Hybrid energy supply for a flower farm in Eldama Ravine, Kenya
Minimizing Fuel Costs and CO2 emissions with the SMA Fuel Save Solution
Karen Roses Ltd is a family owned business operating six flower farms in Kenya. One of its farms, situated at Eldama Ravine in the Rift Valley, is at an altitude of 2000 meters, and is now equipped with a solar PV system.
During the day, the energy demand of the facility is almost entirely fulfilled by the solar power generated. When the national grid is working, the PV plant operates in parallel to significantly reduce the cost of imported energy. As net-metering is not allowed, the SMA Fuel Save Controller prevents the feeding of PV power to the grid.
During power cuts, the stand-by generators produce the necessary power and the solar system helps to reduce the fuel consumption. The SMA Fuel Save Controller calculates the optimal set-point for PV penetration and secures stable system behavior under all operational conditions. This set-up makes solar an economically viable solution for farms, such as those undertaking rose cultivation, and provides greater independence from unstable grids and fuel costs.
