Draft:Renewvia Energy Corporation

Renewvia Energy Corporation is an American renewable energy company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 2008, the company specializes in designing, installing, owning, and operating solar power systems for commercial and community applications. Renewvia provides turnkey solar installation, integrated financing, and solar consulting services across the United States and in several African countries.

History
Renewvia was founded in 2008 by Trey Jarrard and Eric Domescik, both graduates of the University of Georgia. The company initially focused on owning and operating rooftop solar arrays in the United States, but quickly pivoted to become an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor offering turnkey solar solutions.

In 2016, Renewvia expanded its operations to Africa, starting with projects in Kenya. The company has since developed solar mini-grid projects in several African countries, including Nigeria and Ethiopia.

United States
In the United States, Renewvia primarily serves as an EPC contractor, designing and installing solar power systems for commercial and industrial clients. The company has completed projects for various sectors, including:
 * Agriculture: Solar installations for poultry farmers and peanut growers in rural Georgia
 * Manufacturing: Rooftop solar arrays for steel fabrication plants and other industrial facilities
 * Commercial: Solar canopies for car dealerships and parking lots

Notable U.S. projects include:
 * The largest commercial distributed rooftop solar array in Alabama, a 746-kilowatt system installed at SteelFab's Roanoke plant in 2018
 * A 90,000-square-foot rooftop solar installation for Worthen Industries in Nashua, New Hampshire, which was the largest of its kind in the state at the time of completion in 2017

Africa
Renewvia's African operations focus on developing, owning, and operating solar mini-grids in rural and underserved communities. The company's first African projects were in Kenya, where it has since expanded to multiple locations. Renewvia has also established operations in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Key African projects include:
 * Solar mini-grids on the islands of Ringiti and Ndeda in Lake Victoria, Kenya, providing first-time electricity access to communities of approximately 10,000 people
 * A solar mini-grid serving the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement in Turkana County, Kenya, initially connecting 500 households and later expanded to serve nearly 2,500 community members
 * Multiple mini-grid installations in Nigeria, including projects in Bayelsa and Cross River states

Funding
As of 2024, Renewvia has raised a total of $11.2 million in funding. In 2021, the company received a $10 million investment from Nashville-based Claritas Capital to support its expansion in sub-Saharan Africa.

Technologies, Research, and Sustainability Initiatives
Beyond solar projects, Renewvia's activities include technological solutions aimed at the renewable energy and carbon markets.

Renewvia employs a digital payments system that integrates with local mobile money services such as M-Pesa in Kenya and Paga in Nigeria. This system works in conjunction with smart meters to track energy usage. Customers can manage their accounts using mobile phones, with features including prepaid energy purchases, balance inquiries, and maintenance notifications.

Renewvia has introduced the Renewvia Environmental Equity Exchange (REEE), a platform for trading carbon assets that utilizes blockchain technology. REEE facilitates the sale of renewable energy credits (R-RECs) and carbon credits. The platform employs public blockchain verification in its operations. It also includes functionality for creating financial instruments such as futures contracts based on carbon assets.

Renewvia conducted and published a study in 2024 in Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability examining the impacts of solar mini-grids in rural Kenya and Nigeria. The study, based on surveys of over 2,600 households and businesses, found significant positive changes one year after mini-grid installation. Key improvements included increased school enrollment, more economic opportunities for women, extended hours of electricity access, health benefits from reduced kerosene use, and economic growth through business expansion and cost savings on energy-related expenses.