Mombasa County embraces sustainable energy solutions

With this initiative, named Urban Smart Energy (USE), Mombasa County and CoM SSA will assess the feasibility of these projects, aiming to attract private sector investment by establishing a compelling business case. CoM SSA will closely cooperate with relevant County departments, initially focusing on ten sites, while also facilitating capacity-building activities for county staff.  

As a first step, CoM SSA has conducted a preliminary assessment of buildings and installed real-time smart energy meters to accurately measure power consumption. The meters, supplied by VEER.IO will collect real-time data on energy consumption, aiding in determining the appropriate size of the renewable energy system in each of the ten county-owned facilities.

 

The first pilot smart energy meters were installed at Kongowea Market, the largest market in the County, and a Municipal Yard. Installations for eight additional buildings including hospitals, the County Assembly, and the Governor’s office followed suit this month.

 

These meter readings help identify opportunities for renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and provide data-based insights that attract investments. Over the course of four months, the data collected will be used to develop a baseline assessment of the technical and financial feasibility of the project. This report will be a valuable tool for attracting the private sector and financiers who can invest in energy projects under an energy-as-a-service arrangement. Through this approach, the county aims to secure suppliers and financiers who can install and supply power to the facilities at a lower cost than grid supply.

Excitement resonates from the County team as data starts to flow onto the online dashboard, as they will also use this data to troubleshoot and better operate and maintain their electrical systems. After four months, the data will be used for report writing, but the meters will stay on site for the next 24 months, enabling the county to access real-time data for various internal purposes.