Fueling Change in Kenya [Literally!]

Biodigesters take household and agricultural waste and transform it into renewable energy and organic fertilizer. This renewable energy can replace charcoal and firewood, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and making household air cleaner and safer. Biodigesters can be installed in a wide range of sizes to support families of all sizes and needs. 

This project was fueled (literally and figuratively!) by the needs of the communities with whom we work. A clean source of household energy is a pressing problem for many of the communities where we operate, in addition to the environment as a whole. According to our partner, Sistema.bio, the average household uses 512 kilograms of firewood each month and spends about $32USD (3,209KES) to buy it. This, in turn, releases about 845 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and family members inhale smoke from the fire.

With biodigesters, families can deposit household food scraps, animal manure and other organic matter into a hermetic hybrid reactor. In the reactor, waste is mixed with water and fermented to produce methane-rich biogas. This gas is funneled into household appliances like cooking stoves and the remaining waste can be used as a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.

Biodigesters are just one project we’re working on that are driving improvements in coffee-producing communities. We can’t wait to see the benefits these biodigesters can bring to local families and their coffee quality. Reach out to your trader to get more information about this project and how you can get involved.