How Yocean Group is powering Africa to achieve green energy goals

Photo credit: Yocean Group

In 2016, Yocean Group officially opened the first local factory for distribution of transformers in Kenya. In the same year, the company passed various inspection tests conducted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), leading to the award of the Standardisation Mark of Quality for local manufacture of distribution transformers.

In addition, Yocean attained ISO 9001:2015 certification as a local manufacturer. In 2016, the company received the manufacturer authorisation award from Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) for the manufacture of new distribution transformers and repair services for faulty ones.

Established in 2011, Yocean Group Limited has extensive knowledge and experience in the following fields:

  • Manufacturing of distribution transformers and electricity meters.
  • Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) consultancy.
  • Renewable energy project development and operation.
  • Network optimisation and loss reduction.
  • Network automation and smart grid.

Through the guidance and leadership of the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Dylan Yu, a holder of MSc Electric and Telecommunication (UK), and an MBA (Chicago Booth, USA), the company has experienced sustainable growth through innovation, integrity, diligence, devotion, teamwork, and continuous improvements on product quality.

Embracing local manufacturing, distribution of transformers and repair services

Through years of experience, Yocean Group is able to manufacture transformers to individual customer specifications, while at the same time using standardised materials and components following a systematic quality assurance programme at all stages of manufacturing.

Across East Africa, Yocean has also supplied new transformers to REA-Uganda, back in 2021. To date, the transformers are functioning well, serving the Uganda electricity network, and there have been no reported cases of failure.

The entire electricity network and stability has therefore improved and the losses and failure rates reduced drastically after inception of local manufacturing of transformers. In addition, customer service has improved.

Local manufacturing has promoted investments. Investors are able to start business in Kenya and employ local staff. Currently, the working population at Yocean is made up of 95 percent local staffs, with foreign staffs accounting for the remaining five percent. Yocean Group believes in technology transfer and the promotion of local employment as guided by Kenya's national policies.

How Yocean Group has worked with KPLC to reduce power losses and improve service delivery through Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS)-Power Distribution Automation Solution

ADMS distribution system is the bridge to carry electricity from the generation and transmission system to the end users. The reliability, safety, and economy of the distribution network require sound data integration, automation, and an advanced management system. In collaboration with Yocean, the main contractor – Sifang – provides a smart distribution solution, which consists of Feeder Terminal Unit (FTU)/ Distribution Terminal Unit (DTU), smart switches, and a distribution management system.

The ADMS technology has been used in a project serving the Nairobi Metropolitan (Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, and Kiambu) area.

This particular project was financed by the World Bank, with Beijing Sifang Automation Co Ltd being the main contractor. Yocean Group was the local contractor.

The works included the installation of automated Ring Main Units (RMUs), Automated Load Break Switches, and Autoreclosers.

The ADMS project has enabled KPLC to efficiently and effectively provide service to its customers through remote power switching/operation, fast and efficient fault identification and isolation, faster restoration of power hence reducing downtime hours, and remote monitoring of line parameters like voltage, hence ensuring that quality power reaches the customer.

Climate action and green energy

Yocean Group has therefore taken an earlier lead spearheading in clean energy in line with the government’s guidelines and commitments in reducing Kenya’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. For sustainability and strategic development, Yocean has partnered with research institutions, including universities from the UK and China, in coming up with various technological innovations in renewable energy storage.

In addition, the company is doing research on the best solutions to resolve electricity accessibility, especially in the rural areas in Kenya by using distributed renewable energy systems, so that rural areas could have access to reliable electricity at a cheaper cost.

In promoting the adoption of green energy in local communities, the company was able to donate a 13KWp Mini-grid solar system with a 20KWh battery storage to the Mcedo Beijing School at Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya. This project has assisted the school in serving its crucial needs in lighting the classrooms and the surroundings, powering office equipment, boiling water, etc. The school had lacked electricity for almost 15 years.

For more information about Yocean Group, call +254 (0) 792250992 or email [email protected]