Wikipedia

Draft:Renewvia Energy Corporation

  • Comment: In addition, many of the sources are not reliable (blogs like Afrik21), others are press releases, interviews or based on what Renewvia has said/written about itself so are primary and not independent. Other sources are trade publications which generally cannot be used to establish notability because they exist to promote an industry and have a limited audience. If resubmitted with substantial improvement, the draft may be rejected. S0091 (talk) 17:09, 24 June 2024 (UTC)
Renewvia Energy Corporation
IndustryEnergy industry
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia, United States
ProductsCommercial and rural mini-grid solar and wind projects
Websitehttps://www.renewvia.com/

Renewvia Energy Corporation is an American renewable energy company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 2008, the company specializes in designing, installing, owning, and operating solar power systems for commercial and community applications. Renewvia provides turnkey solar installation, integrated financing, and solar consulting services across the United States and in several African countries.

History

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Renewvia was founded in 2008[1] by Trey Jarrard and Eric Domescik,[2] both graduates of the University of Georgia.[3] The company initially focused on owning and operating rooftop solar arrays in the United States, but quickly pivoted to become an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor offering turnkey solar solutions.[4]

In 2016, Renewvia expanded its operations to Africa, starting with projects in Kenya.[5] The company has since developed solar mini-grid projects in several African countries, including Nigeria[6] and Ethiopia.[7]

Operations

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United States

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In the United States, Renewvia primarily serves as an EPC contractor, designing and installing solar power systems for commercial and industrial clients. The company has completed projects for various sectors, including:

Notable U.S. projects include:

  • The largest commercial distributed rooftop solar array in Alabama, a 746-kilowatt system installed at SteelFab's Roanoke plant in 2018[8]
  • A 90,000-square-foot rooftop solar installation for Worthen Industries in Nashua, New Hampshire, which was the largest of its kind in the state at the time of completion in 2017[8]

Africa

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Renewvia's African operations focus on developing, owning, and operating solar mini-grids in rural and underserved communities.[2] The company's first African projects were in Kenya, where it has since expanded to multiple locations. Renewvia has also established operations in Nigeria and Ethiopia.[9]

Key African projects include:

  • Solar mini-grids on the islands of Ringiti and Ndeda in Lake Victoria, Kenya, providing first-time electricity access to communities of approximately 10,000 people[2]
  • A solar mini-grid serving the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement in Turkana County, Kenya, initially connecting 500 households and later expanded to serve nearly 2,500 community members [9]
  • Multiple mini-grid installations in Nigeria, including projects in Bayelsa and Cross River states[10]

Funding

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As of 2024, Renewvia has raised a total of $11.2 million in funding.[1] In 2021, the company received a $10 million investment from Nashville-based Claritas Capital to support its expansion in sub-Saharan Africa.[7]

Technologies, Research, and Sustainability Initiatives

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Beyond solar projects, Renewvia's activities include technological solutions aimed at the renewable energy and carbon markets.

Renewvia employs a digital payments system that integrates with local mobile money services such as M-Pesa in Kenya and Paga in Nigeria. This system works in conjunction with smart meters to track energy usage. Customers can manage their accounts using mobile phones, with features including prepaid energy purchases, balance inquiries, and maintenance notifications.[2]

Renewvia has introduced the Renewvia Environmental Equity Exchange (REEE), a platform for trading carbon assets that utilizes blockchain technology. REEE facilitates the sale of renewable energy credits (R-RECs) and carbon credits. The platform employs public blockchain verification in its operations. It also includes functionality for creating financial instruments such as futures contracts based on carbon assets.[11]

Renewvia conducted and published a study in 2024 in Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability examining the impacts of solar mini-grids in rural Kenya and Nigeria. The study, based on surveys of over 2,600 households and businesses, found significant positive changes one year after mini-grid installation. Key improvements included increased school enrollment, more economic opportunities for women, extended hours of electricity access, health benefits from reduced kerosene use, and economic growth through business expansion and cost savings on energy-related expenses.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Renewvia Energy". CBInsights. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Atlanta-based Renewvia Energy Brings Solar Power to Remote Island Communities in Kenya". Markets Insider. Business Insider. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ Williams, Trevor (19 February 2019). "Lighting Africa From Atlanta: Solar Contractor Sees Profitable Future in the Developing World". Global Atlanta. Newspack. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ Williams, Trevor (14 November 2023). "How Renewvia Is Powering Africa From Atlanta". Global Atlanta. Newspack. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ Nakweya, Gilbert (16 February 2024). "A global solar transition could leave Africa in the shade". Nature Africa. Springer Nature Limited. doi:10.1038/d44148-024-00054-5. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Renewvia connects 2,000 households to solar power in Niger Delta". Guardian Nigeria News. The Guardian Newspaper. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Williams, Trevor (2 September 2023). "Atlanta Solar Firm's 'Mini-grids' Go From Remote Villages to Corporate Rooftops in Africa". Global Atlanta. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Steelfab home to largest rooftop solar array in Alabama". The Randolph Leader. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b Monang, Leruo (5 July 2024). "Off The Grid: Renewvia's Answer to Africa's Clean Energy Needs". The San African. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  10. ^ "REA in Collaboration with World Bank Signs Grant Agreement with Renewvia Solar Nigeria for the Solar Hybrid Mini Grids PBG". Rural Electrification Agency. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  11. ^ Peterschmidt, Nico (13 March 2024). "I-RECs, P-RECs, D-RECs, R-RECs: Revenue Opportunities for Mini-Grid Companies". The Mini-Grid Business. INENSUS. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  12. ^ Carabajal, A T; Orsot, A; Moudio, M P E; Haggai, T; Okonkwo, C J; Jarrard III, G T; Selby, N S (5 June 2024). "Social and economic impact analysis of solar mini-grids in rural Africa: a cohort study from Kenya and Nigeria". Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability. 4 (2): 025005. arXiv:2401.02445. Bibcode:2024ERIS....4b5005C. doi:10.1088/2634-4505/ad4ffb. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
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