Adili Solar Hubs

What Adili Solar Hubs does

Adili Solar Hubs Limited is a Kenyan social enterprise founded in 2020 and headquartered in Lodwar, Turkana County, that operates solar-powered cold chain and clean water infrastructure for off-grid artisanal fishing communities. Its core offerings are decentralized flake ice production, cold storage rooms, and the H2O by Adili water treatment system (Reverse Osmosis + Ultrafiltration + UV), serving fishers, refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, fish traders, and rural households around Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria. The company's stated mission is to develop affordable clean energy solutions for productive use in Africa and to transform the seafood industry through sustainable, climate-resilient practices.

The technical stack combines proprietary integrations of SunDanzer 100-liter DC refrigerators and Zimpertec solar home systems (LFP batteries, PWM charge controllers, two 170W flexible solar modules, DC lights, phone charging, pay-go unit) onto tricycles to produce Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges (TMSFs) for last-mile fish distribution. Stationary Solar Hubs anchor production with flake ice machines, Honeycomb VIP cooler boxes, and Phase Change Material (PCM) ice packs for below-zero transport, with an aspirational IoT layer for energy and temperature monitoring. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on Beach Management Units, the Vijana Twaweza youth group, UNHCR and Jesuit Refugee Service, and a partnership network that includes Efficiency for Access, UNCDF, EEP Africa, British International Investment, USADF, the Roddenberry Foundation, and IKEA.

Monetization is usage-based for ice, cold storage, and subsidized water, and transaction-based for processed fish distribution and TMSF last-mile delivery. The company explicitly states it currently sells fish through wholesalers at an operating loss and is working to bypass intermediaries via direct retail. There is no public pricing; inquiries are handled through a 'Get Free Quote' flow. Reported operational scale to date includes 1,350 fishermen engaged, 7,900 ice units supplied, 8,500 liters of purified water, 7,700 fish cooled on the cooling plant, 1,490 homesteads with installed solar systems, and 300+ successful projects. The business is funded through development grants and philanthropy rather than disclosed venture or private equity rounds, and is best characterized as an early-stage, grant-supported social enterprise with a multi-product but single-geographic-climate niche.

Name

Adili Solar Hubs

Legal name

Adili Solar Hubs Limited

Website

https://adilisolarhubs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adili Solar Hubs is a Kenyan social enterprise that builds and operates solar-powered cold chain, ice, and water treatment infrastructure for artisanal fishing communities and refugee camps around Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria. It distributes fish via Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries Cold Chain Services

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Meat & Seafood Cold Storage (including tempering) (AFAOAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meat, Poultry & Seafood Refrigerated Warehousing (TLALABAC), Cold Storage Warehouse Temperature Monitoring (Refrigerated & Frozen) (AFAOALAC), Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Storage Equipment (IMAHAKAJ)

Keywords

• Solar cold storage
• Fisheries cold chain
• Solar-powered ice production
• Off-grid refrigeration
• Community water treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Lodwar

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ice and Cold Storage Services: Produces and supplies ice to fishermen for preserving catch. Provides cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses. Revenue from ice sales and cold storage usage fees.
2. Clean Water Supply: Provides clean and safe water to fishing communities at subsidized rates through solar-powered water treatment systems. Revenue from water sales.
3. Fish Processing and Distribution: Buys fish at fair trade prices from artisanal fishers, processes and sells through owned cold chain. Currently sells through wholesalers at operating loss; seeking to bypass wholesalers and sell through retail channels.
4. Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridge Operations: Mobile solar fridges operated by young entrepreneurs for last-mile distribution of fish and other refrigerated products in refugee camps. Revenue from sales of transported goods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Adili Solar Hubs operates solar-powered cold chain infrastructure for off-grid fishing communities in Kenya, producing ice, providing cold storage, processing and distributing fish, and supplying clean treated water. Core offerings include Fish by Adili (ice and cold storage), H2O by Adili (water treatment), Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges for last-mile distribution, and Solar Hubs with IoT monitoring. The company serves artisanal fishers, refugee camps, and rural communities across Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria regions.

Product overview

Adili Solar Hubs operates as a portfolio of interconnected solar-powered solutions for fishing communities in Kenya. The core offerings include Fish by Adili (ice and cold storage for fishers), H2O by Adili (water treatment systems), and Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges (mobile cold storage units). These are supported by centralized Solar Hubs with IoT monitoring capabilities, flake ice machines, and cooler box distribution systems. The ecosystem enables sustainable fish supply chains from catch preservation to last-mile delivery, powered entirely by renewable solar energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fish by Adili: Ice and cold storage solutions for fishers to reduce post-harvest losses and increase income.
• H2O by Adili
• TMSF (Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges)
• Solar Hubs and IoT

Products and services

• Fish by Adili

Quantifiable outcome

• 1350 fishermen engaged with services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Efficiency for AccesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development partner supporting cold chain infrastructure studies in Lake Turkana. Collaborating on understanding challenges and developing innovative appliances for fish value chains powered by green energy.
• SunDanzer Refrigeration Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationUS-based company specializing in solar refrigeration for over 20 years. Provides 100-liter DC fridges integrated into Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges for mobile fish distribution. Awarded IFAD grant 'Green Technologies to Facilitate Value Chains' (GREENTECH) in 2018.
• Zimpertec GmbH & Co KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides solar home systems for the Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges, including PWM charge controller, LFP battery, 2 170W flexible solar modules, DC lights, phone charger, and pay-go unit.
• Mike Bauer (IFAD SunDazer Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject manager for SunDazer-IFAD project who assisted with assembly and design of Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges in Lodwar. Provided technical guidance on design and structural adjustments.
• UNHCR, the UN Refugee AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency supporting refugees worldwide. Works with Adili Solar Hubs to provide cold chain solutions in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps, enabling access to fresh fish and creating economic opportunities.
• Vijana TwawezacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth group in Kakuma 1 consisting of 40 male and female members operating fish farming. Assembles and operates Tricycle-Mounted Solar Fridges for fish distribution. In process of registration as Self-Help group.
• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNGO supporting refugees with education, livelihood, and mental health services. Provides premises in Kakuma for Vijana Twaweza fish farming and supports youth groups with cold chain infrastructure.
• IIEDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Institute for Environment and Development. Displayed as partner logo; specific collaboration details not provided.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• BURN Manufacturing: Kenya-based clean-energy hardware manufacturer and pay-go distributor serving low-income households. Comparable distribution and pay-go model in the same Kenyan off-grid market, though product category (cooking vs. cold chain) differs.

Direct peers

• ColdHubs: Nigeria-based operator of solar-powered walk-in cold rooms serving smallholder farmers and traders. Closely comparable to Adili's central cold-storage hub model, though focused on produce rather than fisheries and operating at significantly larger scale.
• Solar Freeze: Kenyan social enterprise providing solar-powered cold storage and mobile cold-chain for smallholder farmers and pastoralists. Directly comparable to Adili in geography, customer profile (rural Kenyan smallholders), and renewable-energy-powered cold storage approach.
• SokoFresh: Kenya-based cold-chain platform using solar-powered cold storage and mobile units to reduce post-harvest losses for smallholder producers. Comparable business model, geography, and target segment, with similar blend of fixed hubs and mobile distribution.

Others

• SunDanzer Refrigeration: US-based manufacturer of solar-powered DC refrigerators used by Adili in its TMSF units. Comparable as a solar refrigeration provider to off-grid communities and a direct technology supplier to Adili.

Broad incumbents

• InspiraFarms: Provider of solar-powered cold storage and processing solutions for agribusinesses across Africa and emerging markets. Comparable technology stack and target sector (cold-chain for perishable goods in off-grid settings) but serves larger commercial clients.
• d.light: Large-scale pay-go solar home systems distributor across Africa and Asia. Comparable in deploying distributed solar + pay-go financing to low-income off-grid households; Adili's TMSF pay-go component mirrors d.light's distribution model.

Emerging players

• Ecozen Solutions: India-based clean-tech company offering solar-powered cold rooms and pump controllers for agricultural value chains. Comparable technology approach (solar refrigeration for horticulture/fisheries) but operating in a different geography.
• Koolboks: Nigeria-headquartered startup producing solar-powered freezers for off-grid retailers, fishermen, and small businesses across Africa. Comparable in deploying solar refrigeration in African fisheries and food markets, with stronger recent venture funding.
• Promethean Power Systems: Manufacturer of solar-thermal refrigeration systems for milk and produce cold chains in off-grid settings. Comparable cold-chain equipment provider serving smallholder value chains, with broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adili-solar-hubs-ltd
• Xx.com/AdiliSolarHubs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Adili Solar Hubs