KES 24 Million in Energy Savings: How Solar Is Delivering Real Results for Skanem Africa.
- gokore5
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
For businesses operating energy intensive facilities, electricity costs can have a significant impact on operational expenses and profitability. The question is no longer simply whether solar energy is a sustainable alternative, but whether it can deliver measurable financial value over time.
For Skanem Africa, the answer is becoming increasingly clear.
More than a year after Chloride Exide Limited designed and installed a 450kW Grid Tie Solar System at Skanem Africa’s facility, the system is delivering significant energy and cost savings, with cumulative savings now reaching approximately KES 24 million.
From Projection to Performance When the solar system was commissioned, there were projections around the energy and financial benefits it could deliver. More than a year later, Skanem Africa has actual performance data to demonstrate the impact.
The system meets up to 90% of the facility’s daytime energy demand, reducing the amount of electricity the facility needs to draw from the grid during its operations.
The result has been a reported 30% reduction in monthly electricity bills, translating to approximately KES 1.5 million in savings every month.
For a commercial or industrial facility, that level of recurring saving can have a meaningful impact on operating costs and overall business performance.
KES 24 Million in Savings and Counting The financial impact is one of the clearest indicators of the system’s performance.
With approximately KES 1.5 million saved each month, the solar investment is on track to recover its full investment in just two years. This highlights an important consideration for businesses evaluating commercial and industrial solar: solar is not only an investment in renewable energy. When properly designed around a facility’s energy consumption, it can also become a long-term cost-saving solution.
As Skanem Africa’s CFO, Fredrick Kathusa, puts it, the savings are “real money in the pocket.”
Over the period, the solar system has helped Skanem Africa avoid approximately 750 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
This supports Skanem’s wider commitment to sustainable packaging and demonstrates how renewable energy can contribute to broader environmental goals while simultaneously addressing operational costs.
For businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint, integrating solar into their energy mix can provide a practical way to make measurable progress towards sustainability targets.
Reliability Matters Too For industrial and commercial facilities, energy solutions need to deliver more than savings. Reliability is critical.
Since installation, the system has recorded zero system breakdowns, with seamless integration into Skanem Africa’s day-to-day operations.
This reliability is particularly important in an industrial environment where energy interruptions can affect productivity, operations and ultimately the bottom line.
A well-designed solar solution therefore needs to consider more than system capacity. It needs to be designed around the facility’s energy requirements, operating patterns and long-term objectives.
What This Means for Businesses Considering Solar Skanem Africa’s experience illustrates the potential of commercial and industrial solar when the solution is correctly designed and implemented.
The results speak to three key areas:
Financial performance: Approximately KES 24 million in energy savings and around KES 1.5 million in monthly savings.
Energy efficiency: Up to 90% of daytime energy demand being met through solar generation.
Sustainability: Approximately 750 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided.
And importantly, the system continues to operate reliably, with zero breakdowns reported over the period.
For businesses considering the transition to solar, these are the kinds of results that help move the conversation from “Will solar work for us?” to “How much can solar save our business?”
Powering Smarter Business Decisions The transition to solar is ultimately about more than installing panels. It is about developing an energy solution that works for the specific needs of a business, technically, operationally and financially.
At Chloride Exide Limited, we design and implement solar solutions that help commercial and industrial facilities reduce energy costs, improve efficiency and advance their sustainability goals.
Skanem Africa’s results offer a practical example of what that investment can deliver over time: millions of shillings saved, emissions reduced, reliable energy generation and a clear path towards recovering the initial investment.
Because when solar delivers real money back into the business, the business case becomes much easier to make.
Thinking about transitioning your commercial or industrial facility to solar? Get in touch with Chloride Exide Limited to explore a solution designed around your energy needs.
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