EPC Energy lands Kenya solar-plus-storage contract

EPC Energy has won a contract to build and maintain the Maingi Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Project in Nakuru County, Kenya. The 40MW solar plant and 10MW/34.7MWh battery system are slated for commercial operation in Q4 2027 and are designed to help support grid reliability and renewable expansion. Why it matters: - The Maingi project adds utility-scale solar and storage capacity to Kenya’s power system. - The 40MW plant is expected to generate more than 70 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year. - The battery system is designed to improve grid flexibility, reliability and renewable energy dispatch. - The project supports Kenya’s broader push to modernize its electricity infrastructure and meet rising demand. What happened: - EPC Energy said it executed a contract to provide engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and three years of operations and maintenance for the Maingi Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Project. - The project is located in Nakuru County, Kenya. - Multi-Link Investments Group Limited is developing the project. - EPC Energy will serve as the EPC contractor for the solar and battery facility. - Commercial operation is expected in Q4 2027. The details: - The project combines a 40MW solar photovoltaic power plant with a 10MW/34.7MWh AC-coupled battery energy storage system. - The solar plant will use LESSO TOPCon bifacial modules. - EPC Energy said the battery system will use its E2500 series utility-scale storage platform. - The storage buildout includes eight Cornex 4.33MWh battery containers. - The system also includes eight 1,250kW bidirectional power conversion systems. - EPC Energy’s aiMacs energy management system will be deployed as part of the project. - The AC-coupled design is intended to provide operational flexibility and grid support. - EPC Energy’s scope includes engineering and detailed design, procurement of major equipment and balance-of-plant components, construction management, solar PV integration, battery integration, testing, commissioning, performance verification and three-year O&M. - The battery system is intended to support renewable energy firming, energy shifting, peak demand management, grid stabilization, frequency and voltage regulation, and curtailment reduction. Between the lines: - The contract gives EPC Energy a higher-value role than solar construction alone by pairing generation with long-term storage and asset support. - The project reflects a wider industry shift toward solar-plus-storage systems that can deliver power more consistently than standalone renewables. - Kenya’s strong renewable resource mix makes the country a natural market for technologies that help balance variable generation. - The company framed the award as evidence of its ability to deliver complex utility-scale projects internationally, but that is a forward-looking view. What’s next: - EPC Energy will move into detailed design, procurement and construction work. - The project team will continue toward commissioning and testing ahead of commercial operation. - EPC Energy said it expects to work with Multi-Link Investments Group, Maingi Solar Park Limited and local stakeholders during delivery. - If the schedule holds, the project should begin commercial operations in Q4 2027. The bottom line: - EPC Energy is betting on Kenya’s solar-plus-storage buildout as a showcase for its utility-scale renewable energy platform.