Unilever has invested Sh70 million in an 800kW solar power system at its Nairobi factory, which is expected to provide about 30 percent of the plant’s electricity and save the company roughly Sh30 million in annual energy costs.

The system became operational in June and is part of the company’s efforts to increase the use of renewable energy at its manufacturing sites and reduce reliance on conventional fuels.

Unilever said the solar installation, together with an earlier switch from heavy fuel oil (HFO) to biomass for the factory’s boilers, has helped cut the plant’s carbon emissions by about 40 percent compared with its 2023 baseline.

The company expects the solar system to also make energy costs more predictable and reduce the impact of fluctuations in conventional energy prices on its operations.

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“Investments like this make our operations more resilient and more competitive while reducing our reliance on conventional energy,” said João F. Ribeiro, Unilever’s 1UL Supply Chain Head, who unveiled the installation at the factory.

The Nairobi factory is one of Unilever’s manufacturing sites in Africa and produces goods for the Kenyan market and other regional markets.

The company is increasing its use of renewable energy as manufacturers face pressure to reduce emissions while managing rising energy and operating costs.