Location and Requirements

Campi ya Kanzi lies within a 400-square-mile private ranch in southern Kenya, in sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although the idea was to be powered entirely by Solar power from the outset, budget constraint typical of any start-up businesses called for compromise. Therefore they started with just a Trace Inverter DR2424E, a battery bank and few hours of generator running daily to charge the batteries. 

Unlike other tented camps who rely heavily on two or three generators running at different shift Campi ya Kanzi was to rely on one small 12 KVA generator running no more than 4 hours/day mainly in the evening. Once the generator is switched off the camp enjoys continuos 230 VAC power previously stored in the batteries, available for anyone at any time of the day or night. The loads to be powered are the following:

• 40 Energy saving lights
• 01 TV and Satellite
• 02 Refrigerators
• 02 Freezers
• 06 Hair Dryers (low consumption)
• 01 Computer
• 01 Printer

As the business progressed solar modules were added and the camp was less reliant on the generator especially when it was not always full. Eventually with the addition of more solar modules the camp was entirely solar powered and the generator was dismissed to a standby role for extended cloudy periods or major workshop repairs. In addition to the above E-Solar supplied solar hot water system to cater for all the hot water requirements of the camp. System composition

• 16 H85 Watts Helios Solar Modules
• 02 C40 Trace Charge Controllers
• 01 SW3024E Trace inverter
• 01 1000 Ah Solar Battery Bank
• 07 160 Litres Solar hot water systems
• Accessories

 

 

Client's Comments

Nowadays, we are increasingly aware of the importance of protecting the environment and enjoying it in the most ecologically sound manner possible. We at Campi ya Kanzi are proud to say we are among the most environmentally friendly camps in all of Africa. The camp has been built with local materials only, and not a single tree has been cut. Our 220-volt electricity is provided by solar power, and water is heated with solar heaters. In the kitchen, we cook meals using a special charcoal produced by the United Nations Environment Project. We compost our food scraps for use in our vegetable garden. Water is our most precious resource; after use, our gray water passes through lava filters that cleanse it before it is used in the garden or put in a pond for wildlife.