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2 MW Biogas plant launched in Kenya – Africa’s first grid-connected biogas plant

Posted on : 13 Mar, 2017

 

Gorge Farm – owned by the Vegpro Group, has begun a biogas plant that produces 2 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Located approximately 76km northwest of Nairobi, the Gorge Farm Energy Park has become the first biogas electricity producer in Africa that is selling its surplus electricity to the national grid.

 

Independent power producer - Biojoule Kenya is responsible for operating the Gorge Farm plant.

 

Biojoule Kenya has an agreement with Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) – the country's sole power distributor – to sell the electricity produced by Gorge Farm.

 

The surplus electricity produced at the plant can meet the power needs of 5,000-6,000 rural homes.

 

The plant produces biogas through anaerobic digestion. The biogas produced is burned in two engines, producing both electricity and heat in a process called cogeneration.

 

However, biogas power is yet to set off in a big way in Kenya. Currently, cogeneration adds only a small fraction in Kenya’s renewable power mix – at 0.7 percent in 2015, according to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN), the country's biggest power company.

 

Some analysts say biogas could generate between 29 and 131 MW of power in Kenya. However, challenges such as low tariffs for biogas power are hindering investor interest. Moreover, biogas power feedstock such as agricultural and municipal waste is already in demand for other end uses such as fertilisers.  

 

More about the prospects of biogas power projects in Africa will be discussed at Africa Biomass & BioEnergy Summit on 28-29 September, 2017.

 

For more information, email Ms. Hafizah at hafizah@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9218.

 

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