Energy efficiency is one of the most promising drivers towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Energy data equips us with information and insights for us to make informed decisions about how appliances and equipment can be optimised. Lilian Motongori

We’re joined by Lilian Motongori on the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to dive into the topic of how energy efficiency is being transformed by data. Some of the highlights touched on:

* What makes data important today* The link between data and energy efficiency* How local companies can use data and technology to impact energy efficiency* A few of the key challenges and solutions around data and energy efficiency

What makes data important today?

Technology now enables data streaming from electronics of both small and large scale. Energy, on the other hand, is around us, whether your cooking pot, the lights or even your car. With smarter devices, data generation, collection and analysis is accelerating at a fast pace. 

The link between data and energy efficiency

In the energy efficiency sector, we can use tools to analyse data and find potential areas of losses. These losses can be interpreted into monetary forms, have their impact mapped out  and communicated to the people in charge.

How can local companies use data and technology to impact energy efficiency

A few key steps are:

* Adopt the use of smart meters and sensors* Frequently carry out energy audits* Implement recommendations from energy audits

Challenges

⚠️ Literacy on energy management is still low

End consumers of energy don’t receive enough awareness of how to collect data and interpret it. 

⚠️ Rate of policy adoption in industry is not sufficient

For instance, the stalled Solar Water Heating Regulations have slowed down the transition to renewable energy. 

⚠️ Quality of data is still questionable

Manual recording of energy data is slow and prone to human error

Possible Solutions

✔️ New Energy Act 2019

The New Energy Act 2019 is now paving way for more and improved regulations that will stimulate the growth of the energy industry in Kenya

✔️ Increasing availability of smart meters and sensors

The cost of metering technologies (e.g electricity, water, fuel)  is now affordable enough to be widely adopted locally. 

✔️ Awareness activities

Different professional associations and organisations like the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya Green Building Society and Association of Energy Professionals in Eastern Africa are organising events throughout the year on various subjects under the energy and data umbrella

Contact

LinkedInLilian MotongoriWebsiteWomen in Energy Africa

Organisations that embrace mentorship are rewarded with high levels of employee engagement, retention and knowledge sharing. Winfred Mutinda

Martin Luther King once put it across clearly that “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Mentorship picks the mantra from this famous quote, a compounding effect of guided steps towards your professional endeavours.

In the 20th episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast, Winfred Mutinda helps to break down the fundamentals of mentorship programs in the energy space, as well as strategies you can act on immediately. The main highlights include:

* The role of mentors in the energy space* Components of successful mentorship programs in energy and climate change* Why we need more climate change leadership today?* Strategies to inspire more young people into energy/climate change leadership* The role of institutions in nurturing leaders in energy and climate change* Arising challenges and solutions around Implementation of mentorship programs for young people

The role of mentors in the energy space

What makes mentors relevant to the conversation is that they:

* Possess wells of greatness filled with specific knowledge, experiences, talents, abilities and self- belief. They can share insights and knowledge as well as personal experiences with their mentees* Can usher mentees into a community (local, regional and global) of other like-minded energy leaders who are committed to shaping the energy future.* Contribute positively to the personal and professional growth of a mentee. Mentors offer educational and career guidance that helps unlock the potential of the mentees hence playing a vital role in igniting the desire to grow to greater heights.

Components of successful mentorship programs in energy and climate change

A few elements that give a mentorship program its value are:

Ensuring best practices are in place for the key major ingredients in the mentorship program i.e. the mentor, the mentee and the relationship between the two. These best practices comprise:

* A desire to inspire by the mentor and commitment to succeed by the mentee* Dedication of time and effort to mentorship* A growth mindset and learning attitude* Accountability and responsibility to each other* Active listening, asking questions, self-reflection and providing feedback

Leveraging on current and relevant industry/organizational knowledge, expertise and skills. Good mentors have deep knowledge in the area that the mentee wishes to grow in.

The willingness of the present leaders and professionals in Energy and Climate Change to grow successful leaders. Being a mentor is not only about being a successful individual but an act of servant leadership. Willingness to share failures and personal experiences.

Having a well-structured mentorship program. It Involves having pre-determined goals, objectives, and targets as well as a means to measure the achievement of the objectives.

Why we need more climate change leadership today?

The world today faces the responsibility of achieving the outlined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More leadership, especially from the younger generations, is required. Other compelling reasons for Africa’s proactiveness in climate change leade...

“Innovation is the biggest promise to a successful and sustainable nexus” Norah Magero

It’s crucial for you and me to acknowledge linkages in the Food-Water-Energy nexus. Understanding how an action in one area affects the rest can help us start innovating on the solutions that best protect the nexus. There is a huge opportunity for African youth to participate in the nexus.

Some of the highlights from this episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast touched on:

* What the Food-Water-Energy Nexus is, and why it’s important* The ideal outcome when done right* The role of technology* Arising challenges and remediation

What is the Food-Water-Energy Nexus?

This is the undeniable linkage of water security, energy security and food security where actions in one sector affect one or both the other sectors. Breaking down each component:

* Water security has been defined as access to safe drinking water and sanitation.* Energy security refers to access to clean, reliable and affordable energy for all. * Food Security is the availability and access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, a basic human right. 

Why this nexus is important

Both food, water and energy feature heavily on Sustainable Development Goals. To put things in perspective:

* Agriculture draws 70% of freshwater globally, while over a quarter of the global energy is consumed by food production, distribution, and use. * The global population is leaning towards 8 billion meaning there will be a significant increase in demand for food, water, and energy. 

It is clear that the pressure on these sectors will continue rising, and if not kept in check, accelerate climate change

The ideal outcome if the nexus is sustainably upheld

Given that a trade off or a shortfall in one sector affects the other two sectors, there is a need to build synergies across these sectors. This can be achieved through conventional policy and decision making approaches that reduce trade offs. 

An ideal outcome when we successfully implement the nexus is that people across all disciplines can now think and act with the hindsight of how these sectors are interlinked. A successful nexus is a practical framework for efficient resource utilization that balances the economic, social and environmental externalities.

Major strategies that communities can implement to get the nexus right

Agriculture is a crucial sector for our development given it contributes 26% of Kenya’s GDP, employing more than 40% of the total population and more than 70% or rural workforce. We should strive for a green economy with the aim of increasing the efficient use of resources.

Protective farming and climate-smart agriculture will guarantee the security of our water sources. We must continuously innovate ways to ensure efficient water use and conservation measures as minimizing groundwater extraction by maximizing alternative solutions like roof water collection and creating small dams.

The role of technology in the Food-Water-Energy Nexus

Innovation is the biggest promise to a successful and sustainable nexus. Renewable energy technologies take a significant seat at the table. 25% of the global energy is consumed by food production, for major processes like water extraction, purification, transportation.

Let’s employ ways of ensuring that crop production consumes just enough water and energy with the aid of tec...

Compressed air is a critical resource to the operation of industrial plants. Being an expensive utility to generate, it calls for adequate investment in design and maintenance in order to realise the potential benefits. 

Eng. Mathew Mwenga joins us on another episode of the Africa Water  and Energy Podcast to expand on the basics of what makes compressed air, and how we can effectively maximize on it. The major highlights of our conversation are:

* What compressed air is and how it’s generated* What makes compressed air so expensive* Are facilities using best practice when selecting compressors?* The challenges and solutions around compressed air systems in the East Africa region

Basics of compressed air

When air is compressed to a pressure above atmospheric, using equipment called a compressor, the result is compressed air. 

Compressors use electrical energy to compress the air.Through the action of compressing air, almost 85% of the energy in air is lost as heat. It is only about 15% of the initial energy that is supplied as useful compressed air. 

In terms of application, compressed air use can be categorized as either process, power or instrumentation

CategoryExplanationProcessWhen compressed air is a component of the process e.g ice cream processing PowerWhen compressed air supplies mechanical energy to pneumatic equipment like jack hammersInstrumentation Using compressed air for actuation like opening and closing valves

Common industry verticals that use compressed air are manufacturing, food and beverage, plastics etc

What makes compressed air expensive

Because of the nature of generating compressed air, only about 15% of the initial electrical energy input gets usefully transferred to compress the air. The rest of  it (85%) is lost as heat.

The lifecycle cost of a compressor

Globally compressed air takes up between 10%-13% of the total electricity consumption. Over its lifetime, a compressor’s largest cost is energy. Elements like purchasing cost (20% of life-cycle cost), maintenance (10% of life-cycle cost) and energy costs (~70% of life-cycle cost) make up the bulk of a compressor’s value.

Are facilities using best practice in selecting compressors?

The worry today is that compressors are being commoditised. That means that you can walk into a distributor’s warehouse and pick one up. The trouble with this approach is that often the correct selection process is skipped, leading to compressors that actually cost more to the customer in the long run. 

Challenges and Solutions

⚠️ User knowledge is still low

Commoditisation is one of the causes for a gap in user knowledge. Not enough of the people buying compressors are adequately informed about selecting a compressor.

⚠️The right compressor for the right job

Are you buying your compressor for a process, power or instrumentation application? These categories already call for different compressor type, size and even infrastructure.  Remember that energy costs make up the bulk of a compressor’s life-cycle. The right compressor will ensure you don’t pay more than you should.

⚠️Air quality of the compressor inlet

It is not uncommon to find compressors located in confined or poorly ventilated spaces. Not only could this location negatively affect the quality of air going into the compressor,

Green buildings are a relatively new concept in Kenya, and Africa in general. For a sustainable African economy, these buildings are necessary because of their reduced climate impact. Green is not expensive and is for all building levels; from high-end to affordable. The highest potential for green buildings is in their design stage.

Amrish Shah joins us on this episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to deliberate more on how green buildings will play a critical role in Africa’s future. Some of the highlights from this episode include:

* Why green buildings are important today* The differences between green buildings and other ordinary ones* Key steps to making new and existing buildings green* The challenges and solutions around implementing green buildings

Why are green buildings important today?

We’re currently experiencing a fast population growth rate on the African continent. According to the African Development Bank, since 2005, 20 countries in Africa are now among the top 50 most-improved world economies in business regulatory efficiency. By 2050, the African population is projected to reach 2.4 billion, and by 2030, urban populations will increase by an additional 350 million people.

This rate of change poses both challenges and opportunities. Whereas internet penetration and innovation is an upside, we stand to face sever consequences of climate change if our contribution does not take a sustainable trajectory. Unless growth is coupled with a shift to renewable resources, climate change will bring more food, health and economic insecurity to a continent that is already struggling with these issues.

Green buildings are especially important in Africa for their reduced electricity costs, saving precious water, and the healthier atmosphere they create to work and live in, and their reduced environmental impact. The science and data on green buildings is overwhelmingly comprehensive and available.

The current state of green buildings

Even as they appear to be new concepts, green buildings trace their roots back to the 1970s after the oil crisis. As the world was facing energy access challenges, organisations and nations sought to find ways of raising the efficiency standards of current buildings among other energy consumers like industry and residential spaces.

In Kenya, there are over 34 registered green building projects. Across Africa, there are 8 established green building councils. 

Differences between green buildings and other buildings

Some of the common differences include:

* They require less electricity to run* They consume less water* They address waste management issues* They use more local materials and materials with high environmental properties such as recycled materials, low hazardous chemicals and sustainably harvested wood for example.

How to ‘green’ new and existing buildings

For new buildings the important considerations are:

* Plan for green design in early design stages* Set green design goals for the project* Implement the green design strategies* Document and submit it for certification.

For existing buildings, making them green depends on the building project. Some of the general steps are:

* Conduct an energy and environmental audit of the project* Assess the areas that need to be addressed based on practicality and cost in line with certification requirements* Implement the changes* Certify if desired.

By now we understand that for successful solar PV installation, it takes a combination of careful planning, training and being customer-focused.

Daphin Juma of Women in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship (WISEe ) joins us for another episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to delve into important lessons for successful solar PV installations. A few of the highlights are:

* The existing roles during a site installation* Some of the lessons for successful Solar PV fieldwork* Arising challenges and solutions around gender inclusivity in the technical space*

Kenya leads the East African region when it comes to solar PV capacity. As of December 2019, the country stands at 56.25MW of installed capacity thanks to the 50MW Garissa Solar Plant commissioned in 2018. During any solar PV installation, it takes the contribution of various roles to make the whole project come together. Some of the common team roles include:

Project leader

This is the person/people in charge of logistics, public relations and procurement of materials, tools, and equipment. The leaders will also have at least one person trained in Occupational health and safety in order to be in charge of safety matters at the site.

Certified installers 

Depending on the size of the project, there will be a different requirement for the number of installers who both work and supervise others. 

Practicing Installers

These are technicians who are yet to get the full experience to be certified and practice independently. Their numbers also vary depending on the project size

Trainee(s)

For organisations like WISEe, trainees are members on practical attachment in preparation for licensing

Another key member who supports an installation team is the community liaison person or a client’s representative. This is the key contact person in matters affecting the installation project. For instance, he/she will agree with the team leader on where to install the solar PV system components. 

Practical pointers for a successful installation

Solar PV projects require keen coordination in delivering and installing the system within the agreed specification. Some of the considerations to make for teams are:

Mapping the transport route ahead of time

It’s easy to use Google Maps or one visit to make estimations. However, the situation might have changed, especially when dealing with murram roads. It is advisable to, therefore, make a final visit of the route closer to the delivery date to be sure of the road conditions. 

Having the right tools for tasks within the project scope

It is not uncommon to have remote solar PV projects. A clear plan and preparation of materials and tools will go a long way in avoiding costly downtime and increased expenses.

Other considerations include:

* Purchasing the right materials to match the solar panels and building structure* Having the proper safety gear* Reviewing the weather conditions prior to starting the installation* Locating the nearest health facility in case of emergency

Arising challenges and solutions around gender inclusivity

An observation in the industry is that even as initiatives are being put to encourage female participation, some people are still skeptical of the capability of women in installation teams. 

The counterfeit market for solar PV products threatens safety and confidence in the industry. Project owners are encouraged to get informed and source for genuine products for these systems which last well over 15 years.

More importantly, hiring registered professionals will ensure your installation is done according to best practice while remaining safe. The solar industry in Kenya is relatively new compared to other renewable technologies. Checking in with the register of licensed solar PV technicians from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) will help you narrow down to qualified professionals. 

Jacinta Gatwiri of Women in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship (WISEe) joins us for this episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to talk about how you can get licensed as a solar PV technician in Kenya. Other highlights of the show include: 

* A review of figures in the number of registered solar PV technicians* The existing potential for PV jobs in Kenya* Major steps to get accredited at each tier* How WISEe helps women transition to get licensed* Challenges and solutions for addressing the gender gap in this industry

State of the solar PV industry in Kenya

The number of women licensed as solar PV technicians is still relatively low in comparison to their male counterparts. As at mid- November 2019, there are a total of 354 registered technicians, women making up 27 while men make up 327 licensees. 

A register of the latest figures can be found from the EPRA website

The existing potential for solar PV jobs in Kenya

Men and women can contribute in areas of design, installation, maintenance, and training. Solar PV projects are now spread in both urban and rural areas of Kenya. Examples planned and ongoing projects include 

Opportunities such as the KOSAP project represents private-public partnerships for the installation of solar PV systems across 14 counties in Kenya. 

Previously the Government has worked with private companies to install PV systems in over 4,000 schools and health centers. The era of Independent Power Producers has led to companies setting up solar PV mini-grid systems. Associations like the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) have the list of participating companies. 

Major steps in getting licensed as a solar PV technician

In Kenya, there are three main tiers you can apply for; T1, T2 or T3. Here is an outline of the tier education and experience requirement:

T1T2 Option 1T2 Option 2 T3 Option 1 T3 Option 2 EducationKCPE Certificate✔️KCSE, Certificate✔️Electrical Government Trade Test 2✔️Bachelor of Science or Higher National Diploma or Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering✔️✔️Bachelor of Science degree with at least three (3) units/courses specific to electrical engineering✔️Basic Solar PV Trainingfrom an accredited institution ✔️Intermediate Solar PV Training from an accredited institution✔️✔️Advanced Solar PV Training from an accredited institution ✔️Experience shown by Completion reportsMinimum individual system capacity0.1kW1kW1kW15kW [+ 3kW]3kWNumber of systems done3333 (Grid-Tied) [+ 1 Hybrid]5Design documentation✔️

How WISEe empowers women in the Solar PV industry

Some of the notable initiatives of the organisation include:

* Conducting women-only solar PV training* Applying the...

By building the technical capacity of women in the solar PV industry-particularly in system design, installation and training, women are carving a niche for themselves. They are setting the pace for providing high-quality compliant systems and services and earning good incomes from this work.

Women ultimately serve as examples to other young women interested in developing careers in solar PV installation and training  

In this week’s episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast, we were joined by Tameezan wa Gathui to unpack the gender gap in Kenya’s renewable energy industry and how it can be bridged. Some of the highlights from the episode include:

* The market potential or women to participate in Solar PV in Kenya* How WISEe helps to bridge this gender gap* What organisations can do to embrace gender inclusivity* What initiatives women can take to get into the Solar PV sector* The existing challenges and remediation to promote gender inclusivity

The market potential for women to contribute to Kenya’s Solar PV

Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is responsible for certifying individuals and companies that take part in sales, design, installation and maintenance of Solar PV systems in the country. Less than 5% of solar PV technicians registered by EPRA are women. As of November 2019, there is a total of 354 licensed technicians, 327 being male and 27 being female. 

You can find the latest list from the EPRA website

Where women can contribute in the Solar PV Industry

With the country having the highest solar PV installation per capita in the region, there exists massive potential for growth. Current and planned mega installations include 55MW in Garissa, 40MW in Rumuruti, 40MW by Eldosol, 40MW by Radiant, 10MW by Kenyatta University, 52MW in Malindi and 50MW in Kopere. 

The contribution of women in this industry can be anywhere from sales, design, supervision, installation or administration. Currently, not many women are involved in hands-on work including installation and user training.

How WISEe is helping to bridge the gender gap

Women have an equal shot at setting up successful businesses that exploit one or more sections of the PV value chain. Not only can they grow their business acumen, but they can also provide employment opportunities to both men and other women. 

At WISEe the membership comprises women with a technical background in electrical installation, engineering or are employed in the renewable energy industry or are already renewable energy entrepreneurs looking to improve their technical skills.  Women looking to set up their solar PV businesses or want to become trainers in their own right ar also welcome to join. 

The membership program starts after a selection from the applicants. The successful applicants undergo a 1-2 week training with a balance of theoretical and field activities. After the training, these women work on actual installations under the supervision of experienced WISEe installers. This set of training activities is what they can use to fulfill some of the requirements by EPRA in getting their practicing certificate. 

With that training, women can have the chance to train and supervise others. They may also choose to set up their own solar PV businesses. 

How organisations can foster gender inclusivity 

Smart devices are ever gaining momentum in simplifying work and reducing human intervention. IoT is enabling previously disconnected devices to communicate with others across industries like manufacturing, automotive and utilities.

Felix Omwansa joins us on another episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to highlight the existing IoT network technologies organisations can adopt today. Key discussion points include:

* A brief explanation of IoT* Some of the utility applications supported by IoT today* The roles of a utility, systems integrator and customer in this ecosystem* Common IoT network infrastructures working in East Africa* Selection criteria for IoT networks* Common pitfalls and solutions around using IoT networks in the region

What is IoT and IoT networks?

The Internet of Things (IoT) comprises of devices, machines, objects or equipment with unique identifiers, and that are connected to the internet. People and animals also fall into this definition, as long as their ability to send data over a network does not require human-human or human-computer interaction. These devices, objects or people are what is referred to as ‘things’. 

The infrastructure that enables these devices to communicate with one another is the IoT network

Utility applications supported by IoT

Common use cases include:

* Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) using smart meters* Meter control with prepaid meters* Smart grid meters which facilitate 2-way communication between the utility and the customer

Roles of Utility, System Integrator and Customer

The utility’s role remains to ensure a customer gets the due service. This means that they serve the customer side with billing and supply services. 

The system integrator, in this case, refers to the company or individual implementing smart technologies. This involvement includes either designing, installing or configuring smart meters and other communications infrastructure that support the utility’s core business

The common IoT infrastructures working in East Africa

SigfoxNB-IOTLORAKenya✔️✔️✔️PRIVATE DEPLOYMENTPRIVATE DEPLOYMENTUganda✔️PRIVATE DEPLOYMENTPRIVATE DEPLOYMENTTanzania✔️PRIVATE DEPLOYMENTPRIVATE DEPLOYMENTEthiopia❌PRIVATE DEPLOYMENTPRIVATE DEPLOYMENTRwanda❌PRIVATE DEPLOYMENTPRIVATE DEPLOYMENT

NOTE

Cellular networks can also be used to support IoT infrastructure. The common examples are GSM and LTE. Mobile carriers support these networks, though with included network charges. 

Selection criteria for IoT networks

There are 5 key considerations are:

* Range. You should consider how wide the coverage is expected to be. * Data Rate. Evaluate the data bandwidth required by the IoT devices* Power. Are the devices running on mains electricity or they’re battery powered?* Frequency. Consider the limitations of your transmission frequency around obstacles* Security. How secure are your network devices and data?

Common challenges and solutions

* Customer education and awareness are relatively low in the region. IoT companies and enthusiasts should consider communicating their businesses and passion to help inform the market of the existing possibilities. * Cost savings is a key motivator, particularly for Africa-based companies. With the relatively low margins by utility companies, it is therefore important for IoT companies to come up with cost-conscious models that benefit all parties. * The legislation is not well defined for I...

In just 1 hour, the sun produces more energy than all nations produce in 1 year. Solar power is arguably the most under-utilized source of renewable energy. However, the narrative is slowly changing. Overall the East African region has seen a dramatic rise in solar PV adoption. 

Here are the stats for the region as of October 2019:

Uganda50MWTanzania6MWKenya56MW

Raphael Osoro joined us on the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to highlight how you can get adopting residential solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) systems. Key sections of the podcast include:

* Why solar power is taking off so quickly in Africa* A quick differentiation between Solar Thermal and Solar PV* The major steps in setting up Solar PV or thermal for your home* Considerations to make before and after installation* Some of the arising challenges and solutions

Why solar power is taking off so quickly in Africa

We’ve continuously seen the cost of solar panels drop as efficiency steadily increases. This progressive change, which is coming at the back of the rising cost of oil, is making solar a cost-effective solution for homes. 

In Kenya for instance, innovative financing options like M-Kopa Solar are using available mobile services to help people take up solar and pay off slowly. 

Solar thermal and Solar PV aren’t the same thing

Solar PV is represented by the flat, dark and shiny panels we see commonly on people’s rooftops 

In brief, the working principle of Solar PV is that it converts a portion of sunlight into electricity by exciting tiny particles in the panels (called electrons) which flow, creating an electrical current.

Solar thermal, on the other hand, is either represented by dark cylindrical tubes or dull and flat panels. These tubes and panels might have an attached cylindrical tank. A telltale sign of this system will be the water pipes coming from the panels and connected to a storage tank

The working principle entails transferring the sun’s heat to water that flows through the tubes or panels. 

When it comes to pricing, solar thermal systems will often be cheaper than solar PV panels

The experts needed to install solar systems

Ideally in Kenya, you should deal with solar technicians licensed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). 

Other technical expertise you should consider having include:

* Someone with knowledge of conducting residential energy audits – this can be a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), an energy engineer of a licensed energy auditor * An experienced plumber or electrician for wiring. As much as solar thermal mainly deals with water, you might need to install heating elements or a heat pump as a backup source of water heating

The major steps in installing Solar PV or Solar Thermal for your home

A few pointers to follow are:

* Conduct an energy audit to understand your residential electricity or hot water requirements* Identify the major energy consumers and put in place measures to ensure they run more efficiently* Together with the technicians, decide on the installation size that will be sufficient for you* Let the technicians produce a detailed design of the setup. Ensure it meets your design and financial requirements * Proceed with the installation