US$20m debt finance for Zola Energy will push solar-plus-storage into four new African countries

July 30, 2018
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: ZOLA Energy.

Zola Energy, one of two US-headquartered providers of off-grid solar-plus-storage solutions to the African continent profiled in Energy-Storage.news’ recent Global Storage Opportunity 2018 report, has obtained US$20 million debt financing.

Sunfunder, a solar energy financier group ‘majority-based’ in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, contributed US$5 million towards the latest debt finance deal for Zola, while an unnamed “values-aligned family office” took care of the remainder. It is the third time Sunfunder has brokered a deal of this nature with the company. Zola said the family office also acted as arranger.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Zola was until recently known as Off Grid Electric, leasing or selling solar home kits to individual households in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

To read the full version of this story visit Energy-Storage.news.

Read Next

April 29, 2026
Chinese solar manufacturering giant JinkoSolar has signed two solar module supply agreements totalling 600MW in Nigeria. 
April 28, 2026
US utility Georgia Power filed a request with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking 2,000MW – 6,000MW of new dispatchable capacity resources in the state.
April 28, 2026
Data centres have emerged as the primary driver of electricity demand growth for utility Origin Energy in Australia.
April 24, 2026
The European Commission (EC) has launched a new strategy to address the fossil fuel energy crisis in the Middle East and accelerate the “shift to homegrown, clean energies”, said EC president Ursula von der Leyen.
April 22, 2026
Work has begun on the 500MW Maun solar-plus-storage project in Botswana, which will be a cornerstone of the country's plan to reach 1.5GW of operational renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.
Premium
April 17, 2026
France remains an 'attractive' solar market, and a 'stable environment' for potential investors, according to Ksenia Dray.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
May 27, 2026
9am BST / 10am CEST
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 3, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA