The Problem
Biomass in the form of firewood is an important source of energy in Kenya and much of sub-Saharan Africa – both for industrial and domestic use.
Tea production uses large quantities of firewood in the drying and withering processes – and tea farmers also typically rely on biomass for cooking – contributing to deforestation and health impacts due to indoor air pollution. How can large-scale energy users – like tea factories – become part of the solution by driving a switch to sustainable biomass energy to supply both industrial and domestic consumers?
Wood or charcoal is often collected by women and children, which involves walking long distances, carrying heavy loads.
EnSo's Response
This project is delivered with Rainforest Alliance and KTDA Foundation with funding from IKEA Foundation – and is focused on supporting tea factories and farmers to switch from firewood to sustainable biomass.
Factory staff is trained in the use of briquettes which deliver big savings in production costs that are passed onto tea farmers through the KTDA cooperative model.
EnSo is working with Tamuwa Ltd to increase the uptake of their biomass briquettes made from sugar-cane waste. At the same time, EnSo is working with entrepreneurs to sell clean and efficient cook-stoves that reduce indoor air pollution and use much less fuel per meal cooked – saving households money. This model, combining industrial and domestic consumers also means we are able to offer households an alternative to firewood and charcoal – thanks to a specially manufactured fuel produced for us by Tamuwa using the same sustainable sugarcane waste.
Households are offered a range of stoves including the newest and most efficient designs including gasifiers and in-situ ‘rocket’ models that deliver some of the cleanest cooking solutions.
EnSo has also supported entrepreneurs like Mary Waiyego to produce carbonized fuel briquettes that are a sustainable and affordable replacement for charcoal.
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