RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMME

Introduction

Energy supply is central to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction. It affects all aspects of development and none of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be achieved without major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services particularly in developing countries. United Nations Industrial Development Organization's (UNIDO's) efforts in providing energy for sustainable development support achievement of the MDGs, especially MDG 1; reducing by half the proportion of people living in poverty by 2015.

Through an integrated approach, UNIDO works to help the population in rural areas to develop their local capacity by providing knowledge-based advisory services for expanding access to energy services. The population in rural areas relies exclusively on biomass-wood and charcoal for cooking and heating which causes indoor pollution. Unfortunately, women and children are now spending more time and money to access basic energy services. Based on work with other organizations in Kenya like Ministry of Energy, Kenya Industrial Research Institute etc, UNIDO has identified clear need to harness and develop the synergy of energy development organizations to enhance the use of technology that generates income and contribute to reduction of poverty in the rural areas. Decentralized technologies such as renewable energy technologies for use by small scale enterprises, for commercial production have an important role to play in community development in the rural areas.


The Programme

Currently, UNIDO's rural energy initiative is to support the set up of viable and self sustainable energy kiosks in selected rural areas that are off-grid to promote productive activities and stimulate economic growth. This is through provision of technical assistance, capacity building and use of appropriate energy technologies.

An energy kiosk is defined as a shop where people from the rural areas can locally buy the power produced from various sources for services like lighting, mobile charging, soldering and agro-food processing activities among others. The self-sustainable energy kiosks in the rural communities will be implemented using renewable energy technologies like micro-hydro, anaerobic digester, biomass gasification, wind, solar, and straight vegetable oil e.g. sunflower. Apart from generation of power, UNIDO has also expanded its range of technologies from replacing hurricane lamps with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps which help in reducing indoor pollution.

The programme has so far established energy kiosks in areas that are off grid, far from existing energy sources, to facilitate sustainable livelihoods and stimulate economic growth (see projects).

Aim

UNIDO's Energy and Environment Programme aims to reduce poverty through sustainable industrial growth and contribute to poverty reduction by enhancing the opportunity for productivity through increasing access to a range of appropriate technology options to substitute polluting fuels for cleaner fuels to introduce renewable energy.

Projects

Currently, we have projects in the following regions,

1. Kamahuha Energy Kiosk

This project is located in a banana buying center in the Kamahuha area in Muranga South District. The Kamahuha site uses banana waste from the centre to run a Biogas digester that generates 12 KVA. The digester uses 20% diesel and 80% biogas.

The energy generated is used for productive purposes within the energy kiosk. Here the productive activities include fruit juice processing, yoghurt making, flour milling, ICT services and a recharging facility for lamps mobile phones and car batteries.


2. Kiang’ombe Hybrid Energy Kiosk

This project is located in the Kiangombe area which is located 4km east of Kerugoya town. Within this area lies a small village called Kibai which straddles the Mukengeria River.

At one of the small waterfalls, UNIDO in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and the local community have put up a microhydro power generation facility that produces about 2KW of electric power.

This power is taken to an energy kiosk where it is combined with 0.5 KW of solar power. The combined (Hybrid) energy is used to run various services within the energy kiosk.

Among the services at Kibai energy kiosk is a recharging facility where locals recharge their mobile phones, car batteries and LED rechargeable lamps (that are replacing conventionally used kerosene lamps). Also, the energy kiosk serves an industrial facility that houses several small manufacturing enterprises that include; a flour mill, fruit juice processor, liquid soap processor and a poultry incubator and hatchery.

The energy kiosk project is being implemented by UNIDO, Ministry of Energy (Renewable Energy dept) and the participating communities. The first phase of the community Micro-hydro Power Project in the Kirinyaga area began in early 2007 and it is expected that by completion the project will generate 18KW of power within a 10 km radius. The community members contribute free labor for digging the canals building the weir, powerhouse and kiosk buildings.

The power generated will be owned by the local community and “sold” to the community as the above-mentioned services (provided by the various enterprises).

These projects act as tools for learning and understanding the practical problems associated with the energy policy in relation to decentralized energy schemes. It has contribution to the recognition of training of component manufacturers of turbines as a priority for the country.

Light Emitting Diode lamps

The Energy Kiosks will provide energy services to rural communities where an alternative to kerosene lamps will be replaced by Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps to eliminate toxic indoor pollution caused by carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It will also reduce fire hazards caused naked flames. This will improve quality of life by reducing incidence of respiratory and ophthalmic illnesses among the populations particularly women and children.


Benefits of LED lamps
Energy Efficiency, Long Life -some LEDs are projected to produce a long service life of about 100,000 hours, Range of Colors -LEDs are available in a range of colors , including white light,
No UV Emissions/Little Infrared - LEDs produce no UV radiation and little heat, making them ideal for illuminating objects, such as works of art, that are sensitive to UV light.
Durability LEDs are highly rugged. They feature no filament that can be damaged due to shock and vibrations. They are subject to heat, however, and being overdriven by the power supply.
Small Size/Design Flexibility, lights instantly, can be easily dimmed, silent operation, low-voltage power supply (increased safety)- it reduces indoor pollution, LEDs are portable and rechargeable.

Applications

• The amount of power generated will determine the applications as shown below;-
• Lighting
• Charging: car batteries, rechargeable lamps, rechargeable gadgets and mobile phones,
• ICT services email, internet and computer training, Steel fabrication,
• Sewing
• Woodwork.

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