The use of sustainable energy to cut down on cost and promote a clean environment is becoming increasingly popular in Kenya. One product at the forefront of this transition is Kuni Safi by Acacia Innovations. These are briquettes made from sugarcane waste.
Compared to other fuel sources like firewood and charcoal, Kuni Safi briquettes are cheaper and eco-friendly. They are of high quality too. They burn longer because they produce a non-luminous flame that has more heat than firewood or charcoal. These briquettes are also reliable and efficient throughout the seasons and do not pose any health risks to users because they are smokeless.
“ Our product is more efficient than firewood. A small quantity of our briquettes can sustain what so a big bundle of firewood would. Kuni Safi can also be adapted immediately to an existing firewood boiler with no modifications whatsoever. The briquettes can also be used efficiently in firewood or biomass hot water heaters,” says Elana Laichana, one of the brains behind Kuni Safi.
Wastes
Environmentally, the product has helped sugar factories in Western Kenya dispose their wastes properly. Additionally, Kuni Safi aids afforestation as every tonne of it saves about 25 trees. It also emits clean smoke that also makes a difference in mitigating climate change.
The briquettes cost about Ksh 18,000 per tonne, inclusive of delivery around Nairobi. The company also offers bulk discounts to factories and clients purchasing 50 tonnes and above. Elana emphasises the use of small quantities in order to avoid wastage.
The briquettes produce a non-luminous flame that has more heat than both firewood and charcoal
While most social enterprises depend on donors, Acacia Innovations is self-funded and is able to break even. Being a selffunded project, this enables them to focus more on the customers unlike rival enterprises that have donors dictating terms.
Demand
Acacia Innovations also focuses more on sales and marketing rather than production. They create demand by educating the public through product demonstration and training of users who are usually skeptical at the beginning. The
WOMEN IN ENERGY
firm also spends time with each customer to show them how their product works before they sell to them. So far, they have worked with 32 customers and they also make delivery services to their customers. The enterprise is owned by Elana Laichena and her husband Mark Laichena. Elana, originally from the USA, relocated to Kenya about one and half years ago to join her husband. She says,“ Immediately after moving here, I saw the endless opportunities that the country has and with my interest in sustainable energy, I explored the possible openings.”
Experience
Elana has over five years of experience in the renewable energy sector in Kenya and in the United States. Previously, she served as director of sales and operations at GreenChar Solutions, a social enterprise which manufactures and retails charcoal briquettes. She also gained experience as program manager of Here Comes Solar, a solar energy start-up based in New York City. Elana holds a Master of Science degree from Pratt Institute and a B. A. from the New School University in New York City. She is also very passionate about fighting deforestation and fuel unavailability
“ A little quantity of our briquettes can sustain what so much firewood would.”- Elana Laichena, founder, Acacia Innovation
WATTS UP MAGAZINE APR- MAY 2017 27