrategic partnership to deliver capex-free solar solutions backed by a 100 MWh corporate agreement. Sigenergy contributes energy storage technology to complement SolarSaver's solar installations. The alliance leverages SolarSaver's 140MW managed portfolio and recent $60 million investment.
- SIAACcoreStrategic partnership for distribution network expansion. SIAAC provides distribution capabilities across Africa to deliver capex-free solar solutions to businesses. Already delivered off-grid solar installations at safari lodges, game ranches, and farms.
- Sedgeley EnergyflagshipSedgeley Energy is the exclusive technical services provider to the SolarSaver group and is responsible for ongoing management of the solar energy portfolio. SolarSaver was established in 2016 as a vehicle through which Sedgeley Energy and its investment partners could offer financing and long-term rental options. An experienced provider of customised solar photovoltaic and solar-battery hybrid solutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SolarSaver competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Distributed Energy: South African renewable energy company (formerly Solarcentury Africa) delivering C&I rooftop solar solutions across Southern Africa. Overlapping customer base and offering with SolarSaver.
- PowerGen Renewable Energy: East and Southern Africa C&I solar provider developing, financing, and operating commercial-scale solar installations. Comparable business model focused on commercial and industrial customers in Africa.
- SolarAfrica: South African C&I solar provider offering PPA and rent-to-own models to commercial clients. Closest direct competitor to SolarSaver in the same geography with a similar capex-free value proposition.
- CrossBoundary Energy: Pan-African C&I solar and battery storage provider financing distributed energy projects via PPA structures. Directly comparable business model targeting commercial and industrial clients across Africa.
- Sun Exchange: South Africa-based solar financing platform that crowdsources funding for solar installations sold to C&I customers via PPAs. Comparable solar-as-a-service and rent-the-sun positioning in the Southern African market.
Emerging players
- M-KOPA: Kenya-headquartered PAYG solar provider serving underbanked African households. Comparable asset-financing-for-distributed-solar business model, though focused on residential rather than C&I customers.
- Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet): Pan-African PAYG solar provider serving off-grid households and small businesses. Different customer (mostly residential) but operates in the same African distributed solar ecosystem with similar financing innovations.
Broad incumbents
- Engie Africa: Large multinational utility with significant distributed energy and C&I solar operations across Africa. Competes for the same large commercial and industrial customers but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a specialized niche player.
- Generate Capital: US-based sustainable infrastructure financier owning and operating distributed energy and storage assets. While US-focused, represents a comparable capital-intensive C&I clean-energy ownership model that informs SolarSaver's investor base.
Regional players
- Standard Solar: US-focused C&I solar provider offering PPA, lease, and direct ownership models. Not a direct geographic competitor, but a useful comparator for the C&I solar financing business model and unit economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SolarSaver social profiles
Digital presenceSolarSaver financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SolarSaver leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SolarSaver subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
SolarSaver funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SolarSaver 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 SolarSaver
What does SolarSaver do?
SolarSaver installs customized solar photovoltaic and solar-battery hybrid systems on commercial and industrial client sites under a "Rent the Sun" capex-free model. Clients pay no upfront capital; instead they pay recurring rent-to-own subscription fees or usage-based tariffs under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for electricity generated by the system, with SolarSaver retaining ownership and responsibility for all ongoing maintenance. Tariffs are priced below grid power to deliver immediate day-one savings, and clients retain flexible exit rights to purchase the installation outright during the contract term.
Is SolarSaver a public or private company?
SolarSaver is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was SolarSaver founded?
SolarSaver was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SolarSaver based?
SolarSaver is headquartered in Bryanston, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does SolarSaver make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Solar Power Generation Sales are the primary driver. The others are rent-to-Own Contracts and power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Who are SolarSaver's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Distributed Energy, PowerGen Renewable Energy, SolarAfrica, CrossBoundary Energy and Sun Exchange. Emerging players are M-KOPA and Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet). Broad incumbents are Engie Africa and Generate Capital. Standard Solar is listed as a regional player.
Does SolarSaver have an API?
No public API is recorded for SolarSaver.
What industry is SolarSaver in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAJ, Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization), 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.