Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) project
SERC was involved in the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) project titled: ‘Building capacity for enhancing bioenergy sustainability’ between 2018 and 2019 with support from United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). UNEP provided technical support to the participating research organizations on the meaning of and rationale behind the 24 indicators and their indicative methodological approaches; on how to adapt the indicators to the country context; and on how to implement the chosen methodologies.
Bioenergy analysis for 30 Tea Factories
SERC conducted a bioenergy analysis in 30 tea factories that source fuelwood from third parties. This project was funded by DANIDA through Kenya Climate and Innovation Centre (KCIC). The goal of this research was to assist the tea factories in identifying drivers of heat energy cost and specify performance and spread of 30 factories linked to SDG 7 target 7.3 which is to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and SDG 12 which is to ensure sustainable consumption and production.
Research objectives were to review existing information and design an analytical framework covering:
- Fuelwood,
- alternative biomass fuels supply chains,
- onsite fuel logistics, and
- boiler operations.
Industrial Promotion Services
Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) is the infrastructure and Industrial development arm of the AgaKhan Fund for Economic Development, which in turn is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network. IPS has made significant investments over the years in diverse manufacturing projects across a range of sectors in Kenya, continuing to address countries’ development needs in tandem with the local government. Last year, before installing rooftop Solar PV systems in some of their facilities, IPS contracted Strathmore Energy Research Center (SERC) to train their staff to level Tier 3 to enable them design, install, operate, and maintain the PV systems. Twelve staff members were trained.
KOSAP Training
The Ministry of Energy contracted SERC to provide a customized training under the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP), for underserved counties. The training was financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya Power and Lighting Company and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation. The training aimed to provide a comprehensive suite of investments on electricity services to households, enterprises and community facilities, and boreholes, with pragmatic business models to attract private sector investment, sustainable services, know-how and efficiencies.
Millenium Water Alliance Training
The Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), through her flagship Kenya RAPID program, collaborated with Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) to train nineteen solar practitioners from Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana and Wajir on Solar PV level T1/T2. The training methodology used was mainly interactive and participatory, comprising of 14 days online training, 4-hours a day and 2 days’ hands-on physical practical exercises
PEER Project
In September 2014, Strathmore University through Strathmore Energy Research Centre received the Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) award to develop and implement a solar PV outreach training module for capacity building in East Africa. The project was funded by the United States Aid for International Development (USAID) through the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Solar Photovoltaics Training for Technicians in Rural Kenya (RAEng)
This project is funded by Royal Academy of Engineering aiming to break down one of the barriers to adoption to solar PV products in Kenya –unskilled technicians. SERC seeks to do this by significantly increasing the number of skilled Solar PV technicians in the country through training two technicians (one woman and one man) per county from 30 counties in Solar PV Tier 1 and 2 level, Electrical Safety and soft skills including Design Thinking, Mental Health and Communication Skills
Kenya Tea Development Agency Collaboration
Tea production is an energy intensive process with energy costs constituting up to 30% of the total production costs. Energy efficiency is, therefore, a major opportunity to cut overall costs in the tea industry. In addition, the Energy Management Regulations of 2012 mandates designated facilities to put in place management systems to conserve energy. On this basis, SERC successfully conducted a training for 132 KTDA members of the senior factory management staff. The training was designed to give them a comprehensive overview about the positive impact of energy efficiency on both the environment and business performance of their factories.
