The largest on-roof solar power system in Africa has just been installed at the UNEP’s headquarters in Nairobi. Energiebau Solarstromsysteme GmbH installed a 5,205 kWh system that was connected to the grid on February 21, creating the first climate-neutral office on the continent.
The German company, working with SCHOTT Solar and SMA Solar Technology AG, also used modules from Japanese firm Kaneka. The installation of the 4,000-module project took three months.
"Photovoltaics is developing into an important factor for the climate-neutral architecture of the future," the Managing Director of Energiebau Michael Schäfer explained. The new roof is expected to produce 750,000 kWh of solar energy a year and employees 1,200 people.
"Local installers are being trained by Energiebau as part of its development partnership with the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)," explains Hendrik Linneweber, GIZ Kenya Country Director. In the future, Kenyan installers will be trained in their own solar academy in cooperation with local training institutions and the companies SCHOTT Solar and SMA.
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