Fairmount unveils ‘green energy’ project in Masai Mara

The Standard
By Macharia Kamau
March 7, 2010

Kenya’s premium tourism attraction the Masai Mara is set to take up alternative power sources. The move help hoteliers and camp operators in the area significantly save on electricity costs, as well as globally boost the image of the ecosystem as a green destination.

The area is off the national electricity grid, and players, mostly hoteliers and camp operators, depend on diesel generators for power production.

The process of setting up the power plant, which is being spearheaded by Fairmont Group of Hotels and Resorts, is expected to start in the course of this year and be operational by end of year, or early next year.

The project is primarily meant for the generation of power for use by Fairmont’s hotel in the Mara, but the company says the plant is expected to generate huge capacity that other players could tap into, at a cheaper rate than their current cost of production.

"We are in the process of looking for an area with to put up the solar plant, which has been projected to take up about 3 000 square metres," Munene Ngotho, the general manager of Fairmont Mara Safari Club.

He added that the hotel would also start using bio-diesel on its vehicles.

"We are currently using over Sh1 million to buy fuel for electricity generation, as well as for vehicles. After we get the project up and running, we expect to save significantly," he said,

Despite having enormous potential for solar and other green energy sources like wind and geothermal, the country has been relying heavily on hydropower.

Dire consequences

This has however had dire consequences, after the generation capacity of the dams dropped following a prolonged drought, forcing the country to resort to more costly power from thermal generators.

Ngotho added that Fairmont would also be working with the local community to encourage them to adopt green energy, rather than using wood fuel.

"We have plans to work with the communities in developing biogas that can be used for domestic purposes, which can bring down the need for wood fuel," he said.

Sourcing for wood fuel has been among the key factors that have fuelled human wildlife conflict in areas bordering national parks and game reserves, and has contributed significantly to the degradation of some of the ecosystems in the country.

Article at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/InsidePage.php?id=2000005060&cid=14&story=Fairmount%20unveils%20‘green%20energy’%20project%20in%20Masai%20Mara

It's wonderful that they one by one start re-thinking their energy politics. Excellent!

Regarding their bio-diesel plans....I would wish they re-consider this as I think it's very questionable to use soil for planting bio-diesel plants in order to "burn" them in a vehicle. The same soil could be used to plant maize, rice etc. to feed people in need of which Kenya has a lot.

To me the whole bio-diesel idea is highly unethical as I consider burning "food" for vehicles immorally.

LONDOLOZI is currently doing a pilot project on a electric power game drive vehicle. That's the way to go.
http://www.londolozi.com/conservation_at_londolozi/a_londolozi_original/

Pippa:

I don't know much at all about these kinds of things. However, if one had a fleet of these electric powered game drive vehicles that needed to be charged daily, it would necessitate the use of a lot of electricity or power from a generator to do so. The generators would have to be working full time to charge a lot of vehicles. One wonders if solar power would be enough for a large fleet. Also, all batteries eventually die. What then happens to all the dead batteries? Anyone know more about it?

Jan
Of course it needs a certain power to recharge all those batteries. But stated in another post it's doable.
Karen Blixen Camp has 48 solar panels which feed 48 batteries. This power is strong enough to feed a whole 22 tented camp plus all communal areas. It's also strong enough to recharge within tents quickly and use a 2000 watt hair dryer - not that this would be necessary on safari

Batteries of course need to be exchanged - but the lifespan is enormous.

Another example:
The automotive industry is working like hell on cars which are powered by batteries which then request fuel stations to provide these battery charger plugs.

When you follow up all sorts of alternative energy sources you will definately end up with electric power as all fossil energy sources are not re-newable, heaving great impact onto the environment and are limited.

Electric power is the only one which is readily and widely available particularly in sun-filled countries like Kenya. It's only a question of investment and willingness.
And investment is a longterm thing here.

I would love if others who know much more about it join........particularly regarding the batteries and their lifespan/waste management.

But my point ist the bio-diesel. How on Earth can we burn plants while we at the same time have not enough food for the World's population?

I do not know all too much about this however I want my place to go as Green as possible in the future. Germany is the leader in this field in Europe however there are concerns as to the future of all the solar cells and the waste once they are taken by the latest generation.... this will become a big issue; similar to what is happening to TV screens and PC's.
I cannot expand too much on this as I need to learn more although this topic will become very big in future as going green is the only way forward to save ourselves.

Cody
So please hurry, gather knowledge and educate us rather sooner than later!

As to Germany being the leader in that field:
The new Gov has just informed it will cut subsidies on solar panels. How does that fit into the whole green picture? But wait - that gov is very pro-nuclear power. That might be an explanation