Founded in 2001, KESEnergy provides reliable energy to rural households beyond the national grid. Kukhanya, meaning “to shine light” in isiZulu, reflects KESEnergy’s mission to empower communities with clean energy. Green Economy Journal interviews CEO Rolf Niemand.
Please share your career trajectory to this point.
I graduated from the University of Natal in 1991 with a BSc Electrical Engineering degree and started my career at the [then] Durban municipality (electricity) as an engineer-in-training. The public sector was slow-paced, so I moved into consulting engineering in 1994. The big change came in 2002, when I joined a company in Pretoria developing the PayGo solar technology ultimately adopted by three of the four solar concession companies, including KES. This introduced me to rural energy service delivery and sparked a passion that has never dissipated. I have stayed close to the industry since, with some detours along the way – running the electricity department at a local municipality, engineering manager at Igoda Projects and private consulting. In 2020, amid the Covid pandemic, I seized the chance to return to rural energy at KES when the long-time CEO announced her departure.
Provide an overview of KESEnergy and its background.
In the late 1990s, the South African government envisaged the creation of solar concession companies to install solar home systems in areas far removed from the national electrification drive. Électricité de France (EDF) and Total, two French corporations, jointly submitted a bid and were granted a concession to operate in central KwaZulu-Natal. KwaZulu Energy Services (KES) was founded in 2001 to execute this mandate.
The team encountered communities who had lived without electricity for generations. The first installations were modest: a few lights, a radio, the ability to charge a phone – but for those families the impact was
profound. Children could study after sunset, small businesses could trade longer and homes that had relied on candles and paraffin had a safer, cleaner alternative. That early experience set the tone for everything KES has done since: practical solutions, designed for rural realities, delivered with respect for the communities we serve.
KES expanded into the Eastern Cape, leading to the name change from “KwaZulu” to “Kukhanya”, forming Kukhanya Energy Services. However, the acronym KES remains closely associated with our company. When we rebranded in 2026, it was a natural decision to keep KES at the heart of the new identity: KESEnergy.
While we have continued to work with government, KESEnergy started exploring private solar sales not supported through government subsidies. Our philosophy remained the same: quality systems, aftersales support and ease of payment. This gave rise to the KESEnergy pay-as-you-go (PayGo) model, where customers buy an affordable, quality solar home system kit on a lease-to-own basis.
These DIY kits include prewired lights with switches, phone-charging cables and rechargeable radios and torches. Each monthly payment generates a numeric token that activates the system for a further 30 days. Our range has since expanded to include low-power LED TVs, small AC units capable of running a refrigerator and larger AC systems able to power an entire household.
This programme proved highly successful, and in 2025 we secured financing that allowed the company to scale rapidly into the South African market. Sales grew 180% in 2025, reaching 16 300 systems sold. As we continue to scale, with a target of 25 000 systems for 2026, we create employment in the communities we serve. Alongside permanent staff of 50 people, we support 40+ distributors, 50+ installers and over 400 sales agents.
Please outline the challenges of developing solar solutions rural South Africa.
I have always said that if you really want to learn business, try running one in a rural area. From skills shortages to banking (collecting cash) to logistics, the challenges are endless – even securing affordable commercial premises can be a problem. From a solar perspective, the demand is there.
Over time, rural communities have been exposed to solar, but the change we bring is in the model. Solar is often perceived as expensive; once communities understand we offer genuinely affordable solutions, they are happy to come on board. The bigger challenge is the sheer scale of the country and how to cover it. That is where we continue to grow and learn – empowering local distributors, installers and agents to ensure quality energy reaches the most remote corners of South Africa.
