Safaricom goes Green

Margaret Githiri, Power Systems Manager, at Safaricom was explaining how the unreliable energy grid and high cost of diesel used to fuel generators has driven their move to green energy.

Safaricom are currently powering 115 of their 2000 sites using a hybrid power solution combining wind, solar, batteries and generators. When energy from wind is down they switch to solar and batteries. The batteries can keep the site powered for seven hours before they have to switch to generators (assuming that the wind turbines and solar panels aren’t generating energy by this time).

Safaricom are predicting significant cost savings despite the high initial CAPEX outlay to install this equipment. Maragret has estimated a payback of less than two years and there is the added benefit of reduced Co2 emissions.

Lastly Safaricom have come up with an innovative solution to helping rural mobile users that don’t have access to power to charge their phones. They installed charging booths at their stations where users can charge their phones for a small cost. This has had an additional benefit, and solved another problem, as communities are protecting the base stations themselves. They have seen a significant reduction in diesel theft and damage where this service is provided.

More innovation in Africa! Well done Safaricom.