What we do | Solarcentury Africa

Your partner from inception to operation

Our model

Solarcentury Africa is more than a developer. We operate an integrated model which means we develop, build, own and operate solar projects. Also importantly, we manage the key financial and commercial stages – from equity and debt, to the PPA or BOOT, and the energy management. We see this integration as key to our success.

Develop

Site acquisition & design
Permitting & consultation
Securing grid agreements

Build

Engineering
Procurement
Construction

Operate

Asset management
Operation & maintenance

Own

IPP
Energy management
Grid services
Asset optimisation

Project funding framework

PPA (corporate, trades, utilities); hedging activities

Partnerships

We work with teams who share our values, from project inception through to project connection.

Landowners

Landowners seeking to diversify and hedge their business with a risk-free investment, working with a partner with a reputation for valuing communities and landscape.

Co-developers

Co-developers wanting an international partner with an integrated business model and a proven track record in development, engineering and financing.

Off-takers

Corporates and utilities looking for an innovative partner to increase renewable electricity supply, bringing clean and secure energy supply and achieving carbon targets.

Suppliers

Suppliers wanting to work with a company involved in each step of the development process with a major pipeline of projects.

The team

The highly qualified Solarcentury Africa team is world-class, led by senior executives with extensive experience in the renewable energy and power sector.

Jason De Carteret

Head of Development

Jason leads the Solarcentury Africa team. He has over 30 years of African experience. Prior to joining Solarcentury Africa, Jason worked for a leading emergency power provider for five years on major projects in EMEA. Recognising the growing importance of renewables to the sector, in 2018 he joined Solarcentury Africa, a technology agnostic company that has been delivering multiple PV and Storage projects in challenging regions such as DRC, Eritrea and Nigeria to name a few. Jason brings a strong understanding of both thermal and renewable technologies together with a deep knowledge of the mining industry. His insight and strategic viewpoint is invaluable in helping deliver innovative technical designs that bring significant advancements in reliability and cost savings to the end clients.

Mark Crossley

Head of Commercial Finance

Mark has over 25 years of corporate finance experience in investment banking and the renewable energy industry working with companies ranging from start-ups to global market leaders. He has advised on over £50 billion of transactions, including for some of the leading players in energy and infrastructure. Mark has worked with Solarcentury since 2015 on some of its largest European and African projects, before joining the Solarcentury Africa team as Head of Commercial Finance.

Drew Cormack

Head of Operations

Drew has extensive experience in the Development and Delivery of utility-scale PV and hybrid projects, gained over the past 12+ years he has worked in leading large-scale PV companies. Drew’s previous roles include Head of Operations for Argentum Energy and Lead Project Manager for Lightsource Renewable Energy – the largest solar developer in the UK. Drew joined Solarcentury in 2019, to lead the Operations Department, being responsible for the delivery of its Africa portfolio.

Paul Sutton

Head of Logistics and Contracts

Paul has been working on the delivery of Solar PV and Energy Storage projects for 15 years as at Solarcentury since the early days of the UK PV industry. He started working at Solarcentury in 2006 as project manager for a wide variety of projects in the UK and Africa. Since 2016 he has worked as Contracts Manager for Solarcentury Africa.

Chahid Jarmouni

Director

Chahid joined BB Energy group in 2020 to oversee the Renewables & New Ventures division to lead the energy transition of the group and Solarcentury Africa. Chahid started his career almost 20 years ago in investment banking covering mining & metals industry first with Société Générale and then the energy sector while at BNP Paribas. He then moved to Glencore where he spent 10 years originating and structuring deals globally. For BB Energy Group and Solarcentury Africa, Chahid utilises his experience in emerging markets and expertise in energy and mining sectors to make the energy transition journey a success for each of our stakeholders.

The BB Energy Group

BB Energy is one of the world’s largest independent energy trading companies and is committed to increasing its renewables activities in order to remain a leader throughout and after the energy transition. Solarcentury Africa is one of BB Energy’s renewable energy ventures where innovation and entrepreneurship are fuelling a successful and sustainable growth for the group. For further information on BB Energy visit the BBE website here.