World’s largest off-grid solar energy company unveils plans to deliver over 1.5 million electricity connections in Madagascar by 2030, at the launch of its first retail shop in the country

Sun King, the world’s largest off-grid solar energy company, today announced plans to invest up to $50 million in Madagascar over the next five years, aiming to deliver 1.5 million new electricity connections, reaching an estimated 7.5 million people, by 2030. This investment reflects Sun King’s commitment to work with the Malagasy Government to bolster energy access. The opening of Sun King’s first retail location in Itaosy marks the start of a long-term commitment to bring reliable and affordable energy to one of Africa’s highest potential solar markets. 

Madagascar continues to face one of the world’s largest electricity access deficits. According to the 2025 Tracking SDG 7 report, only 39% of the population had access to electricity in 2023, leaving approximately 18.4 million people without access. The deficit is particularly acute in rural areas, where only 11% of the population had electricity access in 2022. 

“Distributed energy solutions — such as those sold, installed, and financed by Sun King — offer a fast route to reaching the people who need power most. We welcome Sun King’s entrance into Madagascar and are working closely with them to accelerate their launch into even the country’s most remote regions. This investment supports our National Energy Compact under Mission 300, and our ambition to reach 80% electricity access by 2030. Strengthening public-private partnerships is very important for Malagasy Government to achieving this goal.” H.E. Radonirina Lucas Rabearimanga, Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbons, Republic of Madagascar.

Under Mission 300, the World Bank and African Development Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, Madagascar’s National Energy Compact targets 80% electricity access by 2030. The Compact plans for 80% of the new connections, to be delivered through off-grid and distributed energy solutions, such as those designed, installed and financed by Sun King.  

Sun King’s first retail shop in Itaosy marks a key moment for an ambitious national rollout in Madagascar. Sun King plans to open three shops by the end of this year, expecting to grow to seven by the end of 2027. Sun King will offer pay-as-you-go solar lanterns and solar home systems in-store, with future product lines planned. Customers can access a solar home system from as little as Malagasy Ariary 857 ($0.19 USD) a day for eighteen months, after which the system unlocks — offering free energy for its lifetime. 

“Many underserved places need access to distributed solar energy, but we can only enter new countries at a limited pace. The government’s commitment to energy access is what drew us to Madagascar. When a country is focused on getting power to its people, we know we can move quickly and do our best work. We’re now building teams, infrastructure, and partnerships to bring affordable solar to Malagasy families who still lack reliable energy access.” T. Patrick Walsh, Co-Founder and CEO, Sun King

Sun King’s investment in Madagascar is expected to create thousands of jobs as the company scales operations. It builds on a team Sun King already maintains across Africa: more than 4,000 full-time employees spanning data science, engineering, and operations, and 44,000 field agents who sell, install, and service solar in their own communities.

Sun King’s entry into Madagascar is part of its broader ambition to bring clean, affordable electricity to 200 million people by 2030, deploying more than 50 million solar kits across Africa and adding 3.8 GW of new solar capacity. Through its National Energy Compact under Mission 300, Madagascar has made clear that distributed solar will play a central role in achieving its electricity access targets. The World Bank is supporting this ambition through the Digital and Energy Connectivity for Inclusion in Madagascar (DECIM) complementary financing programme. The DECIM Fund targets 457,000 new electricity connections, reaching 2.285 million people through 417,000 solar kits and 40,000 electricity connections via mini-grids, while also supporting access to digital services through 664,000 digital devices nationwide. 

“Sun King’s entry into Madagascar reflects exactly the kind of private-sector investment DECIM Fund was designed to catalyze — expanding solar access for underserved communities and advancing our National Energy Compact under Mission 300.” Komenan Koffi, Senior Energy Specialist and World Bank Task Team Leader, DECIM, Madagascar

At the launch, Sun King and YAS Madagascar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a new stage in a partnership that has been in place since 2020 to promote access to clean, affordable energy in Madagascar. This partnership gives YAS exclusive rights to distribute Sun King’s solar solutions under the MBalik brand. It has already equipped more than 250,000 Malagasy households with solar kits, making MBalik one of the leading names in Madagascar’s Solar Home System (SHS) market.

With Sun King now established in Madagascar, the two partners intend to accelerate the rollout of these products across the whole country. Through its network of 90 points of sale and more than 500 sales agents present nationwide, YAS Madagascar will continue distributing MBalik solar equipment as close to communities as possible. Customers will also continue to benefit from MVola as a flexible payment solution, making it easier for more households to access this equipment.

“At YAS Madagascar, we put our network, our closeness to communities, and our digital solutions to work on real needs. Our partnership with Sun King is fully in line with that approach. By drawing on our distribution network, on MVola, and on the natural synergies between solar solutions and telecommunications services, we’re helping make this equipment more accessible to Malagasy households. Alongside our partner, we want to play a lasting role in improving their living conditions.” Benoît Janin, Managing Director, YAS Madagascar.