41-fold growth in revenue since 2021: How pandemic start-up became a regional solar powerhouse

Singapore was still grappling with Covid-19 pandemic restrictions when Clean Kinetics opened its doors in July 2021. At that time, the solar energy market was dominated by multinational corporations with decades of experience.

Four years on, the start-up has installed more than 3.8 million solar panels across six countries. It has also grown its revenue from $365,000 in FY2021 to over $15 million in FY2024. The momentum has quickly positioned it among one of Singapore’s leading solar engineering, procurement and construction firms.

The company’s rapid expansion reflects growing demand for renewable energy solutions, as governments race to meet net-zero emissions targets and corporations seek to reduce their carbon footprints.

With 2.1 gigawatt-peak of installed capacity globally, Clean Kinetics can generate enough electricity to power 600,000 four-room Housing Board flats for a year.

Learning from giants

The company was founded by an unlikely trio during the uncertainty of the pandemic: Mr Wilson Lee, a businessesman with an engineering background, Mr Lee Kah Lup, a former vice-president of marketing at ST Engineering, and Ms Reine Tan, previously a foreign service officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Brought together by a shared passion to reduce global carbon emissions, they decided to venture into the sustainable energy business.

Says Mr Lee Kah Lup, chief development officer: “We did not have any prior experience in the solar industry but we were hungry for success. We took courses to learn about solar energy to build the foundation of our Singapore business before scaling abroad.”

Adds Mr Wilson Lee, co-founder and chief engineering officer: “The company started small. We were learning from the giants of the industry and staying humble – that mindset helped us continue growing the company.”

That humility, however, has not prevented ambition. Over the years, the team has grown by meeting demand wherever it arises, building a portfolio that now spans commercial buildings, industrial facilities, educational institutions and even utility-scale solar farms housing large installations that feed directly into national electricity grids.

The company’s breakthrough came in 2024 with its push into the Middle East. The region, traditionally synonymous with fossil fuel production, has emerged as an unlikely solar hotspot, with Gulf states pursuing ambitious renewable energy targets as they diversify their economies.

Clean Kinetics established partnerships and subsidiaries in Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, securing contracts for utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, battery energy storage solutions, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and smart parking solutions.

“That was when we knew this dream had wings,” says Ms Tan, Clean Kinetic’s chief commercial officer. She describes the Middle East expansion as a strategic pivot that transformed the company’s trajectory.

Building on that momentum, the company expanded into Malaysia and Thailand in 2025, targeting South-east Asian markets where falling technology costs and supportive government policies were accelerating solar adoption.

In the same year, the company also secured their first 200MW solar PV project in Saudi Arabia, won public tenders in Jordan to own and operate three EV charging stations in Amman, secured smart parking solutions for King Hussein Business Park and other commercial districts.

Earlier this month, Clean Kinetics entered a joint venture with GreenDigital Limited to develop 500MW of grid-connected, ground-mounted solar PV projects in Bhutan.

Keeping steady in competitive market

In an environment of talent shortages and high employee turnover, Clean Kinetics has maintained an unusually stable workforce. Many employees have remained since the company’s founding.

“Throughout our expansion, we’re deeply grateful to our staff for their hard work and loyalty,” says Ms Tan. “Many have been with us since Day One, giving their time and energy to build something meaningful.”

What keeps the company going, according to its founders, is its unrelenting commitment to offer high-quality clean energy solutions. This strategy has won them contracts with government agencies, property developers and multinational corporations seeking to meet sustainability commitments.

Clean Kinetics has grown from a small start-up to a regional solar powerhouse in a short span of four years. For that, it earned the top spot on the 2026 list of Singapore’s Fastest Growing Companies, compiled by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista.

As the company enters its fifth year, it faces both opportunities and challenges. The solar industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with price pressures and supply chain complexities affecting margins. However, demand remains strong as corporations and governments accelerate decarbonisation efforts.

“We’re not just building solar systems. We’re building a sustainable future,” says Mr Wilson Lee.

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