In Conversation with Onesmus Muli, Senior Sales Manager – East Africa, JinkoSolar
Reliable energy is critical to healthcare delivery, particularly in markets where power costs and grid reliability can directly affect hospital operations. In Kenya, JinkoSolar’s Tiger Neo 3.0 technology is playing a role in a major private healthcare solarisation initiative covering 780 hospitals under the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA).
The project combines the need for dependable clean power with a broader objective of reducing operating costs for healthcare facilities and ultimately creating benefits for patients. From strong low-light performance and an improved temperature coefficient to bifacial generation and features designed to reduce maintenance requirements, Tiger Neo 3.0 has been positioned to address the demanding operating conditions of healthcare facilities across Kenya.
In this interview with SolarQuarter, Onesmus Muli, Senior Sales Manager – East Africa, JinkoSolar, discusses the technology behind the project, its economic and sustainability impact, and how the initiative fits into JinkoSolar’s wider strategy for East Africa.
Medical facilities demand zero compromise on reliability. How did Tiger Neo 3.0’s performance and durability advantages address the unique requirements of RUPHA’s 780-hospital rollout?
For any healthcare system to function effectively and achieve its objectives, efficiency has to be maintained across every aspect of its operations, and energy is a very important part of that equation. Hospitals cannot afford significant compromises when it comes to the availability and reliability of power.
From the generation side, Tiger Neo 3.0 is designed to maintain strong performance even under low-irradiance conditions. Its low-light performance, with relative efficiency of around 95–97% at irradiance levels of 200 W/m², helps hospitals continue generating solar power effectively during periods when sunlight is less intense. This is particularly valuable for facilities that need consistent energy performance throughout the day.
Another important consideration is long-term operation and maintenance. For the hospitals, it is not only about generating electricity but also about keeping the system efficient while controlling O&M costs over its lifetime. Tiger Neo 3.0 incorporates design features aimed at reducing dust accumulation and supporting easier cleaning. The module’s frame and surface characteristics are designed to improve anti-dust performance, while its anti-static and hydrophilic, stain-resistant properties can help minimise soiling-related losses.
Together, these features support our objective of providing hospitals with a solar solution that delivers reliable generation while reducing the operational burden over the long term.
With temperatures high and low-light conditions common, how much do the -0.26%/°C temperature coefficient and superior low-light performance impact system yield and ROI in this project?
The impact becomes much clearer when we look at the economics of an individual hospital installation. For a typical 50 kWp system, the average electricity bill can be around KSh 80,000, and solar can potentially reduce that bill by as much as 70%, translating into savings of approximately KSh 56,000.
The temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C, combined with strong low-light performance, is particularly relevant in East African conditions because it helps the modules maintain better energy output when operating temperatures rise or irradiation is lower. Over the lifetime of a system, maintaining higher generation translates directly into stronger energy savings and ultimately better returns on the investment.
What makes this project particularly meaningful is that the value is intended to extend beyond the hospital itself. Under the project model, 15% of the savings is directed towards discounts on patients’ hospital bills, helping reduce healthcare costs.
There is also an ESG dimension. Across the participating hospitals, solarisation is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 2,380 tonnes annually. The association can potentially monetise this environmental value, with the proceeds intended to support the acquisition of medicines through the RUPHA Drug Association. So, the benefits of higher solar yield can flow from electricity savings to healthcare affordability and environmental impact.
Given the mix of rooftop and ground-mounted installations across hospitals, how does the team maximize the bifacial gain to boost overall energy output?
Bifaciality gives us another opportunity to maximise the energy generated from the available installation area. With a combination of rooftop and ground-mounted systems, each site needs to be approached according to its specific conditions so that the installation can take advantage of additional irradiation reaching the rear side of the modules.
Ultimately, the objective is straightforward: generate more electricity from the same solar asset. By taking advantage of Tiger Neo 3.0’s bifacial performance wherever site conditions allow, hospitals can increase overall energy yield and receive greater value from their investment over the system’s operating life.
Securing the largest private healthcare solar rollout in Kenya is a major milestone. How does this project shape JinkoSolar’s brand positioning and strategic focus in sub-Saharan Africa?
We often say that health is wealth, and as a brand, we are honoured to contribute to building that wealth across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Healthcare is one of the most demanding sectors in which to deploy an energy solution because the reliability of that solution can indirectly influence the delivery of critical services. Participating in a project of this scale demonstrates our confidence not only in our technology but also in our ability to contribute as a long-term solution provider.
For JinkoSolar, the project positions us as an integral partner within the healthcare ecosystem. We are not simply supplying solar modules; we are helping provide an alternative source of electricity that is clean, reliable and accessible.
It also demonstrates what solar can achieve beyond energy generation. When lower electricity costs can contribute to more affordable healthcare, greater access to medicines and reduced emissions, solar becomes part of a much broader development story. That is the kind of impact we want our technology to enable across the region.
With strong global order books, what is your outlook for Tiger Neo 3.0 in East Africa, and how is JinkoSolar preparing to capture the region’s rapidly growing solar opportunity?
JinkoSolar currently holds a market share of above 50% in the region, and our strategy has always been to take a proactive approach when introducing new technology. With Tiger Neo 3.0, this means engaging the entire ecosystem—from consumers and technicians to B2B partners, EPCs, government agencies and financing institutions—and demonstrating the value that the technology can bring to their installations.
Having studied the East African market closely, we understand that customers are looking for more than a module. They want a manufacturing partner that is reliable and bankable and can give them confidence in the long-term performance of their investment. We believe our position in the market gives us a strong foundation to accelerate the adoption of Tiger Neo 3.0.
Our intention is to transition 100% to Tiger Neo 3.0 over the next two to six months, while maintaining our current market position.
We also recognise that East Africa is a highly price-sensitive market. Tiger Neo 3.0 is positioned as a premium solution, so price competitiveness will naturally be part of the market conversation. Our approach, however, is to focus on lifetime value rather than upfront price alone.
Higher energy yield, better performance under high temperatures and low-light conditions, reduced maintenance requirements and long-term reliability can create benefits that outweigh the initial price difference. This is also why the healthcare project is important to us. It serves as a practical demonstration of our confidence in the technology and allows the market to see how those performance advantages translate into real-world value.
For us, the next stage is about continuing to demonstrate that value across East Africa and ensuring that customers understand not just what Tiger Neo 3.0 costs, but what it can deliver throughout the lifetime of a solar project.
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