The Viability team has returned safely from their two-week trip to Nariobi, Kenya and Kigali, Rwanda. Dr. Dave, Kyle Denning, and Dan Kuipers spent three days at the UN African Carbon Forum, which held discussions focused on the development of Africa’s clean energy and technology sector. Several UN directors presented at the Forum as well as the President of Kenya. Viabilities very own, Kyle Denning was also on the program of those presenting. Kyle spoke on, “Making carbon finance work for the poor”. While the three day Forum was packed full of meetings, the Viability team made several connections making it all worth their while.
The team also visited a farm on the slopes of Mt. Kenya that uses biogas as its primary energy source. The farm is a dairy farm that is part of a milk co-op in the area. It has four cows and the waste is used as part of an innovative biogas system that powers the equipment that is essential to the success of their business as well as their home appliances such as their stove and lighting. After visiting this farm, it became apparent that there is a lot of opportunities to further develop the production, distribution, and use of biogas systems in this area and eventually throughout East Africa.
After their visit in Kenya the team traveled to Kigali, Rwanda where they hosted a local stakeholders consultation for the solar lantern project with PiSAT. This portion of the trip was also productive, and the distribution of these lanterns is moving forward.
Several projects are underway in Kenya as well as in Rwanda. Things are progressing well and are continuing to develop. Stay tuned!
