The solar plant floats on one of the farm's water reservoirs, saving space and providing many other benefits in addition to the use of renewable energy. It was realised by Berlin based Ecoligo.
Electricity costs in developing countries like Kenya are enormously high, so some residents cannot afford electricity at all. Many businesses are also struggling with high electricity prices and see low-cost solar power as a good alternative, also with regard to environmental protection. Most solar plants are still installed on house roofs, some also on open spaces.
PV floating systems can also reduce water evaporation
The use of PV floating systems, for example on reservoirs or other bodies of water, can not only save an enormous amount of space, but also reduce problems such as water evaporation or algae blooms. In addition, the cooling effect of the water increases the efficiency of the systems. The use of this technology has been gaining momentum for several years and promises to make an important contribution to the global energy transition.
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Rift Valley Roses has been pursuing the goal of sustainable, environmentally friendly production for years. In addition to rainwater catchment basins to reduce water consumption and biogas plants, the company has therefore decided to switch to renewable energy. The floating solar panels are complemented by a second solar plant with a capacity of 75 kW, which has already been installed on the roof of the farm in 2019.
Electricity and CO2 savings for the rose farm
Thanks to the two installations, Rift Valley Roses will be able to meet 60 percent of the farm's electricity needs through solar energy. Annually, the system will thus save around 136 tons of CO2 emissions. When solar irradiation is too low, the farm continues to draw on electricity from the national grid.
Stuart Miller, owner of Rift Valley Roses, is excited, "Since installing our first solar system in 2019, we have been big fans of the technology and have been able to significantly reduce our electricity purchase from the local utility. We're proud to have this innovative system installed on our reservoir and hope to inspire other businesses to switch to this fantastic way of generating electricity as well."
Crowdinvesting for funding
Although the benefits of solar energy are obvious to sunny areas and businesses like Rift Valley Roses, most solar projects fail due to a funding gap. Ecoligo overcomes this hurdle by planning the projects and realizing the funding through crowdinvesting.
This gives private investors the chance to invest their money in sustainable projects, do something good for the environment and profit from it with up to 7 percent return per year. So far, 62 solar projects have been financed by German investors this way.
Strong focus on quality and local economy
Quality is a crucial factor to ensure that the solar plants are as efficient, low-maintenance and durable as possible. In order to be able to realize the projects on site according to the highest standards, Ecoligo relies on a strong partner network. Here too, the Berlin-based company is keen to promote the local economy and therefore works almost exclusively with local companies.
In addition to the companies Luxor (panels), KACO (inverters) and meteocontrol (technical remote monitoring system), the Spanish company Isigenere, which is developing the world's first water-capable solar panels, has also contributed to the success of Kenya's first floating solar plant.
Panels specifically designed for water environments
Andrés Franco, CEO of Isigenere: "Our product Isifloating is a floating structure for photovoltaic panels specifically designed for water environments such as industrial ponds, irrigation reservoirs, dams or natural water bodies. The unique and patented high quality floating technology allows partial or total coverage of a water surface, solving space issues in particular while reducing logistics and installation costs. We are very excited to be part of Kenya's first floating solar installation."
Martin Baart, CEO of Ecoligo, adds, "Through our approach, we have already enabled many flower farms in Kenya to easily switch to solar power and benefit from day one. We believe that renewable energy can fundamentally change the industry by promoting sustainable growth and creating new jobs. We're proud to be a trusted partner in making that happen." (hcn)
