US$ 2.5M renewable energy project
Nairobi, Kenya, 12 March 2016 - icipe has embarked on a US$ 2.5 million renewable energy initiative, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
One of the largest of its kind in Africa, the scheme is part of the Greening of icipe Initiative, which, in addition to renewable energy, also includes energy saving and water conservation measures, with the aim of reducing the Centre’s carbon footprint and making its environment more eco-friendly.
“Through this project, icipe’s goal is to create a sustainable energy supply and to reduce diesel fuel dependency by constructing solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants at its Duduville Campus headquarters in Kasarani, Nairobi, and at the icipe Thomas Odhiambo Campus on the shores of Lake Victoria,” says icipe Director General, Dr Segenet Kelemu.
The design and construction of the icipe solar PV plants, expected to be ready for commissioning in late 2016, will be undertaken by Solar Century East Africa, which has been awarded the contract through a rigorous, international selection process.
A total of 4130 PV modules will be installed on rooftops on both icipe campuses, creating the largest rooftop solar PV plant in Kenya. Photovoltaic modules placed on roofs have various advantages, for instance, better use of available space and natural cooling of the spaces underneath. Another 228 PV modules fixed on various facades, such as carports.
The solar PV plants will have a combined generating capacity of 1154 kiloWatt peak (kWp), which is equivalent to the power required to light 750 homes in a middle class Nairobi estate. To ensure that the solar energy is generated and used in the most optimum manner, an ‘intelligent system’, which will enable energy interchange between the solar systems and the national electricity grid, will be installed, with the grid serving as a virtual battery storage.
“We are always keen to partner with institutions that want to improve the sustainability of their operations. We are excited at this opportunity, which enables us to collaborate with icipe, whose mission of safeguarding the environment aligns with our own mission of alleviating the impacts of climate change, and to enhance our growing portfolio of solar systems installations in Kenya,” noted Guy Lawrence, Director, Solarcentury in East Africa.
“The SDC has been a long term partner of icipe, helping to achieve significant progress in improving the livelihoods of communities across Africa. We are now extremely proud to support the Centre in its current mission of greening its operations,” commented Guinand Yves, Senior Thematic Advisor Rural Development, SDC.
“Globally, incorporating ‘greening’ measures into operations is becoming more and more critical, especially as an enabling act of sustainable development. The Greening of icipe Initiative is therefore commendable and it will hopefully serve as a worthwhile example for other institutions,” noted His Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Ralf Heckner, Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi
Notes for Editors
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) was established in 1970 in direct response to the need for alternative and environmentally friendly pest and vector management strategies in Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, icipe is mandated to conduct research and develop methods for pest control that are effective, selective, non-polluting, non-resistance inducing, and affordable to resource-limited rural and urban communities. icipe’s mission further extends to the conservation and utilization of Africa’s rich insect biodiversity. icipe focuses on sustainable development, including human health as the basis for development, and the environment, as the foundation for sustainability. Working through a holistic and integrated approach through the 4H paradigm – Human, Animal, Plant and Environmental Health – icipe aims at improving the overall well-being of communities in tropical Africa by addressing the interlinked problems of poverty, poor health, low agricultural productivity and degradation of the environment.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). With research cooperation and support from SDC, icipe has been able to achieve significant progress and success to combine basic and applied research to develop, introduce and adapt new tools and strategies for arthropod management that are environmentally safe, affordable, socially acceptable and applicable by the target end-users, the rural and urban poor in Africa. icipe’s aim is to bring the results out of the laboratories into practice, is exactly where SDC sees icipe’s comparative advantage compared to other agricultural research entities. And this is exactly also why SDC has a long standing relationship with icipe and is one of the most faithful donors and enthusiastic supporter of this innovative and progressive institute. SDC’s support to icipe is an important component and has enabled the Centre to develop and sustain its technologies and research capacity in areas that are of relevance to poverty reduction, to encourage exchange of ideas and information including data base management.
Project Contacts
- Timothy King’ori (tkingori@icipe.org), Facilities and Assets Manager, icipe
Media Contacts
- Liz Ng’ang’a, Communications Consultant, icipe, Lnganga@icipe.org