Global technology company Epson is exploring partnerships with renewable-energy firms to deploy solar-powered printing and projection equipment in rural Kenyan schools.
The firm is looking to tap into opportunities created by the country’s push to modernise classrooms.
The company says it is considering an East African model similar to a partnership it has implemented in Senegal, where printing and projection equipment is powered using solar and battery technology in rural schools.
Epson Africa director and southern Africa country manager Gareth Jay said Kenya’s energy challenges in remote areas make renewable energy an important component of its expansion strategy.
“We are thinking about East Africa and Kenya, how do we look towards the more rural locations and the energy shortages that exist in that environment and how we partner with different types of companies to put our solution down together with sustainable energy solutions,” said Jay.
The approach could open a new market for technology companies as Kenya invests in transforming classrooms through digital learning tools, while schools in remote areas continue to face unreliable or limited access to electricity.
Epson says its printing and projection equipment consumes less power, allowing some of its devices to operate using solar or battery-powered energy systems.
The company is also looking beyond conventional printing equipment, targeting schools and other institutions with interactive projection technology designed to support classroom teaching.
“We want to translate the learning experience with technology,” Gareth said, adding that interactive projectors could help teachers improve student engagement.
Kenya has been pushing to expand digital learning as part of efforts to modernise education, creating opportunities for technology providers offering devices, connectivity, digital content and power solutions.
The company says it plans to work with other technology and energy providers because digital classrooms require an ecosystem of complementary products and services.
The firm has opened an innovation centre in Nairobi, which it says will serve its East and West African operations and provide a base for demonstrating its technology to customers and partners.
Epson sees Kenya as a pivotal market for its African growth strategy, particularly as demand for its ink-tank printing technology grows in East Africa.
