- A 69kWp floating solar power plant has been commissioned at Rift Valley Roses flower farm in Kenya.
- The project, developed by German crowd funder, Ecoligo compliments an existing 75kWp solar rooftop installation on the farm.
According to Ecoligo, the two solar photovoltaic systems will allow the farm to offset. “The grid-connected installations will reduce the farm’s carbon footprint by 136 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year plus reduce the dependence on electricity supplied by the state-owned Kenya Power, as they now cover 60% of its needs. The new technology also reduces Rift Valley Roses’ electricity bills,” said the company in a statement.
The new floating solar power plant was fully funded by Ecoligo through crowd investing. The company said that private investors have the opportunity to put their money into sustainable projects, do something good for the environment and even profit from it with a return of up to 7% per year.
The project falls under Germanys’ Renewable Energy Solutions programme. Coordinated by the German energy agency Deutsche Energie-Agentur (Dena), the programme aims to support companies in the acquisition and installation of renewable energy technologies.
- Project goal: Promoting private investment in green technologies to help build climate-friendly economies in emerging and developing countries.
- Project implementation: Transferring green technology to local partners, as well as developing the resources and skills to use the tech. Nineteen projects in developing countries across four continents are being funded. Ecoligo is one of the companies investing in renewable energies and participating in the project in Kenya.
- Implementing partner: German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG).
- Budget: Nearly €5 million ($5.9 million) from the German Environment Ministry within the framework of its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
- Project duration: June 2017 to September 2022.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
