Salpha Energy is a Nigerian clean energy company founded in 2017 by Sandra Chukwudozie. The company designs, assembles, finances, and distributes solar home systems to underserved households and small businesses in both rural and urban parts of Nigeria. Their goal is to provide reliable, affordable energy access to people often left out of the normal power systems.
So far, Salpha has helped over 1.5 million people gain access to solar power. It has installed more than 6.7 gigawatt-hours of solar energy and helped avoid over 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
The company’s assembly plant in Cross River can produce up to 250,000 solar systems each year, ranging from basic home kits to systems that can power fans, fridges, medical equipment, and small appliances. Salpha has also created more than 1,050 jobs directly and indirectly, with a focus on hiring and training women for technical roles.
In recognition of its impact, Salpha won the 2024 Ashden Award for Energy Innovation in the Global South and received a €25,000 grant to continue expanding its work. The company also secured a ₦2 billion investment (about $1.3 million) from Shell-backed investor All On in 2025, funding that is being used to grow its operations, scale production, and reach more communities across Nigeria.
Sandra Chukwudozie, the founder and CEO, studied economics and political science at the University of Manchester and earned a master’s degree in international oil and gas management from the University of Dundee. Before founding Salpha, she worked with the United Nations on sustainable development and energy access. She was named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list in 2022 and was recognized by Reuters in 2024 as a Climate Future Leader for her work bringing clean energy to underserved populations.
Under her leadership, Salpha Energy is showing that solar power can be a powerful tool for creating jobs, improving health, and expanding access to a better quality of life for millions of Nigerians.
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