Solar power · The idea and the plan
Reliable electricity.
One accountable team.
We finance, operate and maintain the system. Businesses pay for metered electricity.

Measure one agreed load before buying a system.
$2,254Proposed test cash · see the scope01 / Overview · evidence retains its observation date
Qualify three prospects. Measure one agreed load. Price the service before buying equipment.
- 01Measure
A real load and bill
- 02Design
Right-sized solar + backup
- 03Supply
Meter the agreed energy
- 04Improve
Maintain, then expand
Three numbers to understand
Published hotel / industry kWh
PURA’s 2023 determined rate. Verify today’s bill and meter class before pricing; no savings claim.
PURA · published electricity tariffsAfrican Princess prospect
Rooms/suites advertised by the operator. A reason to investigate, not measured electrical demand.
African Princess · operator room inventoryProposed load survey
Record one agreed customer load before sizing or buying the system.
Electricity as a service
The offer.
In three parts.
We fund the system
Solar, storage and agreed backup integration.
We keep it running
Monitoring, maintenance and an agreed response.
The customer pays by use
Metered electricity, with clear supply and fuel terms.
Start with private hospitals and hotels in Greater Banjul. Check current solar assets, bills and the legal buyer before proposing a system.
Critical clinical loads, grid export and capacity increases need separate engineering and agreed authorisations.
Service scope + market calculation
The customer buys
Metered kWh × an agreed tariff. Define availability, response times, billing, escalation and the term in the contract.
We provide
Financed equipment, installation through qualified specialists, monitoring, maintenance, repairs and agreed capacity upgrades. Extra capacity still needs an agreed design and commercial amendment.
What stays separate
Existing grid and generator energy/fuel, critical clinical UPS and major roof works need explicit boundaries. Surplus earns no export revenue until technical and commercial approval exists.
Build the market from qualified sites.
Signed annual delivered kWh × agreed tariff = contracted sales. Count sites only after decision authority, payment capacity, technical fit and current supply are documented. No 300-roof forecast is treated as secured demand.
02 / First installed project · scope checked 16 Oct 2026
One customer.
Everything the system needs.
Solar panels are one part. We need a complete, compatible energy system, a qualified delivery team and a customer who can approve the electricity agreement.
Measure before we buy.
A 14-day rental logger, qualified visits and engineering review. No panels or battery purchased.
Survey budget + scopeA sizing hypothesis.
The existing planning case, not a design for a whole hospital. Measured load, backup duty and quotes decide the final size.
The complete project listExtra energy: use on site → store → approved export, or curtail. Grid export income is not included in the model.
Ten work packages · quantities follow the approved design
What we need to procure
and put in place.
Solar modules
Generate electricity for the agreed daytime load.
Scope + what to specify
Count illustration: 40 × 500 Wp = 20 kWp. No module model or supplier is selected. Confirm shading, usable roof, layout, yield, module certificates, hot-weather output and local warranty support. Actual string design and module count belong in the installer’s quotation.
Roof + mounting
Keep the array secure and the roof watertight.
Scope + what to specify
Roof-condition/structural assessment, suitable rails and fixings, corrosion protection, roof seals, access and installation-at-height arrangements. Design for the actual roof and local exposure. Major roof repairs are outside the existing allowance.
Battery + BMS
Store energy for agreed evening and backup needs.
Scope + what to specify
Illustrative LiFePO4 format: 8 × 5.12 kWh = 40.96 kWh nominal. No battery model or supplier is selected. Include a compatible battery-management system, cabinet/rack, battery disconnects/protection and temperature/environment provisions. Usable AC energy is lower and depends on operating reserve, losses and ageing. Choose capacity from required duty; storage can be reduced if the measured service does not need it.
Inverter + solar charging
Turn solar and stored energy into usable building power.
Scope + what to specify
Select suitable inverter/charger equipment and the solar conversion path: integrated MPPT, separate MPPT chargers or an AC-coupled PV inverter, as designed. Avoid double-counting integrated functions. Phase count, continuous/peak kW or kVA and charge limits follow measured loads and the battery; 20 kWp of panels does not specify inverter output.
Cables + electrical protection
Connect and protect the complete installation.
Scope + what to specify
Include rated cables/connectors, containment, distribution boards, isolators, fuses/breakers, designed surge protection, earthing/bonding and any required lightning/fire provisions. The designer specifies ratings and quantities from routes, fault conditions, equipment and applicable rules. No generic component basket substitutes for the protection design.
Metering + kWh billing
Bill the electricity covered by the agreed service.
Scope + what to specify
Define the customer delivery boundary and an accepted billing meter, calibration/verification and readings. Measure grid and generator contributions where needed to allocate costs; a controller’s monitoring meter is not automatically a lawful revenue meter. Agree tariff, source-energy/fuel treatment and invoice checks.
Smart controller + connection
Coordinate energy, record faults and arrange response.
Scope + what to specify
A compatible EMS/controller, required communication cables and a site-appropriate internet/data plan. Configure monitoring, local records when offline, alerts, permissions and backups. Start with standard tools and a simple invoice/maintenance ledger; a custom platform is not required for site one.
Grid interface + surplus control
Use the grid safely and control spare energy.
Scope + what to specify
Assess the existing connection, protection, metering and transfer/maintenance-bypass arrangement. Obtain the applicable NAWEC/PURA requirements, including anti-islanding and permitted operating mode. Surplus can serve suitable on-site demand or charge storage; when neither is possible, curtail. Export only under an approved technical and commercial arrangement.
Existing generator + interface
Cover agreed loads when solar and storage are insufficient.
Scope + what to specify
Survey the actual generator, controls, service condition, phase/rating and fuel responsibility. Specify compatible transfer/interlocking, input limits, start/stop integration if supported and maintenance bypass with the qualified team. A dual-input inverter is one possible architecture, not a selected model. The reference budget excludes a new generator and its fuel.
Installation + ongoing service
Deliver a working service and keep it operating.
Scope + what to specify
Include engineering, installation/lifting, independent checks as needed, commissioning, as-built drawings, test records, operator training, warranties and initial spares. Agree cleaning/inspection, fault response, local technician access and replacement reserve. Acceptance must test actual grid, storage, generator, metering and protection modes.
The hospital’s engineering team must define clinical boundaries. Theatre, ICU, medical UPS and critical redundancy are not covered by the generic 20 kWp / 40 kWh example. Neither a battery size nor a manufacturer’s transfer-time claim proves clinical continuity.
The project also needs people, rights and a commercial agreement
Three contributions.
One complete project.
Secure the site and local operation.
Customer access, roof/site rights, local installer offers, deliveries, trained site contact and a realistic response arrangement.
Own the complete technical brief.
Coordinate the qualified designer, structural/electrical checks, compatible bill of materials, comparable quotes and witnessed acceptance.
Make the service fundable and billable.
Customer and our contracting entity, asset ownership, kWh agreement, approval route with advisers, funding, insurance and meter-to-invoice collection.
Bring in a qualified electrical designer/installer, a roof/structural specialist as required, a metering/generator specialist and local legal/insurance advisers. The founders coordinate the work; these specialist approvals are not replaced by founder experience.
The brief for comparable complete-system quotes
- Design inputs: load file, peaks/phases, selected circuits, outage and fuel records, roof survey, backup target and existing assets.
- Complete equipment: exact models, quantities, compatibility, protection, mounting, cable lengths, meters, controls, environmental limits and all integration work.
- Delivered scope: freight, battery transport documentation, clearance/tax treatment, installation, approvals, commissioning, training, warranty and support.
- Acceptance + cash: contracting/asset-owning entity, legal importer, agreed test protocol, exclusions, dates, staged payments, response times, insurance and funding through first collections.
Ask at least two qualified providers against the same brief. GAM-Solar and Shyben are existing enquiry routes for installation and generator expertise, not selected or approved contractors. Installer research · Generator research
+ $6,000 liquidity
$63,000 combined planning funding. Reconcile every item with complete quotations; no equipment has been selected or ordered.
Fund the whole service.
The study is part of validation and overlaps the later engineering provision. Do not simply add both budgets. Major roof works, a new generator, fuel, clinical UPS and founder pay/travel are excluded.
Installation model + full assumptionsAgreed customer. Complete funding.
Then procure, commission and verify the metered service. Exact inverter power, cable lengths, protection ratings, roof layout and usable backup duration remain open until the site study and design.
03 / Customer pipeline · 6 new leads checked 16 Oct 2026
Real names.
A reason to start talking.
15 research prospects. Start with three conversations, then measure one qualified site. No customer interest, contract or unmet energy need is confirmed.
Sharab Hospital Ltd
24/7 careLab, diagnostics and pharmacy advertised.
Measure one agreed non-critical daytime block.
Meeting brief + evidence
Why investigate · our assessmentA useful place to test a defined daytime electricity service alongside an existing clinical power arrangement.
- First question
- Would management share 12 months of electricity/fuel records, show the current supply system and permit a 14-day survey of agreed circuits?
- Who to ask
- Hospital administration + facilities/electrical lead + finance
- What to measure
- Hypothesis to measure: administration, lighting, suitable cooling and an agreed diagnostic load. Clinical/critical circuits need separate specialist approval.
- Still unknown
- Existing PV/storage/generator inventory, roof rights, clinical boundaries, current bills, budget and willingness to sign a kWh contract are unverified.
Sharab Hospital · services Sharab Hospital · official contact FCDO · Gambian medical facilitiesOfficial enquiry route
Africmed International Hospital
24-hour serviceLab, radiology and inpatient services advertised.
Compare a defined routine load; critical circuits need separate design.
Meeting brief + evidence
Why investigate · our assessmentA second hospital conversation to compare a real daily load and the value of defined backup with the Sharab case.
- First question
- Which block has a measurable power cost or service gap, and who can approve the site access, supply scope and payments?
- Who to ask
- Hospital management + facilities/electrical lead + finance
- What to measure
- Hypothesis to measure: a non-critical daytime service block first. Do not include ICU/theatre loads in a generic 20 kWp system.
- Still unknown
- No measured consumption, outages, installed equipment, available roof area or credit evidence is public evidence for our model.
Africmed · services FCDO · Gambian medical facilitiesOfficial enquiry route
African Princess Beach Hotel
141 roomsAir conditioning and mini-fridges advertised.
Measure a service block and its quiet-season demand.
Meeting brief + evidence
Why investigate · our assessmentA commercial comparison with healthcare: test a separately metered daytime hotel load rather than offer to power the entire property.
- First question
- Can the general manager and engineer identify one costed daytime load, provide seasonal bills and disclose any existing solar or energy contract?
- Who to ask
- General manager + chief engineer/facilities + finance or owner representative
- What to measure
- Hypothesis to measure: an agreed cooling or service block. Verify occupied/quiet-season profiles and the existing generation mix.
- Still unknown
- Published room count is not a load study. Existing PV, backup equipment, ownership, roof rights and purchasing appetite are unknown.
African Princess · rooms African Princess · official contactOfficial enquiry route
Added 16 October · qualify next
Six more concrete opportunities.
Scale and published facilities justify a conversation. They do not establish load, creditworthiness or room for a new solar contract.
Hospitality · Bertil Harding HighwayBakadaji Hotel80 suites
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator describes 80 suites across 11 blocks, with air conditioning and refrigerators.
Why investigate · our assessmentCompare one guest or service block for metered daytime electricity.
- First question
- Can the owner and engineer share current bills and identify a block not already covered by an energy contract?
- Who to ask
- General manager + engineering/facilities + owner or finance
- What to measure
- Measure a defined cooling/service block. Check roof rights, structural condition, existing PV/storage and seasonal use before sizing.
- Still unknown
- Room count is not measured demand. Existing generation, energy contracts, payment capacity and interest are unverified.
Hospitality · larger site · KololiSenegambia Beach Hotel375 rooms
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator homepage advertises 375 rooms, pools, restaurants and meeting facilities.
Why investigate · our assessmentA large site for one defined service block, not a whole-hotel promise.
- First question
- Which load still has an avoidable energy cost after existing systems, and who can authorise a survey?
- Who to ask
- General manager + chief engineer + owner/finance
- What to measure
- Separate cooling/pumping or another daytime block from hot-water demand. Ministry policy records historical solar water heating; that is not proof of today’s PV capacity.
- Still unknown
- The homepage count differs from older category totals. Reconfirm active inventory. Current PV, thermal plant, contracts and load are unknown; direct page retrieval timed out.
Senegambia Beach Hotel · operator overview Energy ministry · historical electricity policyOfficial enquiry route
Hospitality · two accommodation areas · KotuKombo Beach Resort256 + 88 rooms
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator lists 256 beachfront rooms and 88 additional rooms/apartments at Kombo Oasis, around 100 m away.
Why investigate · our assessmentInvestigate one independently metered block; two areas may have different supply boundaries.
- First question
- Are the two accommodation areas separately metered, and is either open to a costed daytime supply proposal?
- Who to ask
- General manager + facilities engineer + owner/procurement
- What to measure
- Survey each meter, duty cycle and existing assets. Historical policy mentions solar water heating, not a current PV electricity inventory.
- Still unknown
- Do not combine both areas into one supply design without a survey. Ownership, grid connections, PV, roof rights and procurement interest are unverified.
Kombo Beach Resort · accommodation and facilities Energy ministry · historical electricity policyOfficial enquiry route
Hospitality · KotuTUI BLUE TamalaCooling + services
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator advertises air-conditioned rooms, pools, dining, a gym, spa and conference facilities.
Why investigate · our assessmentCompare a repeat daytime service load, subject to local ownership and brand requirements.
- First question
- Who signs the electricity agreement, and which load is not covered by existing equipment or supplier contracts?
- Who to ask
- Local general manager + engineering + owner/finance
- What to measure
- Meter an agreed cooling, pumping or back-of-house load. No verified room count, kW demand or seasonality is assumed.
- Still unknown
- TUI branding does not establish the property owner or electricity buyer. Current solar/storage, approvals and load are unverified.
TUI BLUE Tamala · facilities and contactOfficial enquiry route
Hospitality · Cape PointOcean Bay Hotel & ResortAir-conditioned suites
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator’s suite page lists air conditioning and a minibar; the hotel offers dining and other resort services.
Why investigate · our assessmentA Bakau-area comparison for a defined cooling/service block.
- First question
- Can management identify one measured daytime block and the person who can approve a paid energy offer?
- Who to ask
- General manager + facilities/electrical engineer + owner/finance
- What to measure
- Request a circuit-level survey, current plant inventory, seasonal bills and roof/land rights. Do not infer whole-hotel demand from a suite description.
- Still unknown
- Active room count, ownership/management permissions, supply arrangements and purchasing appetite must be verified.
Ocean Bay Hotel · suite facilities Ocean Bay Hotel · locationOfficial enquiry route
Food manufacturing · later industrial case · Dobson StreetGambia Milling CorporationFlour + bran
Public evidence · not verified demandGMC has an operator contact page and appears in Seaboard’s current portfolio. The group’s 2015 profile describes flour/bran production and a port-adjacent grain terminal.
Why investigate · our assessmentA later industrial opportunity after the first commercial site is proven.
- First question
- Would plant management identify an unmet auxiliary/daytime load and the local/group procurement route?
- Who to ask
- Plant engineer + local management + group procurement/finance
- What to measure
- Begin with plant power-quality, shift schedule and asset review. Milling motors and production continuity need a dedicated engineered and financed case.
- Still unknown
- The 450 tonnes/day and 8,000-tonne terminal figures are historical 2015 claims, not current audited throughput. Present load, PV, contracts and approval authority are unknown.
Gambia Milling Corporation · company and contact Seaboard · current portfolio Seaboard Overseas · GMC facility profileOfficial enquiry route
Six further healthcare, hotel and industrial prospects
Privately managed charitable healthcare · Westfield JunctionWestfield Clinic TrustQualify locally
Public evidence · not verified demandThe clinic describes 16 inpatient beds, round-the-clock emergency cover and charitable status; it relies on service income and donations.
Why investigate · our assessmentA smaller facility to investigate if an authorised budget-holder or sponsor can support a sustainable electricity agreement.
- First question
- Which trustee/manager controls an energy contract, what budget pays the bills, and could a non-critical block be surveyed?
- Who to ask
- Clinic management + trustees/budget-holder + facilities/electrical adviser
- What to measure
- Hypothesis: a ring-fenced administrative/daytime load. Maternity, surgery and emergency continuity need separate clinical design.
- Still unknown
- Charitable status does not establish ability to pay. Confirm the funding source, current assets and any donor restrictions.
Westfield Clinic Trust · services and governance FCDO · Gambian medical facilitiesOfficial enquiry route
Private healthcare · directory-verified · Brufut Coastal RoadMedicare ClinicQualify locally
Public evidence · not verified demandFCDO’s September 2026 list identifies a private clinic at Brufut Coastal Road and publishes an organisational contact route.
Why investigate · our assessmentA reserve healthcare prospect after on-site identity, operating scope and a meaningful daytime load are confirmed.
- First question
- Can local management confirm the active site, decision maker, current supply and whether there is a paid energy need to assess?
- Who to ask
- Clinic administrator/owner + facilities adviser + budget-holder
- What to measure
- No equipment list is adopted from older directories. Establish the actual circuits and load before sizing anything.
- Still unknown
- The operator website could not be validated. Do not treat older bed/equipment counts or public-directory contact details as a current site survey.
Hospitality · Kololi BeachThe Kairaba Beach HotelQualify locally
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator describes a Kololi beach hotel with accommodation, pools and dining; the Gambia Hotel Association lists it.
Why investigate · our assessmentA larger, seasonal hotel prospect for one defined service block after owner and existing energy contracts are identified.
- First question
- Which legal entity buys electricity, which loads run in the quiet season, and does an existing solar/service agreement cover them?
- Who to ask
- General manager + engineering/facilities + owner/procurement
- What to measure
- Hypothesis: daylight cooling or selected back-of-house loads. High/low occupancy and hot-water arrangements affect the case.
- Still unknown
- Direct operator-page retrieval timed out; operator search evidence and association listing support discovery only. Current supply and operations need confirmation.
Kairaba Beach Hotel · official website Gambia Hotel Association · member directoryOfficial enquiry route
Hospitality · BijiloCoco Ocean Resort & SpaQualify locally
Public evidence · not verified demandThe operator lists accommodation, spa and restaurants. A historical IFC review describes solar water heating, which is different from electricity-producing PV.
Why investigate · our assessmentA technically more involved opportunity: distinguish water-heating systems, existing electrical assets and genuinely unmet electrical demand.
- First question
- Could the facilities team provide today’s equipment inventory and a seasonal load profile for one suitable block?
- Who to ask
- General manager + facilities/engineering + owner/finance
- What to measure
- Hypothesis: separately metered cooling, spa/service or kitchen-support loads. Never reuse old generator ratings as a current design basis.
- Still unknown
- The 2008/2016 IFC record is historical. It does not establish today’s PV capacity, generators, demand, contracts or available roof space.
Coco Ocean · resort information IFC · Coco Ocean historical environmental review Gambia Hotel Association · member directoryOfficial enquiry route
Beverage manufacturing · 42 Kanifing Industrial EstateGAMBEGA / Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling CompanyQualify locally
Public evidence · not verified demandECCBC’s own Gambia page identifies Gambega and the Kanifing facility. GRA recorded a facility visit in June 2024.
Why investigate · our assessmentA later industrial customer with a formal technical/procurement route, not a whole-factory promise within the small-site budget.
- First question
- Would local plant management accept an initial energy-cost discussion and identify any load not already covered by group investment or supply contracts?
- Who to ask
- Plant/engineering manager + procurement + country/group finance
- What to measure
- Hypothesis: an independently metered auxiliary daytime load, if worthwhile. Production machinery, motors and continuity require a dedicated engineered case.
- Still unknown
- Current generation, operating schedule, corporate approval rules, site capacity and power costs are unverified.
ECCBC · Gambega facility Gambia Revenue Authority · bottling-facility visitOfficial enquiry route
Beverage manufacturing · historical site record · Bonto VillageBel Bottling GroupQualify locally
Public evidence · not verified demandGRA documented a visit to the group’s Bonto facility on 13 June 2024.
Why investigate · our assessmentA second-wave industrial lead only after the current operating site, management and reachable technical support are verified.
- First question
- Can Lamin confirm the active operator/site and obtain the correct facilities/procurement route before we propose a survey?
- Who to ask
- Current plant management + procurement + finance, to be identified
- What to measure
- No capacity or process equipment is assumed. Start with operating verification, then assess a measurable auxiliary/daytime need.
- Still unknown
- The evidence is dated 2024. No present operating status, direct decision-maker contact, energy gap or credit position is established.
Current bills, PV/storage, generator, roof rights and purchasing authority are unknown at these prospects. Historical solar water heating at Senegambia and Kombo Beach does not establish today’s PV electricity capacity.
Energy ministry · historical electricity policyExisting solar, procurement and delivery partners
- Greenlink publishes existing Gambian solar and lease projects. Check current contracts before proposing a new installation. Greenlink · West African project references Greenlink · dated project archive
- Public hospitals can have donor-funded systems and public procurement requirements. EIB · public-school / health energy programme
- Qualified installers and generator specialists may be suppliers or competitors; no partnership is agreed. GAM-Solar · commercial services Shyben A. Madi & Sons · energy department
Competition · what customers already use
Buying equipment
A customer can buy a system from local installers. Compare our lifetime delivered cost with that ownership option.
Greenlink · West African projectsExisting solar leases
Greenlink already publishes lease references. Our proposed advantage is accountable metered delivery, transparent billing and dependable local support — still to be demonstrated.
Greenlink · West African projectsGrid + generator
A better grid reduces the value of our backup. Measure avoidable fuel, maintenance and interrupted work rather than count every existing cost as a saving.
PURA · published electricity tariffsWhat we keep from the supplied concept
The supplied Shade & Power concept contributes customer screening, financed ownership, local maintenance and eventual portfolio financing. Its fixed monthly plan, licensing workaround, assumed savings and 50 kWp return do not transfer to today’s metered, storage-inclusive model.
Source: Shade & Power · Konzept 2.0, 6 October 2026, supplied by the owner. The German concept and its English summary describe historical internal planning. Later user decisions take precedence. No excluded business idea is restored.
Quality + growth
Prove the essentials.
Then repeat.
Technical, quality and expansion requirements
01Choose the right configuration
Compare a daytime PV design using existing backup with a larger storage design. Do not size a battery from the building’s status or headline panel rating. Record peaks, phase balance, protected circuits, seasonal occupancy and evening load. A 14-day survey must be checked against seasonal bills.
02Keep the customer safe and the contract credible
Use a qualified electrical design, commissioning and insurance process. For hospitals, clinical engineers define critical-load continuity; a payment dispute must not trigger an improvised remote cut-off of clinical circuits. Local counsel must confirm lawful security, recovery and service terms.
03A repeatable commercial system
The digital record connects meter readings, invoices, collected payment, faults, maintenance and replacement reserves. Lamin coordinates local access and response; Joachim owns technical delivery with specialists; Dominik owns customer economics, billing and funding. These are proposed responsibilities.
Four conditions for moving forward · our decision criteria
Demand
One legal buyer, a defined load and written survey access.
Delivery
Safe design, roof rights and a confirmed authorisation route.
Economics
Customer-accepted tariff and full-cost recovery across realistic use.
Repeat
Measured service performance and collected invoices before a second site.
04 / Our proposed start plan · not started
Start with a clear plan.
Build it together.
Three prospect conversations → one qualified site → a 14-day load study.
01–03 · Qualify + run the test04 · Decide the next investment separately
- 01
Before paying for a surveyCoordinates · Lamin Choose one site worth measuring.
Find a customer-defined energy problem and the person who can approve a metered electricity agreement.
- Lamin
- Local access + operations
- Arrange three prospect conversations; no visit is agreed yet.
- Request bills, fuel logs, an asset list and survey access.
- Joachim
- Technical design + delivery
- Screen the roof, existing supply and candidate circuits.
- Use a qualified electrician to separate routine and critical loads.
- Dominik
- Business + software
- Identify the legal buyer, budget-holder and decision process.
- Compare avoidable grid/diesel costs and test interest in paying per kWh.
Bring to the next decision- One customer brief
- Current supply + cost records
- Consent for defined measurement
Move forward whenA suitable site grants safe access; the buyer and service boundary are identified.
Scope + specialist checks
Ask for seasonal records where available; a recent bill alone is not a full-year load profile. Confirm roof rights and existing supply contracts. Do not size a whole hospital from room or bed counts.
The handoverLamin and Dominik hand the customer brief to Joachim.
- 02
After the site grants accessCoordinates · Joachim Book a safe, fully costed study.
Confirm the people, rented logger, measurement method and spending limit before starting.
- Lamin
- Local access + operations
- Confirm access dates, field support and local logger availability.
- Collect written rental, transport and support terms.
- Joachim
- Technical design + delivery
- Engage the qualified electrician and engineer.
- Confirm calibration, safe installation, recording interval and the agreed load.
- Dominik
- Business + software
- Approve the quoted study budget and cash schedule with the team.
- Define the billing boundary; arrange preliminary contract and regulatory review.
Bring to the next decision- Survey brief + named specialists
- Local quotes + equipment booking
- Approved cash limit
Move forward whenAccess, qualified personnel, required permissions/insurance and full study funding are in place.
Scope + specialist checks
The $2,254 study allowance is not a quote and buys no PV installation. If suitable local rental or the specialist scope changes, reprice before committing. Agree a comparable future system quote brief; do not order equipment.
The handoverJoachim confirms the study; Lamin coordinates the site days.
- 03
14-day recording windowCoordinates · Joachim Turn 14 days of data into an offer.
Measure the agreed load, explain unusual days and price the complete electricity service.
- Lamin
- Local access + operations
- Keep a daily log of outages, fuel use and operating hours.
- Coordinate safe access and explain unusual demand to the engineer.
- Joachim
- Technical design + delivery
- Have specialists install/remove the logger and review the data.
- Assess daytime use, peaks, backup needs and seasonal gaps.
- Dominik
- Business + software
- Calculate delivered-kWh cost, collections risk and capital recovery.
- Review tariff, maintenance and agreed expansion terms with the customer.
Bring to the next decision- Measured load profile
- Scoped design + comparable quotes
- Customer-reviewed kWh offer
Move forward whenMeasured demand supports the design and a credible fully costed offer. No installation follows from verbal interest.
Scope + specialist checks
Separate grid charges and generator fuel that remain from avoidable costs. Do not promise clinical continuity without the hospital’s qualified engineering team. Record the buyer’s response to the actual price and contract scope.
The handoverJoachim passes measured inputs to Dominik for the investment review.
- 04
Next investment · Separate investment decisionCoordinates · Dominik Approve one system, then prove it.
Secure the customer agreement, approvals and funding; commission professionally and review paid operation.
- Lamin
- Local access + operations
- Agree site/operator responsibilities and train the local team.
- Keep incident, service and collection records after commissioning.
- Joachim
- Technical design + delivery
- Lead supplier selection with qualified designers/installers.
- Verify protection, battery/generator integration, commissioning and maintenance.
- Dominik
- Business + software
- Secure contract, permissions, insurance and finance before ordering.
- Set up metering/billing and compare delivery, collections and full costs.
Bring to the next decision- Approved installation case
- Commissioned + paid operating reference
- Repeatable service checklist
Move forward whenExpand only after agreed reliability, collected bills and full operating economics are demonstrated.
Scope + specialist checks
Installation has its own capital budget. Grid export needs separate approval and earns nothing in the present model. Agree a real operating review date together; no artificial rollout deadline is assumed.
ThenReview the first operating site before taking on the next customer.
Preparation + shared working file
Start with these three actions.
Request visits with Sharab, Africmed and African Princess.
Prepare the circuit, asset and survey checklist.
Prepare the bill comparison and buyer questions.
One shared working fileCustomer sheet · asset list · load file · offer + decision log
Qualified electrical designer / installer, metering specialist, local licensing counsel and insurer. Clinical power requires the hospital’s qualified engineering team.
Review the evidence together. Record the decision, the person responsible, the spending limit and the next review date. Dates follow access, quotes and approvals.
05 / The first test · checked 15 October 2026
The first test.
Clearly costed.
Measure one real customer.
Measure one agreed load before buying a system.
Full test scope
Visit three prospects, then record the agreed loads at one hospital or business for 14 days. Use a locally available, calibrated rental logger installed by a qualified electrician. No PV or battery is purchased in this test.
Proposed budget, not a supplier quotation.
Full item-by-item calculation · USD
Energy logger rental: 2 × $180 = $360; Qualified electrician visits: 2 × $100 = $200; Customer / site visits: 3 × $40 = $120; Independent engineering analysis: 2 × $200 = $400; Local field support: 4 × $35 = $140; Data + printing: $30; Initial tariff / contract review: $150; Local travel + consumables: $120; Provisional local taxes / permissions: $150. Subtotal = $1,670; plus 20% contingency $334 = $2,004 of test spending including the reserve. Add refundable logger deposit $250 = $2,254 cash required. No customer receipts or assumed resale/refunds are deducted.
Quantities, reference prices and quote gaps
| Item + scope | Quantity × unit | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Energy logger rental2 weeks · UK reference approximately $352 ex VAT for 14 days; $360 is a local rental allowance, not a delivered UK offer · test cost | 2 × $180 | $360 |
| Qualified electrician visitsLocal allowance · written quote required · test cost | 2 × $100 | $200 |
| Customer / site visitsLocal allowance · written quote required · test cost | 3 × $40 | $120 |
| Independent engineering analysis2 paid specialist days · founder review does not replace this work · test cost | 2 × $200 | $400 |
| Local field supportLocal allowance · written quote required · test cost | 4 × $35 | $140 |
| Data + printingLocal allowance · written quote required · test cost | 1 × $30 | $30 |
| Initial tariff / contract reviewLocal allowance · written quote required · test cost | 1 × $150 | $150 |
| Local travel + consumablesLocal allowance · written quote required · test cost | 1 × $120 | $120 |
| Provisional local taxes / permissionsAllowance, not a statutory rate · test cost | 1 × $150 | $150 |
| Refundable logger depositNot an expense; refund terms and amount unconfirmed · liquidity / inventory | 1 × $250 | $250 |
| 20% contingency on $1,670 | 20% | $334 |
| Total cash required | Before receipts | $2,254 |
A measured load profile, a comparable design/quotation brief and a customer-reviewed kWh offer. This proves the basis for a proposal; it does not demonstrate uninterrupted power or an installed system.
A PV installation, battery, new generator, clinical UPS, structural works, full electrical protection study, financing and grid-export approval. Rental availability and deposit must be agreed locally; an overseas shipment needs a revised quote before spending.
Planning allowances, not local quotes. Includes a 20% reserve; excludes founder pay and travel. No sales receipts are deducted.
Budget basis, exclusions + next-stage funding
All local prices, specialist day rates and the 20% reserve are proposed allowances until written offers replace them. Relevant overseas references appear in Sources; they are not Gambian landed quotes. Provisional tax/permission amounts are not legal rates. Founders’ time is unpaid in this test; founders’ pay and travel are excluded. Add them before approval if needed. There is no supplier commitment or booking yet. No paid goods are released without the applicable qualified checks.
The later deployment case below has a different scale and scope. Do not add both budgets mechanically: reconcile test spending and reusable assets already included in launch lines before funding the next stage.
The first test buys a decision, not a power system.
$2,254 funds a 14-day load study and proposal. It buys no solar installation and assumes no electricity sales.
Calculation + what the test can prove
The $2,254 test buys access, specialist measurement and a proposal. No electricity-sales receipts are assumed. The later storage-inclusive case needs about $0.453/kWh for its stated capital target, versus the $0.28 planning tariff. Compare an engineered smaller-storage option and the customer’s avoidable grid/diesel costs before funding equipment.
What the later investment model includes
20 kWp solar + roughly 40 kWh nominal storage. Existing customer generator integrated; no new generator purchase or clinical UPS included. This is a sizing hypothesis for an agreed load, not a whole-hospital supply design.
06 / The later investment case
The numbers.
With the assumptions visible.
First prove the load and the tariff. The storage-inclusive model does not recover its stated capital target at the planning tariff.
How this business earns
Planning cases below are team assumptions, not verified Gambian offers or customer prices. Reference facts and their limits appear in the source cards.
Cash after operation + reserve
per month · before tax
- Solar generation yield
- 1,500 kWh / kWp / year
- Generated energy sold at the agreed meter
- 70 %
- Collected tariff
- 0.22 USD / kWh
Cash after operation + reserve
per month · before tax
- All inputs
- As listed below
Cash after operation + reserve
per month · before tax
- Solar generation yield
- 1,750 kWh / kWp / year
- Generated energy sold at the agreed meter
- 92 %
- Collected tariff
- 0.32 USD / kWh
One illustrative operating month, not a full seasonal forecast. Do not multiply peak-month results by twelve. Figures are USD, before income tax and founders’ pay/travel; debt defaults to zero. Negative scenarios are intentionally retained.
Separate scale · later deployment / launch
Deployment is only part
of the cash needed.
Deployment $42–72k + liquidity $4–10k = $46–82k. These are scoped team allowances. A larger hospital system can cost materially more.
See every budget line
| Scope | Allowance range | Selected case |
|---|---|---|
| PV modules, mounting + DC worksTeam allowance · quote required | $7,000–$11,000 | $9,000 |
| Battery equipmentVictron Q4 reference; supplier / design not selected | $14,000–$22,000 | $18,000 |
| Conversion, controls + protectionTeam allowance · qualified electrical design | $6,000–$10,000 | $8,000 |
| Site installation + generator interfaceExisting generator only · quote required | $5,000–$9,000 | $6,500 |
| Freight, clearance + provisional taxesTeam allowance · product classification needed | $4,000–$8,000 | $6,000 |
| Engineering, permits + customer agreementIncludes the initial measurement / design work | $2,000–$4,000 | $3,000 |
| Deployment contingencyExplicit provision; not a validated risk estimate | $4,000–$8,000 | $6,500 |
| Deployment / launch total | $42,000–$72,000 | $57,000 |
| Operating and collection buffer | $4,000–$10,000 | $6,000 |
| Combined funding | $46,000–$82,000 | $63,000 |
Outside the scope: Land purchase, major roof repairs, a new generator, fuel stock, clinical UPS, dedicated clinical redundancy, founders’ travel/pay and a second site. Add them if required; do not hide them inside the contingency.
Freight and provisional non-recoverable tax/clearance costs are inside the stated allowances where listed. Actual duty, VAT treatment, permits and charges still need a broker/accountant assessment. No tax exemption is assumed. Recoverable VAT, if any, can create an additional timing gap.
Full calculation + editable assumptions
The selected case · change any input
See what has to work.
20 kWp × 1,650 annual kWh/kWp × 85% sold ÷ 12 × $0.28/kWh.
Positive operating cash does not prove an investable return.
Includes operation, reserve and the financing input. Does not recover the initial deployment.
Unlevered illustration: deployment recovered over the input horizon at the input hurdle, after operation and replacement reserve. Working capital is separate. This is not a loan quote or promised return.
Edit the assumptions
Selected funding inputs: $63,000. Output: 2,337.5 delivered solar kWh per month.
How to interpret and stress-test the result
What the result means.
The planning case can be cash-positive yet miss the ten-year capital target. The operating break-even tariff covers running costs and the reserve only; it does not recover the installation. Grid and generator energy must have separate meters and agreed customer-paid costs, or be added to the tariff model. No grid-export income is included.
First test: lower the sold share, increase battery replacement costs, and compare a smaller-storage design. A tariff premium requires a measured customer benefit and acceptable service terms.
Bill monthly from the verified meter. Size liquidity for invoice delays and scheduled service. Stress a 15% GMD depreciation against USD equipment costs; a USD-indexed tariff is a negotiation and affordability issue, not an assumed right.
07 / Evidence register · dated references
Facts with context.
Assumptions you can replace.
Sources retain their observation dates. Test allowances: 15 Oct 2026. Solar prospects and first-project scope: 16 Oct. No customer, supplier, financing or partnership agreement is implied.
Market + operating sources · 5 references
Market / operating evidenceAfrican Princess · operator room inventory
Advertises 141 rooms/suites with air conditioning and mini-fridges. This is not measured occupancy, electricity demand or willingness to buy.
Read the original sourceMarket / operating evidenceWorld Bank · Africa’s Pulse, Fall 2025
Figure 2.7 places The Gambia among countries with high reported outage incidence. The figure uses 2023/24 Enterprise Survey estimates; it is not a current outage forecast or a survey of our prospects. No exact chart-derived percentage is promoted in the short reading layer.
Read the original sourceMarket / operating evidencePURA · published electricity tariffs
Published commercial and hotel/industry rates are GMD 14.90 and 15.90/kWh. Use the actual customer bill and check for later decisions before pricing.
Read the original sourceMarket / operating evidencePURA · renewable energy
Obtain the applicable site-specific generation, supply and grid-connection requirements. Calling electricity a service does not itself remove licensing obligations.
Read the original sourceMarket / operating evidenceGreenlink · West African projects
Publishes Gambian commercial projects, including lease references. Existing assets, dates and contract status must be checked; financing alone is not an unoccupied market.
Read the original sourceSolar prospect sources · 30 references
Original nine profiles checked 15 Oct; six additions checked 16 Oct 2026. Operator claims are not site audits. Direct retrieval failures and historical records are labelled individually.
Prospect / market evidenceSharab Hospital · services
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceSharab Hospital · official contact
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceAfricmed · services
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceFCDO · Gambian medical facilities
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceAfrican Princess · rooms
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceAfrican Princess · official contact
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceWestfield Clinic Trust · services and governance
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceKairaba Beach Hotel · official website
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceCoco Ocean · resort information
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceIFC · Coco Ocean historical environmental review
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGambia Hotel Association · member directory
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceECCBC · Gambega facility
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGambia Revenue Authority · bottling-facility visit
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGreenlink · West African project references
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGreenlink · dated project archive
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceEIB · public-school / health energy programme
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGiEPA · solar investment opportunities
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGAM-Solar · commercial services
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceShyben A. Madi & Sons · energy department
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidencePURA · renewable energy and regulatory context
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceSenegambia Beach Hotel · operator overview
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceBakadaji Hotel · rooms and location
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceKombo Beach Resort · accommodation and facilities
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceTUI BLUE Tamala · facilities and contact
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceOcean Bay Hotel · suite facilities
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceOcean Bay Hotel · location
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceGambia Milling Corporation · company and contact
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceSeaboard · current portfolio
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceSeaboard Overseas · GMC facility profile
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceProspect / market evidenceEnergy ministry · historical electricity policy
Supports only the linked business description or market context. Confirm current assets, buyer, electrical demand and commercial terms locally before proposing an installation.
Read the original sourceFirst-project equipment + delivery · 10 references
Checked 16 October 2026. Manufacturer references explain components, not supplier selection or local approval. Counts and funding are our illustrative planning scope; no quote, availability or performance guarantee is implied.
Equipment / design scope referenceVictron · ESS component guide
Illustrates inverter/charger, batteries, controller, meters and alternative AC/DC solar coupling. A manufacturer architecture example, not our selected hardware or Gambian approval.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceVictron · ESS system design
Relates storage and inverter sizing to system duty and expected loads; addresses anti-islanding. Does not size our site or establish local grid-code acceptance.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceVictron · Lithium NG battery datasheet
Includes a 51.2 V / 100 Ah, 5.12 kWh LiFePO4 format and BMS requirements. Eight such nominal units illustrate 40.96 kWh, not usable AC energy, a selected battery bank or a complete offer.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceVictron · Cerbo GX monitoring
Example of local/remote system monitoring, compatible device integration and offline data storage. Our connectivity, alert escalation, permissions and billing integration still need configuration.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceVictron · Quattro inverter/charger
Shows one architecture accepting two AC sources and multi-phase arrangements. Not a selected unit, generator rating, wiring design or clinical continuity guarantee.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceVictron · Wiring Unlimited
Supports rated wiring, fusing and electrical-safety scoping. The site designer must specify actual protection, earthing, cable routes and ratings; no installation instructions are provided here.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceNLR · photovoltaic standard work specification
Supports structural/electrical assessment, roof condition and safe installation planning. This is a technical checklist reference, not Gambian building/electrical law.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceVictron · ESS commissioning
Describes checking supply, storage, metering and generator operation. A qualified team must define and witness site-specific acceptance tests.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referenceNREL · PV and storage O&M best practices, third edition
Historical technical reference for documentation, maintenance and service scope, not a current Gambian service price or local regulatory approval.
Read the original sourceEquipment / design scope referencePURA · electricity sector
Identifies the electricity regulatory framework and NAWEC’s role. Local counsel, PURA and NAWEC must establish the applicable generation/supply, metering, grid and export route for the proposed site; no threshold or exemption inferred.
Read the original sourceThe supplied concept contributes planning ideas; it is not independent market verification. Public programmes and investments are not funding commitments to us. No grant, subsidy, customer prepayment, credit facility or certification is included unless the financial scope explicitly says so.
Cost + finance sources · 7 references
Local referencePURA · electricity tariff table
The regulator currently displays GMD 14.90/kWh commercial and GMD 15.90/kWh hotel/industry. At the 15 Oct CBG valuation these are about $0.2035 and $0.2172/kWh. Confirm the actual bill, meter class and any later change. The older Ministry page displays lower rates and is not used.
Read the original sourcePriced equipment referenceVictron · manufacturer price list
51.2V/100Ah NG battery: €2,135 for 5.12 nominal kWh. Eight units: 40.96 kWh, €17,080, approximately $19,932 at the 14 Oct indicative cross-rate (about $19,518 at 15 Oct). Battery equipment only; BMS, cabinets, controls, freight, tax and installation extra. This is a benchmark, not the selected design.
Read the original sourceRequired validationPURA · renewable energy
Confirm the applicable generation / supply and connection route. Surplus export needs explicit technical and commercial approval; it is excluded from the revenue case.
Read the original sourceFirst-test rental benchmarkAdastra · Fluke 1730 hire
Published £19/day, minimum seven days, excluding VAT. Fourteen days = £266, approximately $352 using the dated CBG valuation. The supplier has not quoted for Gambia or agreed overseas hire. Source anchors equipment rental only; availability, calibration, deposits, logistics and local services need quotes.
Read the original sourceDated FX referenceCBG · first-test currency conversion
GMD per currency unit: USD 73.22; GBP 96.94; AED 19.94; EUR 83.67. Rounded USD cross-rates are used only for the new first-test references. Valuation is not a bank dealing rate. Earlier investment references retain their original dated conversions.
Read the original sourceFX referenceCBG · daily valuation
The CBG homepage displayed GMD 73.22/USD, 83.67/EUR and 4.40/ZAR. Indicative cross-rates: USD 1.143/EUR and USD 0.06009/ZAR. Valuation rates are not dealing rates. Earlier equipment-reference conversions retain their original observation date; no planning allowance is a binding offer.
Read the original sourceLocal confirmationGambia Revenue Authority · tax and customs
Obtain a product-code-specific landed-cost and tax assessment. No import-duty exemption, recoverable VAT or investment incentive is assumed. Tax and clearance allowances below are provisional amounts, not statutory rates.
Read the original sourceBefore an investment decision
Replace the allowances with complete local/landed quotes, the sales inputs with customer or buyer evidence, and the operating inputs with a measured pilot. Add taxes, founder costs, month-by-month seasonality, exchange exposure and financing terms to the full cash-flow forecast. These transparent pre-feasibility cases are the starting point for that work.