United Aryan factory in Nairobi runs 1.8 MW solar plant to cut power costs
A Nairobi garment maker operates its own 1.8 MW solar system to reduce grid dependence, reflecting a trend where African industrial sites are building independent electricity generators.
Textile plants and mines across Africa are increasingly constructing their own electricity systems to prevent production stoppages caused by grid issues or high costs. United Aryan's garment factory in Nairobi exemplifies this shift. The company installed an 1.8 MW solar plant in 2021, comprising 3,334 panels that generate approximately 2.3 GWh of electricity annually. This facility supplies power to the export-oriented manufacturing unit producing woven and knitted goods for the United States and European markets. While still connected to Kenya's national grid, the solar installation reduces the volume of electricity the factory purchases from public utilities. Solarise Africa financed the project alongside United Aryan. Manufacturers, mines, and export zones are adopting on-site or distributed generation to maintain operations when central supply becomes unreliable or expensive.
