Background

Existing biomass briquetting plants in Kenya generally operate at a very small scale and are often unable to cater for large-scale industrial and consumer demand. GSSL is a private sector company that aims to establish large-scale biomass briquetting plants in strategic locations around Kenya. Their business model integrates both small-scale and larger producers of agricultural waste and caters to both industrial and consumer demand for solid fuels at a scale ensuring long-term viability.

Background

The high upfront cost of solar products is a major barrier to the widespread adoption of decentralized clean energy solutions in the developing world. Microfinance loans typically are not available for assets of this kind because of their high servicing costs. As a result manufacturers strip functionality and durability from their products to bring down the upfront price resulting in low-quality units with low light output and no phone charging.

With the tremendous solar potential in Kenya and the maturity of PV and electric pump technology, the agricultural sector, including smallholder-level farms, is an ideal candidate for rapid growth, improving crop yields, productivity and farmer income while avoiding massive amounts of GHG Emissions. 

Agriculture is the lifeblood of Kenya’s economy. To reduce poverty in the country, Kenya must improve its agricultural production, generate employment and prosperity, and feed a growing population. Irrigation is a key element of agrifood development, but current diesel-powered irrigation pumps are highly polluting and carbon intensive.

Futurepump, has developed a new model to enable smallholder farmers in Kenya to adopt sustainable irrigation solutions with a proprietary solar powered irrigation pump, combined with a finance programme that allows for flexible payments.

Analyse, understand and build capacity for addressing the challenges associated with lending to the Tea and Sugar industry for sustainable energy investments, and enhance networking among financial institutions interested in financing these sectors.

Purpose

As an integral part of the GEF Strategic Energy Programme for West Africa, the project would focus on promoting knowledge management in the field of RE and EE in the target region and with international partner institutions; in addition to ensuring coherence and coordination between country level projects, and building capacity through training workshops at the regional / national level. The project will also aim at strengthening regional integration and networking, and deepening programmatic framework approach adopted under the umbrella programme.