Your hub for going solar in Nairobi — expert articles, real savings data, and straight answers to the questions everyone asks.
We analysed real savings data from 200+ UrbanDwell installations to bring you the definitive guide to solar ROI in Kenya — including payback periods, bill reductions and 20-year projections.
Read Full Article →A practical guide to choosing between grid-tied, off-grid and hybrid solar systems.
Read Article →An analysis of Kenya's updated renewable energy framework and how it affects your solar investment.
Read Article →How zero-deposit solar financing works in Kenya — and whether it makes financial sense for you.
Read Article →Keep your solar system running at peak performance with these maintenance warning signs.
Read Article →Export your surplus solar energy to the grid and earn credits on your KPLC bill. Here's how.
Read Article →From roof angle to shading — what our engineers look for during a free site assessment.
Read Article →A clear breakdown of performance, product and workmanship warranties — and what actually matters.
Read Article →Make sense of the numbers on your inverter display — and know when something needs attention.
Read Article →How much CO₂ does a residential solar system actually offset? We break down the real numbers for Nairobi.
Read Article →Dirty panels can lose up to 25% of their output. Here's the right way to keep them performing.
Read Article →You don't need a rooftop to go solar. Here's how plug-and-play balcony systems work for apartment dwellers.
Read Article →Our engineers rank the best panels on the Kenyan market by efficiency, warranty and value for money.
Read Article →Every time KPLC raises its rates, your solar system's return on investment goes up. Here's the maths.
Read Article →Two different solar technologies, two different use cases. Which one should you install first?
Read Article →Tax relief, import duty waivers and county programmes — a complete guide to what's available to you now.
Read Article →What happens to your solar system during a voltage spike — and what protection you should have in place.
Read Article →How to structure solar as a landlord — including how to pass costs on, boost yields and raise property value.
Read Article →Manufacturer claims vs. real-world data — and how Nairobi's sun, dust and rain affect panel longevity.
Read Article →Not all quotes are equal. Here's what to look for — and the red flags that signal a low-quality proposal.
Read Article →Beyond the bill savings — the wider environmental impact of rooftop solar at neighbourhood scale.
Read Article →From automated load shifting to real-time monitoring apps — how to get the most from a connected solar setup.
Read Article →How to power your borehole or rooftop tank pump with solar — sizing, costs and integration explained.
Read Article →Yes! Our balcony solar range is designed specifically for apartment dwellers in areas like Kilimani, Westlands and Kileleshwa. The panels mount on your balcony railing using non-invasive brackets and connect via a plug-and-play micro-inverter to your standard wall socket. No roof access, no permanent structural work, and no landlord approval needed for standard configurations. Starter kits begin at KES 250,000 for a 1.2kWp system with a 2kWh battery.
Rooftop solar is a permanently installed system on your house roof, designed for maximum output over 25+ years — ideal for homeowners in Karen, Langata, Kikuyu, Ruiru and similar areas. Balcony solar is a portable, plug-in system for apartment renters or owners: lower cost of entry, quick to set up, and you can take it with you if you move. Both reduce your KPLC bills — rooftop typically by 70–90%, balcony solar by 20–50% depending on configuration and usage.
It depends on the system type. Balcony solar starter kits begin from KES 250,000 for a 1.2kWp plug-in setup with a 2kWh battery. Rooftop installations start from KES 350,000 for a 2.5kWp system, scaling up based on your energy needs. We offer flexible financing — many customers save more monthly than their repayment amount. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Yes! We offer zero-deposit pay-as-you-save plans, M-PESA monthly instalments, SACCO partnerships and bank financing through our partner institutions. In many cases, your monthly solar repayment is less than your current electricity bill — meaning you save from day one.
Most residential solar installations are completed in 1 to 2 days. Larger systems or properties with complex roofing may take up to 3 days. Our installation crew is tidy and professional — we leave your home exactly as we found it, just with a solar system on the roof.
Yes — solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not just direct sunlight. Output is reduced on heavily overcast days, but Nairobi's sunshine levels are among the best in East Africa year-round. Our systems are specifically sized to account for Kenya's seasonal weather patterns.
With a grid-tied-only system, your solar will shut off during an outage (a safety requirement). With our battery storage option, however, your home switches to battery power automatically and keeps running through the blackout — you may not even notice the outage.
You receive a 25-year performance warranty on solar panels (typically 80%+ output at year 25), a 10-year product warranty on inverters, a 10-year battery warranty on storage systems, and a 10-year workmanship warranty from UrbanDwell Energy on all installation work.
The average UrbanDwell customer reduces their KPLC electricity bill by 70–95%, depending on system size, usage patterns and whether they have battery storage. Our free energy audit gives you a personalised savings projection based on your actual bills and usage.
KPLC's net metering programme allows eligible grid-tied customers to export surplus generation and receive credits on their bill. We handle the full application and approval process with KPLC and EPRA on your behalf — it's included in our installation service.
In most residential cases in Nairobi, county planning permission is not required for rooftop solar. However, EPRA licensing and KPLC notification are required for grid-tied systems — we manage all of this on your behalf as part of our standard installation process.
All our systems include a smart monitoring portal and mobile app (iOS and Android). You can track live solar generation, battery charge level, energy consumption, CO₂ savings and cumulative financial savings — all from your phone in real time.
We exclusively use Tier-1 certified solar panels from globally recognised manufacturers including JA Solar, Longi Green Energy, Jinko Solar and Canadian Solar. For inverters, we work with Growatt, SolarEdge and Victron Energy. We do not install budget or unbranded equipment.
Our 24/7 remote monitoring often detects faults before you even notice them. For on-site issues, our Nairobi-based support team responds to priority callouts within 24–48 hours. We're not a foreign company with no local presence — we're based in Kilimani and we're here for the long term.
Every UrbanDwell installation is backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee. If your system isn't performing as agreed within the first 30 days — for any reason — we'll fix the issue at no cost or refund you in full. No arguments, no small print. We stand behind every system we install. Read the full guarantee terms →
Yes — once your system is installed, you receive a personal referral link to share with friends, family or neighbours. When someone you refer installs a system, you earn a cash reward and they receive a discount on their installation. There's no limit to how many people you can refer, and rewards are paid out on each successful installation. See full referral programme terms →
Still have questions? Our solar experts are happy to help — no sales pressure, just honest advice.