THE MAKING OF A COTTAGE INDUSTRY

Entrepreneur invests his time, energy and resources in solar energy generation and installation

By George Gichuki

Kenya is emerging as one of the major players   in green energy in Africa.  Over 80% of the country’s energy is generated from renewable resources. Nearly half of it comes from geothermal and the remaining from solar and wind resources. Energy from solar has grown rapidly due to favourable conditions for solar energy generation.

Era of Solar

By end of 2022, the country had installed over 170 megawatts (MW) of generation from solar power especially from large scale independent solar power stations. As the country seeks to realize its goal of 100% transition to clean energy, solar energy will play a crucial role. More than 90% of the solar energy generated in Kenya is produced by independent power producers (both large scale and small scale) like Mr. Paul Kamanu. His home relies heavily on power generated by a versatile solar system that he has developed.

The maturing solar industry presents attractive investment opportunities as well as hurdles. According to Mr. Kamanu, there is not a well elaborate system for channeling excess energy to the national grid by independent small scale solar energy producers. He therefore  says that  the government should come up with a system of connecting excess energy from independent small scale solar power providers to the grid when the demand is high ; for instance  during the day.

Adherence to technical basics like solar irradiation is critical for end users as well as developers to make a meaningful impact in cutting costs. Solar energy needs to be harvested in a secure manner with no harm to humans. This calls for effective training by our institutions of higher learning. On his part, Mr. Kamanu has been training and mentoring   young people interested in learning  about solar systems.

Mr. Kamanu also observes that, more subsidies need to be provided by the government to further increase the uptake of solar as well as wind mills by independent players in the sector. “Right policies to encourage production and inflow of investments towards green energy should be put in place to attract foreign investors,” he says.

Circular economy on recycling

To further care for the environment, Mr. Kamanu has resorted to recycling   lithium ion batteries from broken down solar panels to make new storage systems. Red acid batteries which were mostly used posed serious risks to the environment. Lithium ion batteries are eco-friendly and recyclable.

“Some batteries from solar have a longer lifespan and better capacity than a new lead battery. It’s just a matter of saving our environment. Instead of these lithium batteries ending up in dump sites, we collect them, test, assemble and then make storage systems like a 5 kilowatt battery that can support a home,” he opines. He observes that most components of a solar panel can be recycled without losing capacity for efficiency.

With a high capacity inverter, one can harness as much energy that can support all gadgets in the house. He has been deliberating on installing wind mills to harness energy to make up for the periods when production is low especially during rainy seasons. Similarly, he is considering using his domestic biodegradable waste to generate energy.

Why Solar?

Energy experts unanimously agree that the rise of solar energy has been a key pillar in positioning the country for a 100% clean energy transition. To many people in Kenya – including businesses – solar has emerged as the most cost effective renewable source of clean energy. Most rooftops in Kenya have been converted to solar plants, a trend that is projected to continue.

Producing energy by solar is cost effective when compared from buying from the national power provider. This is one of the reasons that led Mr. Kamanu to install solar systems at his homestead. Though expensive to install, solar reduces the burden of monthly electricity bills. For home owners who form the bulk of independent small scale power providers, the allure of saying good bye to bills has been a key motivation for solar installation.

Geographically, Kenya is located along the Equator which ensures that the country receives sunshine throughout the year. As such, investing in solar has attracted many home owners to install solar panels. Equally, falling prices of solar panels has played a critical role in this growth.

Mr. Kamanu explains passionately that with the right storage architecture, the country can very well run the commercial industries with green energy given the frequent power outages that have plagued us. As a result, most businesses have turned to diesel generators as a backup for power. Once we adopt green energy, there is no need for diesel generators since energy can be stored for backup purposes. Kamanu asserts that: “Green energy can be used to power any machine at a large scale. It’s just a question of capacity.”

The other side of Mr. Kamanu

Typical day: Wakes up at around seven, says a word of prayer. Then prepares for the day. Spends the day in his workshop trying out new ideas, then runs daily errands in the afternoons and ends the day at six.

Hobbies: Swimming and tinkering with gadgets.

Marital status: Happily married with two children.

Favourite dish: Mashed potatoes, green vegetables, maize and beans (Mukimo)

Strengths: A continuous learner and a pragmatist who leans on functionality and what can be improved.