Gridworks’ investee company helps Mara Serena Safari Lodge run on solar power
Published: 7 January 2020Gridworks’ investee company, Mettle Solar has transformed Mara Serena Safari Lodge in Kenya into a solar powered property.
The 640kWp solar plant uses TESLA Lithium-ion storage batteries to cover Mara’s entire energy requirements, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and preserving the ecosystem in one of East Africa’s most beautiful landscapes. It was installed and is managed by Mettle Solar OFGEN, a collaboration between Mettle Solar and OFGEN (a solar power plant developer).
Mara Serena is part of the Serena Hotels group which offers quality accommodation in a collection of 24 hotels, safari lodges, camps and resorts across Eastern Africa and Asia.
Mettle Solar OFGEN has recently implemented similar off-grid solar systems in other Serena properties including Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge and Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge.
Serena also commissioned two grid-tied hybrid solar systems in early 2018 at Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp and Sweetwaters Serena Camp. The positive environmental impact of these initiatives includes:
| Total installed capacity: | 1,760kWp with 3,900kWh of storage |
| Total green energy produced to date: | 2,771 MWh |
| CO2 avoided: | 1,949 tons |
| Trees that would otherwise need to have been planted to extract the CO2 within 10 years: | c.156,000 trees |
Gridworks CEO, Simon Hodson, said, “As the demand for eco-travel experiences grows, I’m delighted that our investee company Mettle is supporting one of the leading lights of East African tourism. This is a great example of how clean, renewable energy independence can be successfully achieved through the installation of off-grid solar systems, even in such challenging safari locations.”
Francois Van Themaat, Managing Director, Mettle Solar OFGEN said, “We are proud to be part of this transformational sustainability project in the East African hospitality industry, particularly with Serena Hotels playing a leading role. The use of natural resources such as solar is being embraced as it is one of the most sustainable ways to preserve the ecosystem.”
