Sun King Zambia
Bringing affordable, reliable solar power to millions of off-grid households and businesses in Zambia.
- Company
- Renewable energy
- Sub-Saharan Africa H2R
- 2026
- Active
The Challenge
Zambia is one of the hardest-to-reach energy markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, and only half of the population currently has access to electricity. Off-grid and under-electrified households and small businesses are largely unbanked, leaving them without the financing options needed to afford reliable power. Without access to affordable energy, these communities are cut off from the productivity gains, income opportunities, and quality-of-life improvements that electricity makes possible. The capital needed to close this gap, at scale, has remained difficult to mobilize.
The Innovation
Sun King — formerly known as Greenlight Planet — was founded in 2007 by Patrick Walsh and Anish Thakkar to bring solar lanterns to off-grid households. It has since grown into the largest off-grid solar Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) company in the world. The company designs, sells, installs, and finances solar kits for off-grid and under-electrified consumers across Africa and Asia, installing and financing directly in twelve African countries and reaching over 40 more through distribution partners.
In 2026, Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Catalyze initiative made a $5 million equity investment in Sun King Zambia. The investment is designed to let Acumen take on more risk up front and to crowd local-currency debt funding, accelerating Sun King’s move from a successful pilot to a nationwide rollout.
The Impact
Acumen’s investment is expected to contribute to approximately 5.6 million people in Zambia gaining a new or improved energy connection over the first five years, including roughly 4.5 million people gaining access to energy for the first time. Sun King has already provided 6.8 million Zambians with access to energy, and this investment positions the company to scale operations and extend affordable, reliable solar power to many more Zambian households and businesses, faster.
The investment is part of Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach initiative, a $250 million effort to activate clean energy markets in 17 of Africa’s most underserved geographies. Over the next 10 years, Acumen aims to help achieve universal energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa by electrifying 70 million people with solar products and avoiding 5 million tons of carbon emissions.
Acumen invests $5 million in Sun King to scale pay-as-you-go solar energy access in Zambia
Acumen’s equity investment is aimed at catalyzing local currency debt and providing energy access to nearly 5.6 million people.
