Solar Nano Grids to End Poverty in Kenyan Communities

INTASAVE Energy launches campaign to raise funds for Solar Nano Grids (SONGs) to empower families and community businesses

Global not-for-profit and environmental enterprise, INTASAVE Energy has launched an exciting new campaign to bring together individuals, organisations, communities and businesses committed to renewable energy for international development.

Using an imaginative crowdfunding campaign to kick-start its long-term fund-raising goals, this first phase focuses on installing Solar Nano Grids (SONGs) for communities and households in Kenya, to provide power for families to improve lives, health, and the educational attainment of children, whilst also enabling the establishment of small businesses and the creation of local employment.

The Crowdfunding Campaign, launched this week on Indiegogo, provides both philanthropic opportunities alongside “perk” packages that encourage individuals to become involved and identify with the aims of INTASAVE Energy. From wristbands and grow kits to eco-holidays and project tours in Kenya, the campaign covers a range of tastes and also includes packages for groups and companies to become involved. INTASAVE Energy aims to raise at least $100,000 in the first 40 days of campaigning, so that it can bring clean electricity to as many communities as possible in 2016.

The first phase of the project focuses on Kenya and provides off-grid household and community power – including for agri-processing, water pumps and community refrigeration – to at least five communities through the Crowdfunding, and to a further 75,000 targeted households and around 375,000 people in the country in the second phase. INTASAVE Energy is installing a series of self-reliant Solar Nano Grids (SONGs) specifically designed for communities and households. The SONGs have been developed to provide the most effective and cost-efficient solution for off-grid communities and are ideally suited for the conditions in Kenya.

INTASAVE’s CEO, Dr Murray Simpson, said: “The SONGs Campaign will make a significant difference to the lives of people and the prosperity of communities. The introduction of electricity within off-grid communities in the developing world is essential to progress and improved well-being.

“On a community level, the installation of SONGs enables the creation of businesses and local employment to raise the living standards of communities. It also enables a whole range of health improvements, from the general health and wellbeing benefits of clean energy replacing kerosene and diesel, to the ability to refrigerate medicines and vaccines, and to pump water.”

More than 30 million people in Kenya live without electricity, which is about 75% of the population. However, the country is endowed with significant solar resources – with annual averages of some of the highest in the world (well over 5kWh/m2/day available throughout the country) – the location on the equator gives Kenya an excellent opportunity for electricity generation using photovoltaic (PV) systems. Stand-alone PV systems represent the least-cost option for electrifying homes and communities in rural areas in Kenya, especially due to the distribution of the population across arid and semi-arid lands that form more than 70% of the landmass of the country.

Dr Simpson said: “We aim to raise at least $100,000 dollars in the first phase of the project to bring positive impacts to as many families and communities as possible. As the Crowdfunding Campaign takes off, we will move into the following phases of our programme and expand our work to other countries in Africa. We have also developed plans for countries in Asia and Latin America.”

ENDS

About INTASAVE Energy

INTASAVE Energy is part of the INTASAVE-CARIBSAVE Group, a global not-for-profit and environmental enterprise. INTASAVE Energy exists to create a brighter future for the 1.2 billion people living without electricity in extreme poverty around the world. The team delivers innovation, bright ideas and practical solutions which provide dual wins for people and the planet. INTASAVE Energy provides lighting and power, with wider benefits to health, economies, environment, empowerment and education.

INTASAVE Energy focuses on off-grid power generation within Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, using renewable energy to electrify rural communities. They have designed a number of solar-based energy products including nano-grids and central recharging hubs, which offer a full range of solutions for community based power, with a strong focus on agri-processing (grain grinding machinery and irrigation) and refrigeration for medicines and milk. INTASAVE Energy is also able to offer non-solar generation, and is currently working on micro-hydro power in Guyana and Lesotho, as well as grid-connected recharging hubs in Kenyan schools.

About The INTASAVE-CARIBSAVE Group

The INTASAVE-CARIBSAVE Group is a global not-for-profit and environmental enterprise that innovates, connects and implements practical solutions for sustainable development and climate change. At the heart of what we do lies our in-depth understanding of the unique cultural, political and social context in the countries we work in.

We have offices in the following geographical areas:

• INTASAVE Africa
• INTASAVE Asia-Pacific
• INTASAVE Caribbean (CARIBSAVE)
• INTASAVE UK-Europe

Our Vision

A world that responds to the opportunities and challenges of a changing climate and provides an equitable and sustainable future for all.

Our Mission

Working with, and supporting, societies, economies, communities and environments in responding to a changing climate; providing innovative, dynamic and evidence-based tools and solutions. Our focus is innovation, and the connection and implementation of effective solutions, for policy and practice, to climate challenges.

Source: ICNW