Nelson Maguti Omolo
Nairobi
Summary
Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) and Blended Finance Expert with over 20 years of experience spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Expert in project development, technical assistance, investment preparation, and business advisory for clean energy enterprises. Track record of supporting donor-funded programs (World Bank, AfDB, NORAD), and mobilizing financing for large-scale DRE and Commercial and Industrial (C&I), solar projects. Recognized for leadership in strategy, project execution, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate energy access and support climate goals.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Consultant & Senior Technical Expert for Distributed Renewable Energy
The World Bank Group
Nairobi
07.2024 - 06.2025
- Company Overview: www.worldbank.org
- As a Consultant and Senior Technical Specialist, I accelerated the delivery of modern energy services across Eastern and Southern Africa by driving innovation, scaling investments, and fostering strategic growth in the Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) sector.
- I applied technical expertise and business insights to deploy sustainable energy solutions, build partnerships, and optimize project execution.
- My primary focus was supporting prioritized DRE companies with high scalability and rapid impact, contributing to the goal of electrifying 100 million people in Eastern and Southern Africa by 2030.
- Additionally, I provided customized technical assistance to DRE companies, aiming to advance project readiness, facilitate financing, and accelerate the deployment of clean energy solutions across their target markets, thereby contributing to the M300 goals.
- The work targeted investment preparation, regulatory alignment, and implementation readiness to mobilize at least USD 100 million in co-financing by December 31, 2025.
- Www.worldbank.org
Project and O&M Manager
Renewvia Energy
Nairobi
02.2023 - 02.2024
- Company Overview: www.renewvia.com
- Budget and Schedule Management: Establish and review construction budgets to ensure financial efficiency.
- Maintain construction schedules and oversee work scopes, ensuring timely project delivery.
- Review and respond to Requests for Information (RFIs), submittals, and change orders to facilitate smooth project execution.
- Project Tracking and Resource Management: Utilize project scheduling software and methodologies to monitor all aspects of solar mini-grid construction, including resources, schedules, and contractual obligations.
- Ensure alignment of project activities with overall goals and timelines.
- Maintenance Strategy Development: Focus on long-term maintenance strategies for solar mini-grids, including expense control and approval processes.
- Implement workforce planning to optimize maintenance operations and resource allocation.
- Team Training and Supervision: Train and supervise maintenance department employees to enhance team performance and operational efficiency.
- Negotiate contracts with external vendors for maintenance work, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness.
- Ensure the operational efficiency of electrical equipment through timely inspections, repairs, and adherence to workplace safety policies and standards.
- Www.renewvia.com
Technical Sales Consultant - East Africa
Rubicon Renewables & Automation
Cape Town
11.2020 - 10.2022
- Company Overview: www.rubiconsa.com
- Business Opportunity Identification: Identify and qualify potential leads to uncover new business opportunities while preparing engaging product presentations.
- Customer Requirements Analysis: Gather detailed information to accurately assess customer technical and application needs, shaping product roadmaps accordingly.
- Negotiate the technical aspects of contracts to ensure alignment and feasibility.
- Solution Design: Translate customer requirements into compelling technology solutions by designing comprehensive solar system solutions, including inverters, panels, mounting structures, AC/DC cabling, storage solutions, weather stations, AC distribution, balance of systems (BOS), metering, logging, and monitoring systems.
- Quotation and BOM Generation: Create a Bill of Materials (BOM) for designed systems and generate accurate quotations and Proforma Invoices using NetSuite CRM.
- Utilize the CRM for effective management of customer relationships and sales pipelines.
- Market Strategy Assessment: Assess and spearhead effective sales and market penetration strategies for East Africa, cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with business partners.
- Data Analysis: Perform data analysis to fine-tune commercial strategies and maximize overall performance, ensuring that business goals are achieved.
- Marketing Collaboration: Work closely with the marketing team to develop and implement effective campaigns that align with and support the commercial strategy.
- Market Research and Trend Analysis: Conduct thorough market research and analysis to stay informed of industry trends and developments, ensuring competitive positioning and informed decision-making.
- Www.rubiconsa.com
Senior Manager- Solar Systems Design, Project Support & Business Development for Africa, Saudi Arabia & Yemen
Power&Sun Solar Solutions LLC
Dubai
11.2017 - 11.2020
- Company Overview: www.powernsun.com
- Procedure Development and Technical Support: Develop standard procedures and provide project management and technical support for the development of commercial solar power plants.
- Strategic Relationship Building: Build strategic relationships with clients, educating them on solutions, creating and negotiating proposals, and implementing company promotions.
- Conduct market research to understand customer needs across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Sales Generation: Drive sales by developing follow-up strategies for sales leads and referrals, creating commercial, residential, and industrial business opportunities through targeted marketing campaigns.
- Sales Forecasting and CRM Management: Utilize Zoho CRM for accurate sales forecasting and budgeting to support strategic decision-making.
- Cross-functional leadership: Lead cross-functional project teams, ensuring the strong delivery of projects on time and within budget while fostering collaboration among team members.
- Energy Simulation and System Design: Perform energy simulations and system designs using various design tools, including PVSyst, PV Sol, SMA Web Design, HOMER, Helioscope, and Smart Draw for CAD diagram development.
- Www.powernsun.com
Solar Systems Lead Designer & Project Manager
Energy Action Partners (ENACT)
Hargeisa
05.2013 - 11.2017
- Company Overview: www.enactpartners.org
- Team Management and Advisory Services: Managed teams providing solar engineering services for mini-grid and off-grid photovoltaic (PV) plants, delivering technical advisory services, bankable feasibility studies, and comprehensive engineering design for solar power projects.
- Solar Resource Analysis: Conducted solar resource analysis and energy production forecasts tailored for the financing requirements of solar developers in Somaliland.
- Site Assessments: Performed site visits to evaluate solar potential, analyzing data to configure photovoltaic ground-mounted systems, rooftop installations, and solar parking structures.
- Design and Construction Oversight: Directed the development of design and construction plans for solar PV power systems with integrated battery storage.
- Inspected the structural integrity of residential buildings to ensure effective and safe solar panel installations.
- Preliminary Design and CAD Drafting: Developed preliminary designs and conducted CAD drafting, including layouts, electrical one-line diagrams, PV system modeling, and cost estimation for projects.
- Renewable Energy Education and Outreach: Oversaw the implementation of renewable energy education and outreach programs, facilitating training initiatives and contributing to policy development in Somaliland to promote sustainable energy practices.
- Www.enactpartners.org
Project Development Consultant (Energy)
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd
Juba
10.2012 - 03.2013
- Company Overview: www.huawei.com
- Project Leadership: Directed and managed the development of energy projects for telecommunication transmission stations from initiation to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
- Scope and Goal Definition: Defined project scope, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders to support overall business goals.
- Project Planning: Developed comprehensive project plans and associated communication documents to guide project execution and stakeholder engagement.
- Expectation Management: Communicated project expectations clearly and promptly to team members and stakeholders, fostering transparency and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.
- Resource Estimation and Budgeting: Estimated the resources required to achieve project goals, drafted and submitted budget proposals, and recommended adjustments as necessary to ensure project viability.
- Task Delegation and Management: Delegated tasks and responsibilities to team members, managing project expectations and maintaining accountability for deliverables.
- Documentation and Reporting: Developed and delivered essential project documents, including project briefs, scope statements, execution plans, and progress reports to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.
- Www.huawei.com
Project & Maintenance Manager - Electrical
Power Met International (METS Energy)
Juba
03.2010 - 08.2012
- Company Overview: www.metsenergy.com
- Project Planning and Implementation: Effectively planned, evaluated, implemented, and performed technical advisory roles for the development of power projects, ensuring alignment with project goals and stakeholder expectations.
- Leadership and Mentorship: Provided leadership by guiding and mentoring project team members during the writing of technical specifications and the commissioning of engineering projects, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Construction Documentation Preparation: Prepared comprehensive construction documentation, including wiring diagrams, site and equipment layouts, grounding diagrams, and detailed evaluation reports to meet project specifications and requirements.
- Project Monitoring and Stakeholder Engagement: Monitored projects throughout all phases, building strong relationships with stakeholders, and managing the performance and processes of subcontractors and suppliers to ensure timely and successful project delivery.
- Proposal and Financial Management: Prepared proposals, project execution charts, budget estimates, scheduling plans, project cash flows, and return on investment statements, coordinating all feasibility studies in South Sudan to support informed decision-making.
- Administrative Support: Provided administrative support, including processing work orders, managing invoice processing, and tracking engineering, preventative maintenance, and safety records to ensure operational efficiency.
- Customer Satisfaction and Feedback: Upheld and monitored customer satisfaction levels, conducting surveys to gather feedback regarding work requests and drive improvements in service delivery.
- Www.metsenergy.com
Project Lead (Electrical Power)
Bomatek Electric Ltd.
Juba
06.2009 - 01.2010
- Company Overview: www.bomatekengineering.com
- Project Oversight: Oversaw projects from conceptualization through to delivery, ensuring adherence to predefined budgets and deadlines for successful project completion.
- Service Review and Improvement: Reviewed existing services and negotiated with customers to produce and monitor service level agreements (SLAs) and service improvement policies, establishing priorities and planning for service growth.
- Vendor Management: Identified, appraised, and managed vendors' technology and business process solutions, ensuring alignment with company objectives and project requirements.
- Strategic Project Conversion: Converted business strategies into structured projects with clearly defined deliverables, streamlining execution processes and enhancing organizational alignment.
- Research and Development Participation: Actively participated in various research and development initiatives undertaken by Bomatek Electric, contributing to innovative solutions and advancements.
- Training and Capability Development: Designed and planned training programs for Bomatek teams, leading efforts to enhance the engineering capabilities of both teams and clients, ensuring successful project delivery.
- Www.bomatekengineering.com
Technical Project Manager
AGE Technologies Limited
Bujumbura
01.2007 - 04.2009
- Company Overview: www.age-techsolutions.com
- Preventative Maintenance and Calibration: Expertly performed preventative maintenance and calibration of equipment and systems for UN facilities in Burundi, earning an outstanding reputation for proficiency and quality.
- Daily Operations Management: Managed the daily operations of UN facilities, enhancing office efficiency by delegating daily assignments to facility consultants and ensuring smooth workflow.
- Performance and Quality Assurance: Played a key role in ensuring that team efforts met and exceeded financial, performance, quality, and reliability goals, contributing to overall operational success.
- Safety and Health Communication: Ensured effective communication of safety and health information to building occupants, providing necessary training in accordance with their assignments to maintain a safe working environment.
- Project Management for Power Substations: Successfully managed the design, installation, training, and on-site technical assistance during the erection, startup, and commissioning of three power substations, including five 500 KVA generators and 22 50 KVA generators, as well as air conditioning systems and the entire electrical infrastructure for UN offices in Burundi.
- Team Supervision: Supervised a team of eight engineers, ensuring that preventive maintenance and environmental work orders were completed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Team Performance Management: Maintained high-quality team performance through coaching, training, and the development of customer service training programs, ensuring that no opportunity for improvement was overlooked.
- Facility Inspections and Improvements: Conducted active inspections of facilities to validate appropriate service levels and maintenance, implementing functional and physical improvements as necessary.
- Www.age-techsolutions.com
Project & Technical Services Supervisor
Infra-tech International Limited
Kigali
07.2005 - 11.2006
- Installation and Maintenance Coordination: Coordinated the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of TIGO Rwanda cell sites, overseeing the management of 160 generators and electrical power maintenance for telecommunication rectifiers, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and voltage stabilizers in the Kigali and Bugesera regions.
- Project Direction for Japan International Cooperation Project: Directed the supply, installation, design, startup, and commissioning of two 250 KVA generators, including lightning protection, grounding systems, and electrical installation for two computer labs as part of the Japan International Corporation project at TUMBA College, Rwanda.
- UPS Management for the Presidential Office: Successfully managed the design, installation, and commissioning of five 120 KVA UPS units at the Office of the President in Kigali, Rwanda. Oversaw service contract management to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
Field Project Engineer
Vector International Ltd
Nairobi
01.2000 - 06.2005
- Company Overview: www.vectorinternational.com
- Power Systems Installation and Commissioning: Performed various installations and commissioning of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power stabilizers, power inverters, and DC rectifiers up to 300 KVA across East and Central Africa.
- Key Collaborations: Collaborated with prominent organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Department for International Development (DfID), Uganda Telecom, Office of the President of Rwanda, Kenya Ports Authority, Safaricom, and Kenya Commercial Bank, contributing to major infrastructure projects throughout the region.
- Www.vectorinternational.com
Education
MBA - Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Brentwood University
07.2026
MBA - Project Management
Anglia Ruskin University
01.2017
BSc - Project Engineering Management
Bircham International University
01.2012
Diploma - Electrical Engineering
RIAT College
01.1997
Skills
- Distributed Renewable Energy Investment Preparation & Scale-Up
- Financial Modelling & Due Diligence (Clean Energy)
- Technical Assistance (Mini-Grids, SHS, PUE)
- Business Advisory for Clean Energy Enterprises
- Donor-Funded Program Implementation (World Bank, AfDB, etc)
- Market Assessments & Energy Access Strategy
- Stakeholder Engagement (Investors, Governments, Utilities)
- Remote Team Management
- Leadership & Team Development
- Financial analysis for DRE and C&I projects
- Contract negotiation and project structuring
- Policy analysis
- Strategy coordination
- Energy sector reform
- Market development
- Project advisory in emerging markets
- Clean Energy Business Development
- Investor Relations
Languages
English
Kiswahili
Skill Areas
- Distributed Renewable Energy Investment Preparation & Scale-Up
- Financial Modelling & Due Diligence (Clean Energy)
- Technical Assistance (Mini-Grids, SHS, PUE)
- Business Advisory for Clean Energy Enterprises
- Donor-Funded Program Implementation (World Bank, AfDB, etc.)
- Market Assessments & Energy Access Strategy
- Stakeholder Engagement (Investors, Governments, Utilities)
- Remote Team Management, Leadership & Team Development
- Financial analysis for DRE and C&I projects
- Contract negotiation and project structuring, and Development
- Policy analysis, strategy coordination, and energy sector reform
- Market development and project advisory in emerging markets
- Clean Energy Business Development and Investor Relations
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 29 August 1973
- Nationality: Kenyan
- Marital Status: Married
Hobbies and Interests
- Reading Journals
- Business Retreats
- Physical Fitness
Timeline
Consultant & Senior Technical Expert for Distributed Renewable Energy
The World Bank Group
07.2024 - 06.2025
Project and O&M Manager
Renewvia Energy
02.2023 - 02.2024
Technical Sales Consultant - East Africa
Rubicon Renewables & Automation
11.2020 - 10.2022
Senior Manager- Solar Systems Design, Project Support & Business Development for Africa, Saudi Arabia & Yemen
Power&Sun Solar Solutions LLC
11.2017 - 11.2020
Solar Systems Lead Designer & Project Manager
Energy Action Partners (ENACT)
05.2013 - 11.2017
Project Development Consultant (Energy)
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd
10.2012 - 03.2013
Project & Maintenance Manager - Electrical
Power Met International (METS Energy)
03.2010 - 08.2012
Project Lead (Electrical Power)
Bomatek Electric Ltd.
06.2009 - 01.2010
Technical Project Manager
AGE Technologies Limited
01.2007 - 04.2009
Project & Technical Services Supervisor
Infra-tech International Limited
07.2005 - 11.2006
Field Project Engineer
Vector International Ltd
01.2000 - 06.2005
MBA - Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Brentwood University
MBA - Project Management
Anglia Ruskin University
BSc - Project Engineering Management
Bircham International University
Diploma - Electrical Engineering
RIAT College