Nestlé Cuts Grid Dependence with Solar Systems in Three West African Countries

Nestlé has installed solar power systems at four factories in West Africa as the company seeks to reduce reliance on national electricity supply and increase the use of renewable energy in its operations.

The project, completed by Daystar Power Group, delivered 6.884MW of solar capacity to Nestle facilities in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal. The company said the move will help power factory operations with cleaner energy while reducing pressure on traditional electricity sources.

The solar systems are now operational at two Nestle facilities in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, one factory in Tema, Ghana, and another in Dakar, Senegal.

Solar systems installed across three countries

Daystar Power installed 3,447 kilowatts peak of solar capacity at Nestlé’s two Abidjan facilities. The Tema factory received a 2,547-kilowatt peak system, while the Dakar facility received an 890-kilowatt peak installation.

The combined capacity makes the project one of Daystar Power’s largest multi-country solar deployments in West Africa.

Daystar Power Group Chief Executive Officer, Yischai Beinisch, said the installation demonstrates the scale of the partnership between both companies.

“Installing nearly seven megawatts of solar capacity across four Nestlé facilities shows what can be achieved through close collaboration between energy providers and industrial customers,” Beinisch said.

Manufacturers across Africa have increasingly turned to solar and hybrid energy systems as they seek more reliable electricity supplies for their operations.

Nestlé expands sustainability efforts

Nestlé said the solar installations form part of its wider efforts to reduce emissions from its operations while maintaining production growth.

Nestlé Central and West Africa Region Chief Executive Officer, Samer Chedid, said the company wants sustainability to remain central to how it operates.

He said the projects in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal demonstrate Nestlé’s commitment to improving environmental performance across its factories.

The partnership between Nestlé and Daystar Power extends across several African markets, with the energy company providing solar hybrid solutions for commercial and industrial customers in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo.

The new solar systems will provide additional electricity for factory operations and help reduce dependence on conventional power sources at the four facilities.

The project comes as businesses across West Africa explore renewable energy solutions to address electricity challenges and manage energy costs.