Kenya: River to power Mount Elgon Orchards

Mount Elgon Orchards' farm will be running on hydro electrical power soon. They just started with the construction of the plant and hope to have it ready by August 2017. In the end, the plant will enable them to become 95 percent self-sufficient. The remaining energy needed will be complemented with solar energy or energy from the grid, that will be complemented with power generators. "In the end it can save us up to 400,000 USD per year", says Bob Andersen, owner of this Kenyan farm who currently grows roses on 38ha and sells them as The Elgon Collection.

Bob Andersen in the greenhouse.

Saving costs
The main reason for starting up this hydroelectricity plant is to save costs. "Since the establishment of this farm in 1991, we have burned over 10 million litres of diesel running through power generators", says Andersen. So in order to save costs, they started to look for alternatives and generating hydroelectric power seemed to be one of the best options. "Once built, it is cheaper than solar panels and is more reliable than the energy from the grid." However, in order to generate hydroelectric power, water is needed and fortunately Mount Elgon Orchards has plenty of it as a river is running through their farm. "As long as there is rainfall and the river is running, the energy supply is quite stable." In the end, they hope to save up to 400,000 USD per year.

Self-sufficient
The hydroelectricity plant is currently being built and planned to be finished in August 2017. In the meantime, they are also expanding the rose farm with 3ha and they are planting 40 ha of avocado trees. This all will be ready by March 2017. Then, the farm will need around 300 kilowatt of power a day and 150 at night. The hydroelectric plant will generate 300 kilowatt of energy and will enable Mount Elgon Orchards to become 95 percent self-sufficient. "Nine months a year, we will use the energy that has been generated from the river and in the dry season or when the demand outstrips the supply, we will use a combination of solar energy and energy from the grid, complemented with power generators", says Andersen.

How does it work?
But how does it work? "We will divert approximately 10% of the river which will then travel 0,5 km through a canal and then 1,5 km pipe to run a water turbine, in a nutshell, will generate the energy." The majority of the civil work is being carried out by Mount Elgon Orchards themselves and for the electrical part and pipe building, a Portuguese consultant is supporting them.

For more information

Mount Elgon Orchards Limited
Bob Andersen
Emial: bob@mtelgon.com
www.mtelgon.com