Daystar Power (“Daystar”), a leading hybrid solar energy provider for businesses and industrial manufacturers in Africa and a member of the Shell Group, has commissioned a 4.3MW grid-tied solar system at the Kumasi factory of Rider Steel, Ghana’s largest steel producer.

The installation is the largest distributed solar power project for an industrial manufacturer in Ghana.

For the exclusively rooftop installation, Daystar mounted 7,524 units of 580Wp PV modules on the 30,000m2 factory roof. All solar panels are connected to a remote monitoring system, allowing for preventive maintenance. With the new solar system, Rider Steel will offset 49,900 tons of CO2 emissions over the installation’s 20-year lifetime.

“We’re delighted to inaugurate this solar system for Rider Steel, which is by far our largest project in Ghana. It’s a compelling example that shows solar energy can power heavy industry and integrate well with the grid,” said Jasper Graf von Hardenberg, CEO of Daystar Power.

“Rider Steel Group acknowledges and is dedicated to fostering a sustainable, eco-friendly future by minimizing our carbon footprint. We are thrilled to announce the inauguration of a unique 4.3MW solar facility in collaboration with our partners, Daystar. This solar installation will enable us to procure 20% of our electricity requirements from clean and sustainable energy sources, and underscores our commitment to promoting sustainable steel recycling in Ghana and across West Africa. We express our gratitude to Daystar and its dedicated team for their tireless efforts in ensuring the timely completion of this project,” said Walid Al-Alami, Director of Rider Steel Ghana.

Daystar Power is a leading off-grid power service provider, offering hybrid power solutions to commercial and industrial businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. Daystar Power’s solutions “Solar-as-a-Service” (100% solar power) and “Power-as-a-Service” (hybrid power solutions with battery storage) provide clean and reliable power while significantly reducing clients’ overall power costs.

Daystar Power’s clients pay a flat monthly fee or a variable tariff (per kilowatt hour) for premium power services, which include a power audit and assessment of energy needs, a bespoke proposal, installation, and full operation & maintenance. Clients do not incur any capital expenditure and do not pay up-front costs. By outsourcing the management of their power systems, Daystar Power clients can focus on running their core businesses.

Founded in 2017, by the African venture builder Sunray Ventures, Daystar Power counts the region’s leading industrial and commercial companies among its client base and is active in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Tanzania, and South Africa. With over 400 projects completed in seven countries, Daystar has 100MW of power-generating assets. Daystar Power is part of the Shell Group.