The route to our first paying customer: validate demand, agree a viable electricity service, fund the installation and prove daily operation.
First proof14 days
Measure one agreed load.
Validation cash$2,254
Study + proposal. No solar plant.
Current stageQualify one site
Customer and quotes unconfirmed.
01The opportunity
One customer. A complete power service.
The service is intended for businesses and public institutions, including hospitals, schools and public services. For the first project, compare a defined routine load at a hospital or hotel in Greater Banjul. Measure demand, compare the customer’s existing energy costs and build an offer they will accept. Confirm the operating plan and capital recovery before committing to installation. For a public institution, confirm the authorised contracting body, procurement route and approved payment budget before committing.
The customer buys
Metered electricity.
Delivered kWh × an agreed tariff. Set service level, response, billing, escalation and contract term.
Grid energy, generator fuel, major roof works and clinical UPS are explicitly scoped. No unapproved export income.
The deciding question
Can one measured load support a customer-accepted tariff that pays for the service and the capital?
Local value: make the ambition measurable+
These are proposed delivery requirements, not achieved impact or a commitment that all revenue stays in the country.
Lamin · Local delivery
Identify qualified local partners and paid roles before ordering. Record local supplier payments and paid workdays separately from imported equipment and external services.
Joachim · Practical capability
Include training, safe operating procedures, spare-parts access and a qualified maintenance handover. Record demonstrated skills, not attendance alone.
Dominik · Value and accountability
Budget local delivery and training alongside full operating and capital costs. Track delivered kWh, agreed-load downtime, customer cost and collections; keep a separate local-spend ledger.
Agree the baseline, responsibilities and reporting with the first customer. Do not infer jobs, savings, grid support or community-wide access from an illustrative installation. Public-sector projects also need the authorised procurement and payment route.
Grid integration: qualify the utility connection, protection, isolation and transfer settings. No grid-support contract, export approval or utility partnership is secured. Recheck the case against improving grid supply.
Compare the same evidence for each candidate. An unknown stays open; it is not treated as a pass.
01
Buyer + payment
Name the organisation that can sign, the decision-maker, payment route and existing energy contract.
Owner / Dominik + Lamin
Ready when A named buyer and credible route to payment. For public sites: contracting authority, procurement route and approved budget.
02
Demand + seasonality
Collect 12 months of electricity/fuel records, a load list, operating hours and consent for a qualified 14-day logging study.
Owner / Lamin; Joachim + specialists
Ready when A measured load block, seasonal gaps and the service boundary are explicit. No whole-building sizing from one bill.
03
Site + rights
Record Roof, Canopy or Ground options, tenure/permissions, safe access, photos and structural or ground constraints.
Owner / Lamin; qualified designers
Ready when Written access/rights and a feasible interface, subject to structural/electrical checks.
04
Supply + continuity
Survey grid, existing solar, generator, fuel responsibility, outages and any critical circuits.
Owner / Joachim + qualified specialists
Ready when 24/7 supply for agreed loads is qualified against night demand, poor-sun periods, storage degradation, backup availability, fuel and maintenance. Define response, exclusions and remedies; clinical continuity has its own specialist approval.
05
Commercial fit
Compare existing supply, customer-owned solar and managed service, including a better-grid case.
Owner / Dominik; inputs from all three
Ready when Customer-reviewed terms and complete cost/collection model support the chosen investment gate.
Outage estimate: 86.9% in the World Bank’s Gambia 2023 country profile, rounded to 87% on the main page. The weighted estimate covers eligible formal private firms with five or more workers in the surveyed sectors. Healthcare, informal microbusinesses and several other sectors are excluded. Interviews took place with 162 firms in May–September 2023; outage questions are retrospective, not a 2026 operating forecast.
Grid reference: 14.90 GMD/kWh is PURA’s published 2023 commercial rate. Verify the current customer bill, class and later decisions before pricing. It is not a Tilo Power tariff, a savings claim or proof of willingness to pay.
A customer can buy a system from local installers. Compare our lifetime delivered cost with that ownership option.
Existing solar leases
Greenlink already publishes lease references. Our proposed advantage is accountable metered delivery, transparent billing and dependable local support — still to be demonstrated.
Grid + generator
A better grid reduces the value of our backup. Measure avoidable fuel, maintenance and interrupted work rather than count every existing cost as a saving.
Lease and installed-project evidence rechecked 19 October 2026. Customer-specific asset and contract status remains unverified.
Our value must also hold as the grid improves. Compare current bills and outages with a better-supply scenario. 2026 grid context.
14.90 GMD / kWhCommercial15.90 GMD / kWhHotels / industry16.20 GMD / kWhCentral government / area councils
PURA’s 2023 determined rates, still displayed when checked 19 October 2026. Verify the actual bill, meter class and any later tariff decision before pricing. These are grid benchmarks, not Tilo Power prices or savings. PURA source.
02The launch plan
Four steps. Everyone knows their part.
Each step ends in a decision. Founder responsibilities coordinate the work; qualified specialists perform the required design, safety and legal checks.
01
Coordinator / Lamin
Qualify + measure
LaminLead
Arrange three site conversations, collect 12 months of electricity and fuel records and select one suitable site. Identify the Roof, Canopy or Ground format and confirm roof/land rights. Coordinate a qualified site-interface survey, the electrician and 14-day load recording.
Joachim
With qualified designers, check demand, structure or soil, access and grid/generator boundaries. Match the site to a proposed standard package.
Dominik
Check the electricity buyer, payment route, current costs and a preliminary service offer.
Decision gate
A measured load, a named buyer, a package format and a clear service boundary.
02
Coordinator / Joachim
Configure + price
Lamin
Price the mounting, canopy or ground interface with qualified local partners. Check fabrication, foundations, transport, installation, spares and service availability.
JoachimLead
Qualify the first reference package: compatible PV, battery, inverter/control families, capacity bands and mounting/structure options. Freeze a reusable bill of materials, drawings, tests and an exception rule.
Dominik
Build the configuration price catalogue and full cash plan. Separate energy-kit, roof/canopy/ground works and platform-development costs. Confirm funding, approvals and a customer-reviewed kWh offer.
Decision gate
One qualified reference configuration, a fully quoted cash plan and an agreed electricity offer.
03
Coordinator / Dominik
Contract + commission
Lamin
Prepare installation logistics and the local team. Record assembly steps, local supply sources and training so the next site can reuse the process.
Joachim
Qualified specialists install and commission the reference system. Verify all operating/protection modes; record as-built changes and complete the reusable handover, test and maintenance package.
DominikLead
Secure funding and the customer agreement before ordering. Agree metering, tariff, invoicing, service response and insurance.
Decision gate
An accepted reference installation, required permissions and a documented package for repeat delivery.
04
Coordinator / Lamin
Operate + improve
LaminLead
Run local service with a shared checklist and spare-parts list. Track site issues, maintain customer contact and train the local team.
Joachim
Review measured operation and revise the package library. Expand only within the qualified equipment, site-interface and connection envelope.
Dominik
Track collections, full operating costs, reserves and capital recovery. Compare repeat-site economics; approve the next configuration only from measured results and complete quotes.
Decision gate
A proven reference service and a documented, costed route to the next site.
The next conversation needs three things
A real bill.An asset list.Consent to measure.
03The first test
Measure first. Spend with a purpose.
Visit three prospects. Rent a calibrated logger for 14 days at one qualified site. A qualified electrician installs it; an engineer interprets the result. No panels, battery or generator are bought.
Planning allowances dated 15 October 2026 · written local offers required
Input
USD
Energy logger rental · 2 weeks
$360
Qualified electrician visits
$200
Customer / site visits
$120
Independent engineering analysis
$400
Local field support
$140
Data + printing
$30
Initial tariff / contract review
$150
Local travel + consumables
$120
Provisional local taxes / permissions
$150
Test-cost subtotal
$1,670
20% contingency
$334
Refundable deposit · liquidity
$250
Total cash required
$2,254
The deposit is cash tied up, not an immediate expense. No sales, resale or assumed refund is deducted. All local prices and permission/tax allowances require written offers. Founders’ time is unpaid; founder pay and travel are excluded.
What this test can prove+
A measured load profile, a common specification for comparable quotes, and a customer-reviewed kWh offer. It does not prove installed-system performance or uninterrupted supply.
The $360 logger line is an allowance anchored to a dated UK hire benchmark, not an offer delivered to The Gambia. Confirm calibration, local availability, rental rights, transport and deposit terms before booking.
Reconcile study costs with later engineering provisions. Do not mechanically add the validation and deployment budgets.
04The first installation
Everything the service needs.
Choose a qualified platform configuration, then configure its capacity and Roof, Canopy or Ground interface for the site. A safe, billable service still needs site rights, commissioning and a local operating team.
Standard packages. Qualified site interfaces.
Sell a repeatable service. Configure a known kit.
Start with one qualified reference package. Reuse its component families, drawings, assembly steps, metering and service process. Select a format and capacity from that catalogue; assess the site before committing.
The proposed sales catalogue
Three packages. Five physical formats.
01
Roof
Pitched or flat
Use a suitable existing roof.
Package includes
PV mounting, qualified conversion/control, protection, metering and operation.
Site interface
Roof profile, structure, weatherproofing and access.
How it grows
Extend approved array blocks within the roof and electrical limits.
02
Canopy
Parking or covered space
Build a useful roof and generate above it.
Package includes
Repeatable structural bays, a weatherproof roof with drainage, PV and the shared energy service.
Site interface
Wind, foundations, clearance, drainage and vehicle protection.
How it grows
Repeat approved bays; size foundations and the electrical backbone for the agreed extension.
03
Ground
Spare land on your site
Place generation beside the buildings it serves.
Package includes
Fixed-tilt table blocks, qualified foundations, cable routes, protection and the shared service.
Site interface
Land rights, soil, drainage, security and distance to the load.
How it grows
Add approved table rows within land, connection and equipment limits.
One Energy-as-a-Service agreement.
Tilo Power arranges financing, qualified installation, metering, monitoring and maintenance. The customer buys metered electricity at an agreed kWh price. Storage, backup, roof works and expansion are explicitly priced and scoped; funding and contracts are not yet secured.
Keep standard
Qualified PV, inverter/control and storage families; connectors, protection templates, drawings, spares, commissioning, billing and service procedures.
Configure from options
Roof/Canopy/Ground format, approved capacity band, battery duty, number of bays and grid/generator operating mode.
Verify on site
Measured load, structure or soil, wind, corrosion exposure, drainage, safe access, land/roof rights and permissions.
Product design: a kit that is easy to deliver and maintain+
One qualified assembly languageDefine repeatable panel tables or structural bays, a small fastener set, labelled parts and compatible cable interfaces. Pack by installation sequence; verify the design before local fabrication.
A serviceable energy coreProvide shaded, ventilated, secure equipment placement, a site-appropriate raised base and clear maintenance space. Keep metering accessible to the agreed reading process; qualify battery and fire provisions separately.
Designed for the site environmentSpecify coatings and compatible metals for exposure, suitable thermal ventilation, contained cables, water drainage and a practical cleaning/access route. Select details from the actual site survey.
Expansion prepared in the first planReserve suitable bay positions, access, equipment space and cable routes when useful. Quote that provision now; later capacity must remain within qualified structural, protection and connection limits.
These are Tilo Power product-design requirements to qualify, not claims that a certified proprietary structure or manufactured kit already exists.
The five formats: where they fit and what must be checked+
01 / Roof
Existing pitched roof
Where it fitsBest first conversation when the roof is sound and daytime demand is strong.
The qualified interfaceVerify the exact roof profile, fasteners, structure and weather seals. Short rails suit some trapezoidal sheets; seam clamps suit compatible standing-seam profiles. Neither is universal.
02 / Roof
Existing flat roof
Where it fitsFor usable flat roofs above schools, public buildings, hotels and routine service areas.
The qualified interfaceUse a qualified low-profile mounting arrangement. Roof load reserve, wind, membrane compatibility and drainage decide whether ballast or mechanical anchoring is appropriate; ballast is not automatically acceptable.
03 / Canopy
Solar parking canopy
Where it fitsFor hospitals, schools, government buildings and business campuses with suitable parking.
The qualified interfaceRepeat a defined structural bay with clear vehicle and pedestrian routes. Specify foundations, weatherproof covering, drainage and protected equipment placement. Lighting and future charging circuits are separately scoped options.
04 / Canopy
New roof or work canopy
Where it fitsFor a new sheltered work area or roof replacement already needed by the customer.
The qualified interfaceSpecify the structural frame, covering, drainage and PV as one qualified package. Solar modules alone are not a weatherproof roof. New construction needs a complete separate quote.
05 / Ground
Freestanding ground array
Where it fitsFor a hospital, school, water-pumping or production site with suitable adjacent land.
The qualified interfaceCheck land rights, soil/foundation tests, flood/drainage conditions, cable distance and security. Freestanding describes the structure, not automatic off-grid capability.
The same frame and panel dimensions must not be assumed for every capacity. Larger configurations need a qualified electrical band and compatible interfaces. A ground array can serve an agreed on-site load; an off-grid service needs a separately sized storage/backup design. Green roofs and tracking mechanisms are not part of the first standard catalogue.
Start with a row. Expand through the same format.+
Two illustrative scale journeys. The actual site and equipment limits decide which extension is allowed.
One parking rowQualify the first canopy bay.A larger campusRepeat bays within the approved site plan.Tables beside a workshopDefine the first foundation and electrical kit.A production siteAdd qualified rows and electrical capacity.
Original concept images. No output, delivered price or installed-project performance is implied by the scale shown.
How the first site becomes the next sales package+
Qualify a reference kit.Choose compatible hardware, one capacity band and the first mounting interface with qualified designers.
Freeze the repeat package.Keep a versioned bill of materials, drawings, torque/protection requirements, test sheets and local installation/service instructions.
Price by configuration.Separate the energy kit, site-interface kit and civil works. Quote transport, tax, access and approvals explicitly.
Repeat inside the envelope.Reuse the package when measured demand and site conditions fit. Reject or separately approve exceptions; add new bands only after qualification.
Joachim leads the qualified technical catalogue. Lamin verifies local buildability, site access and service supply. Dominik owns package costing, funding, customer terms and measured repeat-site economics.
Investment boundary: the $63,000 illustration below is an existing-roof case. New structures, carport/ground foundations, land and larger-scale equipment are not covered by it. Obtain complete variant-specific quotes and recalculate the tariff. No fixed capacity steps, installation time or cost reduction are validated yet.
20 kWpSolar DC capacity
≈40 kWhNominal battery storage
Inherited sizing hypothesis, not a customer design. Measure demand first. Nominal storage is not usable AC energy or guaranteed backup duration. The 24/7 offer needs a separately qualified and fully priced storage/backup design; the inherited financial model does not validate day-and-night continuity.
01Solar modulesGenerate electricity for the agreed daytime load.+
Example: 40 × 500 Wp = 20 kWp
Count illustration: 40 × 500 Wp = 20 kWp. No module model or supplier is selected. Confirm shading, usable roof, layout, yield, module certificates, hot-weather output and local warranty support. Actual string design and module count belong in the installer’s quotation. Select a qualified module family that can be reused in the platform; define permitted array/string increments and the inverter/roof limits before expansion.
02Site format + mountingUse a repeatable mounting or structure package.+
Roof / Canopy / Ground interface
Roof: check the exact profile, structure, weatherproofing, roof condition and safe access; select a qualified pitched- or flat-roof interface. Canopy: qualify repeatable structural bays with foundations, weatherproof covering, drainage and safe clearance for parking or work. Ground: verify land rights, soil/foundation tests, drainage, security and cable routes before repeating fixed-tilt tables. Reuse approved drawings, fittings and corrosion protection; verify wind and local conditions at every site. Solar modules alone are not assumed watertight. New structures, foundations, ground works and major roof repairs need separate complete quotes; the reference allowance is an existing-roof case.
03Battery + BMSStore energy for agreed evening and backup needs.+
Example: 8 × 5.12 kWh = 40.96 kWh
Illustrative LiFePO4 format: 8 × 5.12 kWh = 40.96 kWh nominal. No battery model or supplier is selected. Include a compatible battery-management system, cabinet/rack, battery disconnects/protection and temperature/environment provisions. Usable AC energy is lower and depends on operating reserve, losses and ageing. Choose capacity from required duty; storage can be reduced if the measured service does not need it. Specify permitted battery increments, compatible inverter/BMS combinations and operating limits; later additions require technical approval.
04Inverter + solar chargingTurn solar and stored energy into usable building power.+
One compatible engineered package
Select suitable inverter/charger equipment and the solar conversion path: integrated MPPT, separate MPPT chargers or an AC-coupled PV inverter, as designed. Avoid double-counting integrated functions. Phase count, continuous/peak kW or kVA and charge limits follow measured loads and the battery; 20 kWp of panels does not specify inverter output.
05Cables + electrical protectionConnect and protect the complete installation.+
A fully specified AC / DC package
Include rated cables/connectors, containment, distribution boards, isolators, fuses/breakers, designed surge protection, earthing/bonding and any required lightning/fire provisions. The designer specifies ratings and quantities from routes, fault conditions, equipment and applicable rules. No generic component basket substitutes for the protection design.
06Metering + kWh billingBill the electricity covered by the agreed service.+
Customer meter + source measurement
Define the customer delivery boundary and an accepted billing meter, calibration/verification and readings. Measure grid and generator contributions where needed to allocate costs; a controller’s monitoring meter is not automatically a lawful revenue meter. Agree tariff, source-energy/fuel treatment and invoice checks.
07Smart controller + connectionCoordinate energy, record faults and arrange response.+
Controller · router / SIM · monitoring
A compatible EMS/controller, required communication cables and a site-appropriate internet/data plan. Configure monitoring, local records when offline, alerts, permissions and backups. Start with standard tools and a simple invoice/maintenance ledger; a custom platform is not required for site one. Reuse one qualified control/metering interface and commissioning template across configurations.
08Grid interface + surplus controlUse the grid safely and control spare energy.+
Existing connection · approved design
Assess the existing connection, protection, metering and transfer/maintenance-bypass arrangement. Obtain the applicable NAWEC/PURA requirements, including anti-islanding and permitted operating mode. Surplus can serve suitable on-site demand or charge storage; when neither is possible, curtail. Export only under an approved technical and commercial arrangement.
09Existing generator + interfaceCover agreed loads when solar and storage are insufficient.+
Reuse only if suitable · no new purchase assumed
Survey the actual generator, controls, service condition, phase/rating and fuel responsibility. Specify compatible transfer/interlocking, input limits, start/stop integration if supported and maintenance bypass with the qualified team. A dual-input inverter is one possible architecture, not a selected model. The reference budget excludes a new generator and its fuel.
10Installation + ongoing serviceDeliver a working service and keep it operating.+
Qualified team · handover · spares
Include engineering, installation/lifting, independent checks as needed, commissioning, as-built drawings, test records, operator training, warranties and initial spares. Agree cleaning/inspection, fault response, local technician access and replacement reserve. Acceptance must test actual grid, storage, generator, metering and protection modes. Reuse the reference installation checklist, training package, documentation format and spare-parts list, recording any approved site-specific changes.
Joachim coordinates the technical package with qualified designers. Lamin confirms local delivery and service. Dominik reconciles the quote, contract and cash plan.
01
Compatible energy core
PV, conversion, suitable storage, protection, metering and control: named models, compatibility, ratings and complete quantities.
02
Site-interface pack
Qualified Roof, Canopy or Ground drawings, load/structure/foundation checks, water management, corrosion protection and installation method.
03
Commissioning + service pack
Approved tests for each operating mode, as-built records, training, local technician coverage, warranty route and priced spares.
04
Expansion + exception rule
Document permitted additions and triggers for redesign. Approve changes to inverter, battery, protection, structure or connection before expanding.
Release condition Signed-off design and interface checks, versioned bill of materials, priced delivery/operation, and documented acceptance. These are required outputs, not completed or certified Tilo Power products.
For hospitals: define the routine loads first.
Theatre, ICU, medical UPS and clinical redundancy need a separate qualified design. Payment disputes must not lead to improvised disconnection of clinical circuits.
One platform brief. Comparable configured offers.+
Design inputsLoad file, peaks, phases, selected circuits, bills, outages, existing-roof survey or new-roof brief, backup duty and existing assets.
EquipmentQualified module families, exact configuration and quantities, compatible interfaces, roof variant, protection, cable routes, metering, controls and expansion limits.
Delivered scopeFreight, battery transport documents, clearance/tax treatment, installation, approvals, training, warranty and support.
Acceptance + cashContracting and asset-owning entity, legal importer, test protocol, exclusions, payment stages, insurance and cash until first collections.
GAM-Solar and Shyben are existing enquiry routes for installation and generator expertise, not selected providers. Local legal, electrical, structural, metering and insurance specialists must qualify the final scope.
05The customer pipeline
Real names. A reason to start talking.
Fifteen researched prospects from the Gambia work. Begin with Sharab, Africmed and African Princess to compare one defined routine load. Check current assets, contracts, decision authority and payment capacity before proposing a system.
Research leads, not customers, partners or confirmed demand. Prospect evidence retains its 15–16 October observation dates. Africmed services and African Princess room inventory were rechecked 19 October; Sharab’s direct page timed out in that recheck.
01Private healthcareSharab Hospital LtdKanifing Layout · OIC Road, next to Election House+
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
The hospital publishes 24/7 opening, laboratory, pharmacy, digital X-ray, ultrasound and surgical services.
Why investigate
A useful place to test a defined daytime electricity service alongside an existing clinical power arrangement.
First question
Would management share 12 months of electricity/fuel records, show the current supply system and permit a 14-day survey of agreed circuits?
Who to ask
Hospital administration + facilities/electrical lead + finance
What to check
Hypothesis to measure: administration, lighting, suitable cooling and an agreed diagnostic load. Clinical/critical circuits need separate specialist approval.
Still unknown
Existing PV/storage/generator inventory, roof rights, clinical boundaries, current bills, budget and willingness to sign a kWh contract are unverified.
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
The operator describes a Kololi beach hotel with accommodation, pools and dining; the Gambia Hotel Association lists it.
Why investigate
A larger, seasonal hotel prospect for one defined service block after owner and existing energy contracts are identified.
First question
Which legal entity buys electricity, which loads run in the quiet season, and does an existing solar/service agreement cover them?
Who to ask
General manager + engineering/facilities + owner/procurement
What to check
Hypothesis: daylight cooling or selected back-of-house loads. High/low occupancy and hot-water arrangements affect the case.
Still unknown
Direct operator-page retrieval timed out; operator search evidence and association listing support discovery only. Current supply and operations need confirmation.
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
The operator lists accommodation, spa and restaurants. A historical IFC review describes solar water heating, which is different from electricity-producing PV.
Why investigate
A technically more involved opportunity: distinguish water-heating systems, existing electrical assets and genuinely unmet electrical demand.
First question
Could the facilities team provide today’s equipment inventory and a seasonal load profile for one suitable block?
Who to ask
General manager + facilities/engineering + owner/finance
What to check
Hypothesis: separately metered cooling, spa/service or kitchen-support loads. Never reuse old generator ratings as a current design basis.
Still unknown
The 2008/2016 IFC record is historical. It does not establish today’s PV capacity, generators, demand, contracts or available roof space.
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
ECCBC’s own Gambia page identifies Gambega and the Kanifing facility. GRA recorded a facility visit in June 2024.
Why investigate
A later industrial customer with a formal technical/procurement route, not a whole-factory promise within the small-site budget.
First question
Would local plant management accept an initial energy-cost discussion and identify any load not already covered by group investment or supply contracts?
Hypothesis: an independently metered auxiliary daytime load, if worthwhile. Production machinery, motors and continuity require a dedicated engineered case.
Still unknown
Current generation, operating schedule, corporate approval rules, site capacity and power costs are unverified.
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
The operator homepage advertises 375 rooms, pools, restaurants and meeting facilities.
Why investigate
A large site for one defined service block, not a whole-hotel promise.
First question
Which load still has an avoidable energy cost after existing systems, and who can authorise a survey?
Who to ask
General manager + chief engineer + owner/finance
What to check
Separate cooling/pumping or another daytime block from hot-water demand. Ministry policy records historical solar water heating; that is not proof of today’s PV capacity.
Still unknown
The homepage count differs from older category totals. Reconfirm active inventory. Current PV, thermal plant, contracts and load are unknown; direct page retrieval timed out.
12Hospitality · two accommodation areasKombo Beach ResortKotu · Kombo Oasis across the road+
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
The operator lists 256 beachfront rooms and 88 additional rooms/apartments at Kombo Oasis, around 100 m away.
Why investigate
Investigate one independently metered block; two areas may have different supply boundaries.
First question
Are the two accommodation areas separately metered, and is either open to a costed daytime supply proposal?
Who to ask
General manager + facilities engineer + owner/procurement
What to check
Survey each meter, duty cycle and existing assets. Historical policy mentions solar water heating, not a current PV electricity inventory.
Still unknown
Do not combine both areas into one supply design without a survey. Ownership, grid connections, PV, roof rights and procurement interest are unverified.
14HospitalityOcean Bay Hotel & ResortCape Point · Bakau+
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
The operator’s suite page lists air conditioning and a minibar; the hotel offers dining and other resort services.
Why investigate
A Bakau-area comparison for a defined cooling/service block.
First question
Can management identify one measured daytime block and the person who can approve a paid energy offer?
Who to ask
General manager + facilities/electrical engineer + owner/finance
What to check
Request a circuit-level survey, current plant inventory, seasonal bills and roof/land rights. Do not infer whole-hotel demand from a suite description.
Still unknown
Active room count, ownership/management permissions, supply arrangements and purchasing appetite must be verified.
15Food manufacturing · later industrial caseGambia Milling CorporationDobson Street · Banjul+
Research prospect · no customer interest or energy gap confirmed.
Public evidence
GMC has an operator contact page and appears in Seaboard’s current portfolio. The group’s 2015 profile describes flour/bran production and a port-adjacent grain terminal.
Why investigate
A later industrial opportunity after the first commercial site is proven.
First question
Would plant management identify an unmet auxiliary/daytime load and the local/group procurement route?
Who to ask
Plant engineer + local management + group procurement/finance
What to check
Begin with plant power-quality, shift schedule and asset review. Milling motors and production continuity need a dedicated engineered and financed case.
Still unknown
The 450 tonnes/day and 8,000-tonne terminal figures are historical 2015 claims, not current audited throughput. Present load, PV, contracts and approval authority are unknown.
Industrial prospects belong to a later dedicated case. Room counts, historical factory capacity and advertised services are not measured electricity loads.
06The later investment case
One site. Does it add up?
The $63,000 case assumes an existing roof. Canopy and Ground variants need their own complete quotes: structures, foundations, land, cable routes and larger equipment are not covered by that reference. Recompute the tariff for the chosen package. Platform-development costs also need quotes; no standardisation savings are deducted.
Inherited planning model, not quotations or a customer offer. The storage-inclusive case is operating-cash positive, but does not recover its stated ten-year capital target at the assumed $0.28/kWh tariff.
The decision this model points to
Measure the load. Compare a smaller-storage design.
Prove the customer benefit and collected tariff before funding equipment. More battery is not automatically a better business.
Downside$109/ month
After operation + reserve. Before tax, financing and capital recovery.
1,500 yield · 70% sold · $0.22/kWhPlanning case$369/ month
After operation + reserve. Before tax, financing and capital recovery.
1,650 yield · 85% sold · $0.28/kWhStronger case$568/ month
After operation + reserve. Before tax, financing and capital recovery.
1,750 yield · 92% sold · $0.32/kWh
Capital-recovery check0 of 3 cases meet the model’s ten-year, 10% capital-recovery target. Rework scope, costs or price before committing.
Illustrative annual-yield equivalent months, not a seasonal cash forecast. USD, before tax, founder pay/travel and debt service. Sold share combines losses, curtailment and demand matching.
Three scopes to quote against the same site+
Request all three against one measured load, one service boundary and a clearly stated Roof, Canopy or Ground format. No alternative equipment size or price is assumed.
A
Daytime-first
Meet a defined daytime load; price storage only where the measured service requires it.
Check Usable daytime demand, curtailment, grid/generator boundary and what happens outside solar hours.
B
Targeted reserve
Add storage for specified loads and an agreed duration.
Check Usable AC energy, peak demand, autonomy, temperature/ageing allowances and a replacement schedule.
C
24/7 agreed-load service
Quote day-and-night supply to the agreed loads using solar, suitable storage and compatible backup.
Check Night peaks, poor-sun periods, usable battery energy and ageing, dependable backup/fuel, maintenance cover, acceptance tests, response times, exclusions and remedies. Price all equipment, works and ongoing obligations.
Make quotes comparable.
Joachim: common technical specification and approved exceptions. Lamin: local works, logistics, duties and service coverage. Dominik: complete cash costs, customer terms and monthly payment scenarios.
Each quote must separate equipment; mounting/structure/civil works; freight and tax treatment; installation and approvals; operating costs; replacement timing; guarantees and exclusions; currency and validity. Unpriced items remain visible.
Keep the other reference inputs unchanged. These arithmetic tests do not prove a configuration or a customer-accepted tariff.
Reference inputs
No inputs changed.
$0.453per kWh for the capital target
Deployment cost −20%
A sensitivity, not a cheaper supplier quotation.
$0.387per kWh for the capital target
Sold share 95%
Only sold share changes from 85%; demand fit is unproven.
$0.407per kWh for the capital target
At the assumed $0.28/kWh: the reference operation supports about $27,240 of deployment capital under the same 10-year / 10% rule, versus $57,000 assumed. This excludes tax, debt, company development and separate liquidity. Lower storage is worth quoting, not assumed to close the gap.
Capital target formula is unchanged. Cost −20% gives $45,600; higher sold share gives 2,612.5 delivered kWh/month instead of 2,337.5. Replacement reserves are not a substitute for an actual replacement schedule.
Fund the complete first site.
Deployment$57,000
+
Liquidity$6,000
=
Planning funding$63,000
Deployment budget, line by line+
USD team allowances · ranges are not supplier quotations
Scope
Range
Selected
PV, mounting + DC works
$7–11k
$9,000
Battery equipment
$14–22k
$18,000
Conversion, controls + protection
$6–10k
$8,000
Installation + existing generator interface
$5–9k
$6,500
Freight, clearance + provisional taxes
$4–8k
$6,000
Engineering, permits + agreement
$2–4k
$3,000
Deployment contingency
$4–8k
$6,500
Deployment
$42–72k
$57,000
Liquidity
$4–10k
$6,000
Combined funding
$46–82k
$63,000
Outside scope: a new roof or canopy (including structure, foundations and weatherproofing), land, major roof repairs, new generator, fuel stock, clinical UPS/redundancy, founder pay/travel and a second site. Provisional clearance/tax allowances need product classification and a broker/accountant. No tax exemption is assumed. Recoverable VAT can still create a cash-timing gap.
One operating calculation.
20 kWp × 1,650 kWh/kWp/year × 85% sold ÷ 12 = 2,337.5 delivered solar kWh / month
Sales at $0.28/kWh$654.50
Variable operation−$35.06
Fixed operation−$140.00
Replacement reserve−$110.00
Operating cash before tax + finance$369.44
Operating break-even$0.122/ kWh
Covers operation + reserve. Does not recover installation.
Tariff for capital target$0.453/ kWh
Adds ten-year recovery of $57,000 at a 10% hurdle. Liquidity separate.
All model assumptions + stress tests+
Solar
20 kWp DC
Annual solar yield
1,650 kWh/kWp; site simulation pending
Energy sold
85%; measured fit pending
Collected tariff
$0.28/kWh; willingness to pay unconfirmed
Variable cost
$0.015 per delivered kWh
Fixed costs
$140/month: $60 support + $40 admin/monitoring + $40 insurance/site
Replacement reserve
$110/month; not a battery replacement schedule
Debt service
$0; unlevered, not free funding
Capital target
10 years at a 10% annual hurdle
Capital tariff = variable cost + (monthly fixed costs + reserve + capital-recovery charge) ÷ delivered kWh. The annual capital-recovery factor is r ÷ [1 − (1 + r)−n].
Lower the sold share, raise replacement costs and compare smaller storage. Stress a 15% GMD depreciation against USD equipment and delayed customer payment. Indexation is a negotiation and affordability issue, not an assumed right.
Grid purchases and generator fuel are outside this solar-only model. Meter and allocate them separately or add their full costs. No export, subsidy or uncommitted funding receipts are assumed.
07Evidence & boundaries
Facts with context. Assumptions you can replace.
The original Gambia detail informed this project room. Data is dated, prospects are uncontacted and allowances need quotes. No contract, licence, partner capacity or saving is represented as secured.
Figure 2.7 places The Gambia among countries with high reported outage incidence. The figure uses 2023/24 Enterprise Survey estimates; it is not a current outage forecast or a survey of our prospects. No exact chart-derived percentage is promoted in the short reading layer.
PURA still displays 2023 determined rates: commercial 14.90, hotels/industry 15.90 and central government/area councils 16.20 GMD/kWh. Confirm the actual bill, customer class and any later decision before pricing. None is a Tilo Power tariff.
Obtain the applicable site-specific generation, supply and grid-connection requirements. Calling electricity a service does not itself remove licensing obligations.
Publishes Gambian commercial projects, including lease references. Existing assets, dates and contract status must be checked; financing alone is not an unoccupied market.
Describes dependable, affordable energy as a foundation for productive activity, employment, business development and economic growth. Supports the economic rationale, not a claim that electricity alone guarantees success or that Tilo Power already delivers lower costs.
Explains how high electricity costs and unreliable supply can constrain firms, productive technology and employment. Regional context, not measured evidence of Tilo Power customer demand, savings or operating performance.
Appendix p.11 reports a weighted outage estimate of 86.9%, rounded to 87% on the main page. Interviews: 162 firms, May–September 2023. Scope: covered non-agricultural formal private firms with 5+ workers; healthcare, informal microbusinesses and several other sectors are excluded. Retrospective survey context, not a 2026 outage rate or Tilo Power results.
The World Bank reports approved financing of $160 million for Togo and The Gambia together, including distribution-network expansion and access improvements. This is programme context, not Tilo Power funding, demand or completed results. Compare site economics under better grid availability as well as current supply.
Illustrates inverter/charger, batteries, controller, meters and alternative AC/DC solar coupling. A manufacturer architecture example, not our selected hardware or Gambian approval.
Relates storage and inverter sizing to system duty and expected loads; addresses anti-islanding. Does not size our site or establish local grid-code acceptance.
Includes a 51.2 V / 100 Ah, 5.12 kWh LiFePO4 format and BMS requirements. Eight such nominal units illustrate 40.96 kWh, not usable AC energy, a selected battery bank or a complete offer.
Example of local/remote system monitoring, compatible device integration and offline data storage. Our connectivity, alert escalation, permissions and billing integration still need configuration.
Shows one architecture accepting two AC sources and multi-phase arrangements. Not a selected unit, generator rating, wiring design or clinical continuity guarantee.
Supports rated wiring, fusing and electrical-safety scoping. The site designer must specify actual protection, earthing, cable routes and ratings; no installation instructions are provided here.
Supports structural/electrical assessment, roof condition and safe installation planning. This is a technical checklist reference, not Gambian building/electrical law.
Identifies the electricity regulatory framework and NAWEC’s role. Local counsel, PURA and NAWEC must establish the applicable generation/supply, metering, grid and export route for the proposed site; no threshold or exemption inferred.
Illustrates families of mounting solutions for different roof types. This supports the platform concept, not a selected supplier, a local approval or a new-roof structural design.
Site-specific generation, supply, metering and export requirements must be confirmed. Calling electricity a service does not remove licensing requirements.
£19/day, 14 days £266 ex VAT, approximately $352 at the dated cross-rate. No Gambia delivery, overseas-hire permission or local availability is established.
Preserved independently. Legacy fixed-monthly plans, licensing workarounds, assumed savings and unrelated ventures are not adopted by Tilo Power.
Product research: mounting, service and operating limits+
Primary references reviewed 19 October 2026. They inform the product approach; no supplier, partnership, local certification or Tilo Power performance is established.
Manufacturer catalogue. Short-rail families and defined roof/material constraints support a repeatable pitched-roof interface; they do not validate a local Tilo Power installation.
Manufacturer brochure, 2024, printed pp. 22–27. Repeated fixed tables and foundation alternatives informed the ground concept. Soil investigation remains a prerequisite.
Manufacturer design guidance. Storage and inverter sizing depend on loads and operating mode; export control and anti-islanding require compatible equipment and applicable approval.
African commercial-energy service reference for an operated, financed electricity offer and phased rollout. Its prices, savings, funding and project achievements are not Tilo Power claims.
Gambian regulator. Obtain the applicable supply/generation and connection authorisations for each service scope; a catalogue package does not remove these requirements.
Primary manufacturer reference rechecked 19 October 2026: remote monitoring, alarm reporting and logged energy data need compatible hardware and a data connection. This informs the proposed Tilo Power monitoring layer; no completed Tilo Power software or supplier partnership is established.
Primary manufacturer reference rechecked 19 October 2026: generator control can use configured battery-state and load conditions. Generator interface, transfer/protection, fuel, maintenance and approvals must be qualified per site. No instant or universal changeover is claimed.
Architectural concept images include AI-generated illustrations; diagrams and the modular product film are original explanatory work. They do not depict installed Tilo Power projects. Team photographs are supplied real images. Fonts: Inter and DM Mono; licences included locally.
Before ordering equipment
A measured site. A sound first decision.
Approved design. Agreed customer. Complete funding. Then install, commission and prove the service.
