SolarNow Goes Dark: East Africa’s Solar Pioneer in Liquidation
- SolarNow Services (K) Ltd was put into voluntary liquidation on 13 May 2025.
- The company had sold over 37,000 solar systems and employed about 900 people across 65 branches in Uganda and Kenya.
- SolarNow's pay-as-you-go model made solar energy accessible to rural families, allowing them to pay in installments.
The downfall of SolarNow serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by off-grid solar companies in Africa. While the demand for clean energy remains high, the economic realities and operational challenges can quickly undermine even the most promising ventures. Future startups must adopt more resilient business models and prepare for potential macroeconomic fluctuations to avoid a similar fate.
