Going Solar? Common Mistakes to Avoid Before You Invest

Choosing the right system and using it efficiently can make all the difference.

When David Njugi started building his home, connecting to the national electricity grid seemed like the obvious choice.

Then he saw the cost.

“The national grid had not yet reached my site, and connecting it would have been quite expensive. Solar was a good alternative,” he said.

Today, his home runs entirely on solar power.

David’s experience reflects a wider shift in Kenya. More households and businesses are turning to solar to manage electricity costs and improve energy reliability.

The shift is also visible among large businesses. Safaricom has expanded its use of solar across its network, while Two Rivers has invested in a 1.1-megawatt rooftop solar farm.

Kenya’s Solar Market Is Growing

Kenya has made major progress in expanding electricity access.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), access rose from 37 per cent in 2013 to 79 per cent in 2023. The country is also on track for universal electricity access by 2030.

Off-grid solar remains an important part of that progress.

Kenya accounted for almost 74 per cent of solar home system sales in East Africa in 2023. The IEA also says one in five Kenyan households uses solar-powered mini-grids or standalone systems.

However, buying solar is one thing. Buying the right system is another.

Going Solar? Common Mistakes to Avoid Before You Invest

Mistake 1: Focusing on Price Instead of Power Needs

For David’s wife, Hellen Wangui, switching to solar required some convincing.

“I had always heard about solar, but I didn’t believe it was practical,” she recalls.

Her biggest concern was whether solar could handle the demands of a Kenyan household.

“My husband kept telling me the system could do it. It has been a journey of accepting and testing, and it has been working perfectly.”

Their experience also taught the family to change how they use electricity.

They schedule heavy activities such as cooking and ironing between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when solar production is highest.

After sunset, the family reduces its electricity consumption.

Mistake 2: Skipping a Proper Energy Assessment

This is one of the biggest lessons Gilbert Mugo has learnt from his years in the energy sector.

Before setting up Keru Solar in 2024, Gilbert worked on Kenya’s Last Mile Connectivity Programme. The project connected more than 120,000 households across 17 counties through World Bank- and African Development Bank-funded projects.

His work exposed him to homes and businesses that still struggled to access reliable electricity.

“We realised there were still homes and businesses that couldn’t access reliable electricity,” he said.

Today, Gilbert believes many customers make a mistake before they even install their first panel.

“Many people focus on how much they want to spend instead of how much power they actually need. They come with a fixed budget and ask for a solar system worth a certain amount,” he says.

Instead, technicians should first assess the household’s electricity needs.

This process, known as system sizing, helps determine the right combination of solar panels, batteries and inverters.

An undersized system may struggle to meet household demand. An oversized system, meanwhile, can leave homeowners paying for capacity they rarely use.

Mistake 3: Choosing a System Without Professional Guidance

For David, a professional assessment helped the family make the right decision.

“The engineers visited the site, carried out their assessment and designed the system. We agreed on what was reasonable before settling on a 10-kilowatt system,” he said.

The lesson is simple. Solar should not be treated as a one-size-fits-all purchase.

Household size, appliances, electricity consumption and expected usage all matter when determining the appropriate system.

Mistake 4: Assuming Cheaper Means Better

The falling cost of solar equipment has helped make the technology more accessible.

However, Gilbert cautions homeowners against choosing equipment based on price alone.

He advises customers to work with qualified technicians, insist on proper system sizing and invest in quality equipment.

A solar installation is also a long-term investment. Gilbert estimates that a well-installed system can serve a household for between 20 and 25 years.

That makes the quality of the equipment and installation just as important as the initial price.

Mistake 5: Installing Solar Without Changing Your Habits

Solar can provide reliable power, but how a household uses that power still matters.

David and Hellen have adjusted their routines to make better use of the energy their system generates.

They use high-consumption appliances during the day when solar production is strongest. At night, they reduce unnecessary electricity use.

This approach can help households get more value from their investment.

Solar Is More Than Installing Panels

For Hellen, the biggest change has been her own perception of solar.

“Solar works. I didn’t believe it. Now I’m living it,” she says with a smile.

Her experience captures an important lesson for anyone considering the technology.

Installing solar is only the beginning. The real value comes from understanding your energy needs, choosing the right equipment and using the system efficiently.

As Kenya expands electricity access, off-grid solar will continue to play a role in households and businesses that need reliable and flexible energy solutions.

For prospective buyers, the starting point should therefore be simple: understand how much power you need before deciding how much solar you should buy.

This article was first written by Safaricom. More details on this video