Project Detail

Solar Homes Systems through a credit scheme run by a tea cooperative in Meru- Michimikuru

In this project Solarnet will assist a tea growers cooperative society to install 50 solar homes systems for lighting and for electronic equipment. This will be on micro-credit where the cooperative society will remit the funds from tea earnings from members. The recovered funds will be used in a revolving grant.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Michimikuru Tea Growers Sacco

Country:

Kenya

Area Of Work:

Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

Project Number:

KEN-GEF-01-027

Start Date:

9/2001

End Date:

3/2004

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Policy Impact

Kenya is in the process of polishing up its first comprehensive energy policy, a process that was initially facilitated by the Environment Unit of UNDP in Nairobi. While Kenya should pursue hydro electricity for rural electrification, there is a lot of room to diversify, and use other renewable energy such as solar or wind. In this example, the GEFSGP has demonstrated that solar energy for lighting, refrigeration and water heating should not be ignored, and the biggest lesson is that many community members are ready to take soft loans for it.

Gender Focus

Men and women will participate in all aspects of this project.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

N/A

Notable Community Participation

The community are members of a tea growers cooperative and they will provide about US$ 13,000 for this project. They will be trained to install the solar home systems and to look after them after the project is completed.

Capacity - Building Component

The community will learn the basics of solar power installation, maintenance and its contribution in mitigation of global climate change.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

This project will mitigate the use of fossil fuels and thereby mitigate global climate change by reducing production of green house gases.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

This project will save over US$ 15,000 per annum that would have been used by this community in purchasing kerosene for lighting, dry cell batteries for radios and elctronic goods and wet batteries for television sets.

Project sustainability

in about 85% households kerosene,dry cells and lead-acid battery has formed the core fuel use for lighting.with the introduction of solar home systems has proven an entry to introduce and educate the beneficiary-community on renewable energy technologies.the project uptake and expected experiences have been published in the solarnets magazine and every member given a copy to specially increase the knowledge and replicate the activities to the other members to be of benefit in the future.

Project Results

April 2004: 300 households receive solar home systems and save US$ 20,000 a year.
In Nakuru, 150 homes received solar power on a 50% grant basis, while in Meru, a tea cooperative received credit to install solar power for some 150 members who repay using
proceeds from tea. They are in the third rollout of the revolving fund, managed by an NGO, (SolarNet) jointly with the tea cooperative. Both projects collectively save some
US$ 20,000 that the 300 homes would have used in fossil fuels such as kerosene, purchasing dry and wet cell batteries and charging mobile phones.

Kenya is in the process of polishing up its first comprehensive energy policy, a process that was initially facilitated by the Environment Unit of UNDP in Nairobi. While Kenya should pursue hydro electricity for rural electrification,there is a lot of room to diversify, and use other renewable energy such as solar or wind. In this example, the GEFSGP has demonstrated that solar energy for lighting, refrigeration and water heating should not be ignored,and the biggest lesson is that many community members are ready to take soft loans for it.

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