Promoting electricity for income generation in displacement settings
At Kalobeyei integrated settlement, northern Kenya
SNV has launched a campaign to sensitise households, businesses, and social institutions on available opportunities for income generation through productive use of electricity (PUE) in Kalobeyei integrated settlement and Kalobeyei town, Northern Kenya.
The Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings (ESDS) project, implemented by GIZ, seeks to address the lack of a sustainable energy supply in Kalobeyei integrated settlement and Kalobeyei Town (Kalobeyei). SNV is tasked, as part of the ESDS project, to sensitise and train households, businesses, and social institutions in Kalobeyei on available opportunities for income generation through 'Productive Use of Electricity (PUE).
Currently, a 20kWp and 541kWp hybrid solar PV mini-grid system, operated by Renewvia Energy, supplies electricity to households, (micro) businesses, social institutions, and humanitarian agencies in Kalobeyei. Increased energy access through the mini-grid allows the mini-grid customers to expand their electricity usage to income generation activities. In addition, the uptake of PUE appliances can contribute to the financial sustainability of mini-grids due to increased power consumption. Examples are the offering of cyber services, tailoring phone-charging and entertainment services.
Cooling food in a fridge powered by mini-grids
A tailor using a machine powered by a mini-grid
Various companies, supported by the EnDev MBEA II project, also sell solar-powered PUE appliances that can be used for business by people not connected to the grid. Examples are solar-powered chargers, sewing machines, shavers, TVs (to show movies or sports games), irrigation and maise mills.
The campaign's first phase is focused on raising general awareness of the available PUE appliances in the area. The campaign activities include; providing training to local PUE retailers, radio talk shows, distributing door-to-door flyers, public service announcements events, and postering in public areas featuring key campaign messages. The subsequent phases are focused on providing targeted training to mini-grid customers on the effective use, operation, and maintenance of various PUE appliances available in the area.
The activities are expected to run until at least December 2022.