Soleco Energy

About Us

Enabling solar solutions for commercial and industrial businesses

Our team are overly familiar with the challenges of the local market and the blockers to renewable energy that businesses have historically faced.

soleco-energy-planet-tree-solar

Local knowledge

Our local connections and deep knowledge of local legislation to navigate the Caribbean market effectively, ensuring smoother project execution compared to international competitors.

Experience

Our experience enables us to provide integrated delivery that includes project permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance and financing, enabling a unique turnkey solar energy solution, unlike other firms who may only provide a single service.

Service

We emphasize a customer-centric approach, aiming to offer seamless, transparent, and hassle-free renewable energy solutions, tailored to the specific needs of our clients, while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and service excellence.

Community

One of our goals is to support the development of solar technical expertise in the Caribbean workforce,. This includes gender diversity, by providing solar training programmes to encourage women to participate in the renewable energy sector.

Our solution enables you to leverage our strategic expertise and experience to deploy the most cost-effective solar solution for your energy needs, whilst you remain focused on your core business activities.

Timeline

2019
Formation
Soleco Energy is founded

Following the success of sister company Rekamniar Ventures in the construction of the largest utility scale project in Jamaica at Paradise Park.

Soleco Energy was founded, with a focus on enabling commercial and industrial businesses across the Caribbean and LatAm to access their own solar energy solution.

2021
Funded
Funding agreed

Secured US $24Million in financing for commerical and industrial (C&I) projects in the Caribbean.

Pioneering a business model that fully finances C&I Solar developments until operation, Soleco Energy gives a unique value proposition to any business that wishes to reduce their energy bills and invest in reliable and sustainable energy.

Bypassing the barriers of high upfront Capex and expertise needed to install solar, Soleco Energy has made solar and energy savings available to all businesses.

2023
Growth
Largest commercial installation

Since its inception in 2019, Soleco Energy has successfully executed Jamaica's largest commercial solar development for Caribbean Broilers, across four locations.

2024
Strategic partnership
Rubis

In 2024, Rubis Energy, a multi-national E&P company, made a strategic investment into Soleco as a diversification into sustainable energy solutions.

The partnership with Rubis Caribbean helps to accelerate the deployment of solar installations, for large commercial and industrial clients in the region.

With a strong pipeline of solar projects and continued growth, this is just the beginning of our story.

At Soleco Energy we partner with like-minded businesses and individuals. Through the combination of our talent, local expertise and a robust delivery framework, we are creating a sustainable and beneficial energy future for Caribbean businesses.

Connect

Get in touch with our team if you want to learn more about abour solar energy solutions for business.

Contact us

Andrew Reicher

Advisory Board

Andrew Reicher serves on the investment committees of Berkeley Energy, Catalyst Principal Partners, and Energy Access Ventures Fund, and has angel investments in 18 early-stage energy access businesses in Africa. With over 30 years in private equity and 10+ years in investment banking, he has held key roles at CDC, Actis, Globeleq, and the Private Infrastructure Development Group. Andrew holds a BA in Economics from Cambridge University and an MA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Hon. Douglas Orane, CD, JP, Hon. LLD

Advisory Board

Douglas Orane joined GraceKennedy Ltd in 1981 and served in senior leadership roles, including CEO from 1995 to 2011 and Chairman until 2013. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Glasgow University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Douglas was named a Commander of the Order of Distinction (C.D.) by the Jamaican Government in 2002 and appointed to Jamaica’s Privy Council in 2009. He is known for his philanthropic efforts, especially in supporting inner-city residents, youth programs, and educational institutions.

Stephen B. Facey, CD

Advisory Board

Stephen Facey is the Chairman and CEO of PanJam Investment Limited, with over 35 years of experience in architecture, real estate development, and private equity investing. He holds a BA in Architecture from Rice University and an M. Arch from the University of Pennsylvania. Stephen is the Chairman of several organizations, including Jamaica Property Company Limited, and the New Kingston Civic Association, and serves on various boards. He has led significant projects, such as the Courtyard by Marriott in New Kingston and the redevelopment of the Oceana hotel. He also chairs the C.B. Facey Foundation and the Caribbean Policy Research Institute.

Ramon Pitter

Non-Executive Director

Ramon Pitter is an investor in blockchain and the future of finance, with over 20 years in investment management, investment banking, and M&A. He started his career on Wall Street with JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch, and BofA Merrill Lynch. Ramon has led business growth through acquisitions, joint ventures, and partnerships, and has developed board and business strategies. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School.

Mauricio Nicholls

Non-Executive Director

Mauricio Nicholls is the Chairman of the Soleco Board of Directors and CEO of Rubis Caribbean. He oversees energy projects across the Caribbean, having previously held leadership roles at Chevron Latin America. Mauricio has a proven track record in strategic planning, project management, operational efficiency, and renewable energy. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Los Andes.

Jean-Pierre Maurand

Non-Executive Director

Jean-Pierre Maurand is the New Energies Development Director at Rubis Energy, with a strong background in energy transition project development and financing. He has worked with Meridiam, Albioma, ContourGlobal, and Dalkia. Jean-Pierre studied Engineering, Materials, and Structures at ENSEM and emphasizes stakeholder management and team spirit in his pragmatic approach to projects.

Michel Malatino

Non-Executive Director

Michel Malatino is the CEO of Rubis Energy Jamaica, where he has driven significant infrastructure and service station investments. Previously, he held leadership roles at Chevron Latin America, and Total Energy, focusing on strategic planning, project management, business development, and renewable energy initiatives. Michel studied finance at ESC Marseille.

Frank Hart

Project Development Analyst

Frank Hart is a financial and project development analyst at Soleco Energy, with previous training under the project development team at Silicon Ranch, a leading U.S. utility-scale solar company.

He has experience in the Jamaican market, working in accounting and data analytics for companies in development and distribution. Frank holds a bachelor’s degree in finance with an energy specialization from Tulane University and is NABCEP Solar Associate certified.

Sheldon Wynter

Project Development Associate

Sheldon Wynter, with nine years in project engineering and management, is the Project Development Associate at Soleco Energy.

He previously worked at Total Jamaica Limited, completing multi-million-dollar projects, including Jamaica’s first solar-powered service station. Sheldon also worked at N.O. Whyte and Associates Ltd., where he contributed to award-winning projects. He holds a BEng in Construction Engineering from the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech).

Wafy Boubaker

Project Finance Specialist

Wafy Boubaker is a financial advisor at Soleco Energy, with six years of experience in M&A and project finance in the power and energy sector.

He worked in the M&A team at ContourGlobal and advised at Capricorn Capital Partners and IDCM in London. Wafy holds a master’s in economics from Sorbonne University and enjoys swimming, boxing, and video games.

Sam Rusbridge

Technical Specialist

Sam Rusbridge has over 15 years of experience in renewable energy, focusing on solar PV and energy storage.

As Head of Energy Storage at RINA Consulting, he oversaw over 2GW of energy yield analysis. He has managed technical due diligence for ~1GW of solar projects globally and advised on £500 million of rooftop PV projects.

Jaime Vidalot

Operations Manager

Jaime Vidalot, Project Implementation Associate at Soleco Energy, has experience as a site construction manager for Grupotec Renewables and an O&M manager in the UK, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Florida Universitaria (Polytechnic University).

Stephen West

Chief Financial Officer & Senior Advisor

Stephen West is a private equity fund specialist and Senior Advisor/CFO at Soleco Energy.

He also advises Africa Capital Alliance and Archipelago Ventures. Previously, he was MD at the UK’s Green Investment Bank and a founding partner at Actis Capital LLP. Stephen has extensive experience in emerging markets and has held various advisory and non-executive roles.

About Us

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Angella Rainford is the founder of Soleco and Rekamniar Frontier Ventures, co-developer of the largest solar plant in Jamaica (51 MWp).

She previously worked at Goldman Sachs in London and New York, and Sterling Stamos in investment management. Angella has advised Helios Investment Partners and served on various boards, including GK Capital Management and JN Money Services. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and a BA from Harvard College. Angella has extensive travel experience, is a motorcyclist, pianist, and pilot, and has climbed three of the seven summits.

Angella Rainford

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Angella Rainford is the founder of Soleco and Rekamniar Frontier Ventures, co-developer of the largest solar plant in Jamaica (51 MWp).

She previously worked at Goldman Sachs in London and New York, and Sterling Stamos in investment management. Angella has advised Helios Investment Partners and served on various boards, including GK Capital Management and JN Money Services. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and a BA from Harvard College. Angella has extensive travel experience, is a motorcyclist, pianist, and pilot, and has climbed three of the seven summits.