sesa energy

What sesa energy does

SESA Energy Limited (Sustainable Energy Solutions Africa) is a Tanzanian clean energy company founded in 2022 by Joshua Msechu and Eva Elisha, headquartered in Arusha. The company sells and installs solar PV solutions — ranging from entry-level solar lamps at $10–20 per unit through off-grid AC home systems (1–5 kWp) to on-grid residential (10–15 kWp) and commercial PV systems (up to 100 kWp) — alongside adjacent products such as photovoltaic water pumps, biogas smart meters, solar street lights, solar-powered CCTV, and solar LED agriculture systems. Hardware is sourced through supplier partnerships with SunKing, Generac, d.light, and Sundar Solar, while installation, operations and maintenance, and advisory services are delivered in-house across Sub-Saharan Africa with a current focus on Northern Tanzania.

The go-to-market combines a community-led distribution network of women and youth sales agents and franchisees in five districts (Monduli, Longido, Ngorongoro, Karatu, and Mto wa Mbu) with direct-to-consumer field sales and on-site system assessments. Revenue is generated through hardware sales (solar lamps and installed PV systems), Pay-As-You-Go recurring payments, microloans, equipment leasing, and O&M professional services, with subsidized financing offered via local government and NGO partnerships to reach low-income households. As of 2024, SESA reported a headcount of approximately 20, cumulative impact of 4,000+ beneficiaries and 433+ homes powered, and 300+ tons of CO2 offset — supported by a 2023 D-Prize grant funding the original solar lamp pilot. The business is privately held, founder-controlled, and operates without disclosed institutional equity capital.

Name

sesa energy

Legal name

SESA Energy Limited

Website

https://sesaenergylimited.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SESA Energy Limited is a Tanzanian solar energy company, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Arusha, that distributes and finances solar PV products — from entry-level lamps to commercial systems — to underserved rural households, SMEs, schools, and healthcare facilities across Northern Tanzania via a community-led network of women and youth agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Distribution & Wholesale Supply (Channel, Procurement, Logistics) (EUAMABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Solar Grid Integration & Interconnection Services (Studies, Protection, SCADA, Forecasting) (EUAMABAI)

Keywords

• Solar energy systems
• Off-grid photovoltaic
• Solar lamp distribution
• Pay-as-you-go financing
• Solar installation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Arusha

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Lamp and Product Distribution: Sale and distribution of solar lamps and basic energy products to last-mile users through a network of local agents and franchisees, with financing options including Pay As You Go and lease agreements
2. Solar System Installation Services: Design and deployment of residential, commercial, and industrial solar PV systems including off-grid and on-grid configurations
3. Pay-As-You-Go Solar Financing: Customers make incremental payments based on usage, enabling affordable access to solar power systems without upfront investment, particularly targeting rural and underserved areas
4. Microloans for Energy Access: Small, flexible loans with low-interest rates enabling households and small businesses to adopt solar lighting, home systems, and renewable energy solutions with manageable repayment installments
5. Operations & Maintenance Services: Ongoing maintenance, performance monitoring, emergency repairs, and support services for installed solar systems across Sub-Saharan Africa
6. Leasing and Subsidized Financing: Equipment leasing options for businesses and institutions, plus subsidized financing partnerships with local governments and NGOs for low-income households

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SESA Energy distributes and installs solar energy products and systems across Northern Tanzania, including solar lamps, off-grid photovoltaic systems with battery storage, and on-grid residential and commercial PV installations up to 100 kWp. The company also provides solar installation services, operations and maintenance, energy advisory services, and consumer financing solutions such as Pay-As-You-Go, microloans, leasing, and subsidized financing for low-income households.

Product overview

SESA Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of clean energy solutions spanning solar lamp distribution, off-grid photovoltaic systems, and on-grid photovoltaic systems. The off-grid portfolio includes AC Solar Home Systems with Battery Storage, Photovoltaic Water Pump & Treatment Systems, Solar LED Agriculture Systems, Biogas Smart Meters, Solar Street Lights, and Solar-powered CCTV Cameras. The on-grid portfolio includes Micro PV Systems (1-5 kWp), Residential PV Systems (10-15 kWp), and Commercial PV Systems (up to 100 kWp). These products are supported by financial solutions including Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG), Microloans, Leasing Options, and Subsidized Financing. The company also provides Advisory Services, Solar Installation Services, and Operations & Maintenance Services to support the full project lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar Lamp Distribution Distribution of solar lamps and basic energy products (such as power storage solutions) to last-mile users in remote rural areas of Northern Tanzania, typically priced at $10-20 per unit with a payback period of 6-12 months versus kerosene.
• AC Solar Home Systems with Advanced Battery Storage Off-grid solar PV systems with 1-5 kWp capacity and battery storage that deliver AC electricity to run household appliances including refrigerators, TVs, lights, and computers for households without reliable grid access.
• Photovoltaic Water Pump & Treatment Systems Solar-powered water pumping systems with optional water purification that provide clean water access in off-grid areas, supporting rural farming communities with irrigation and drinking water.
• Solar LED Agriculture System Solar-powered LED lighting solutions for agricultural applications such as poultry farming, horticulture, and greenhouse farming, designed to extend working hours and improve crop yields.
• Biogas Smart Meter System Real-time monitoring device for household-scale biogas plants that tracks pressure, flow, and gas consumption to optimize digester performance, powered by a 6W solar panel or AC/DC adapter.
• Solar Street Lights Off-grid outdoor lighting systems for roads, pathways, and public spaces, using solar panels and batteries to power LED lights without grid electricity.
• Solar-powered Standalone CCTV Camera Solar-powered surveillance camera with backup battery for security monitoring in off-grid areas, eliminating the need for grid electricity or fuel-powered generators.
• Micro PV Systems (1-5 kWp) Small-scale 1-5 kWp grid-tied photovoltaic systems that use micro-inverters to feed electricity directly into the home's 230 VAC grid, reducing dependency on the public grid for tenants or homeowners with limited space or budget.
• Residential PV Systems (10-15 kWp) Medium-sized grid-tied 10-15 kWp solar installations for single-family homes or small apartment buildings, providing sufficient power for the majority of household energy demand during daytime with excess fed back to the grid.
• Commercial PV Systems (up to 100 kWp) Large-scale grid-tied solar installations up to 100 kWp for supermarkets, offices, hospitals, town halls, schools, and industrial operations, with three-phase low-voltage grid connection via inverters and typical ROI within a few years.
• Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Solar Solutions Financing model that allows customers to access solar power systems without upfront investment by making incremental payments based on usage, enabling affordable clean energy access for rural and underserved customers.
• Microloans for Energy Access Small, flexible loans with low-interest rates that help households and small businesses overcome the initial cost barrier of adopting solar lighting, home systems, and renewable energy solutions, repaid in manageable monthly installments.
• Leasing Options for Businesses and Institutions Equipment leasing solutions enabling businesses and institutions to access solar energy systems through rental arrangements.
• Subsidized Financing for Low-Income Households Partnership-based subsidized financing solutions with local governments and NGOs that lower the overall cost of adopting solar home systems for economically disadvantaged families.
• Advisory Services Expert advisory on energy needs assessments, feasibility studies, regulatory compliance, financial and investment analysis, and project advisory and development support, delivered across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Solar Installation Services Comprehensive installation services for residential, commercial, and remote-area solar systems using cutting-edge technology, tailored to client needs to maximize energy savings and sustainability.
• Operations & Maintenance Services Tailored O&M solutions for installed solar systems across Sub-Saharan Africa, including routine inspections, preventive maintenance, swift repairs, 24/7 emergency support, performance monitoring, asset management, staff training, and after-sales care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ improved lives through clean energy access
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• M-KOPA: Largest PAYG solar provider in East Africa, headquartered in Kenya with operations across Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana. Directly comparable because it sells solar home systems on PAYG financing to off-grid households, overlapping with SESA's core offering.
• d.light: Pay-as-you-go solar distributor serving tens of millions across Africa and Asia. Comparable because it is both a SESA supplier partner and a direct competitor selling solar lamps and home systems through distribution networks in East Africa.
• SunKing (Greenlight Planet): Global PAYG solar provider selling solar lanterns and home systems through agent networks. Comparable because it is a SESA supplier partner and competes in the same PAYG/lamp distribution space in East Africa.
• BBOXX: UK-headquartered PAYG solar provider operating across East and West Africa with a focus on solar home systems and clean energy financing. Directly comparable business model and customer base.
• Zola Electric: Off-grid solar company with operations in Tanzania and other African markets offering PAYG home systems. Comparable because of overlapping Tanzania presence and PAYG solar home system offering.
• Engie Energy Access (formerly Mobisol): Pan-African PAYG solar provider, a subsidiary of Engie, operating in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and other markets. Comparable due to PAYG solar home system offering and Tanzania presence.
• Off Grid Electric (formerly SolarWorks): Tanzania-rooted PAYG solar provider serving off-grid households. Comparable due to direct Tanzania operations, PAYG solar home system offering, and overlapping rural customer base.
• BURN Manufacturing: Kenya-based manufacturer and distributor of clean cookstoves and solar products across East Africa. Comparable due to East African distribution of energy products targeting off-grid households.

Emerging players

• Sistema.bio: Mexico- and Kenya-headquartered biogas digester company with East African operations. Comparable because SESA offers a biogas smart meter product, putting them in adjacent technology and customer overlap with biogas adoption.

Regional players

• PowerGen Renewable Energy: East African clean energy company focused on mini-grids and solar home systems in Kenya and Tanzania. Comparable due to overlapping Tanzania footprint and mission of delivering energy access through distributed solar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sesaenergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sesa-energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 sesa energy