Kenya Data commissions Sh7.4m solar energy plant

By Ramadhan Rajab

Internet firm—Kenya Data Networks (KDN)—has commissioned a Sh7.4 million solar energy plant for rural areas to offer cost saving power solutions and ease the rollout of digital villages.

The Green Solar Power plant will provide double solutions for consumers — low cost electricity and Internet connectivity to the rural folk.

KDN officials said the plant —a partnership with Numeric India and Battery Technologies of South Africa —will help industrial consumers cut operations costs as well guard them against power outages.

KDN Chief Executive Kai Wulff said the move will give its rural customer environmentally friendly and efficient power solutions, and ensure they reap the benefits of Information Communications Technology once the national fibre optic link is activated.

"Our green power solutions will be core in assisting the rural areas that do not have electricity still access Internet connectivity at an affordable cost whilst, also providing green energy to power their daily activities.

Green power

Our aim is to ensure Kenya is connected to green power so that digital villages rollout will not be a challenge any more", Wulff said.

He said through use of green energy, KDN,has been able to reduce its energy costs by 80 per cent in the sunny season and 50 per cent during the cold season and attained return on their investment within eight months.

The Internet firm promised to provide power gadgets including batteries, solar panels, charge controllers, energy saving bulbs, inverters and other electronics to enable customers enjoy the full benefits of green power.