Tomtech has applied their technology in new ways to drive a circular economy in Kenya.

Tomtech’s technology, which is more commonly used in British and European greenhouses, helps power an anaerobic processor that turns waste into biofuel on one of Kenya’s largest flower farms.

“While we are more used to helping create ideal growing conditions in greenhouses, our technology is just as useful for controlling other processes, such as anaerobic digestion,” said Krzysztof Hernik, director of Tomtech.

Tomtech’s T200 control system is more commonly used in multi-zone greenhouses, automatically adjusting heating, ventilation, irrigation, fertilization and other factors affecting growth.

The system monitors conditions using Tomtech Environment Manager software and makes changes based on user-defined programming and condition variations.

However, the T200 has now been used for the first time to control the function of an anaerobic digestion plant from Kenyan company Grants Bio-Tech.

Anaerobic digestion is a process in which organic matter, such as animal or vegetable waste, is broken down by bacteria into biogas in an oxygen-free tank.

Grants Bio-Tech designs, manufactures and installs anaerobic digesters, which they believe contributes to energy independence and a cleaner environment.

“Kenya’s horticultural sector, particularly the cut flower sector, generates a lot of bio-waste, which can be a problem, but at the same time presents an opportunity for the clean, sustainable energy that is most needed,” said Paul Hodson, director of Grants Bio-Tech.

“Tomtech systems have given us better and safer control over the digestion process and we have seen increased gas production as a result,” adds Paul.

An anaerobic digester was installed at Bohemian Flower Farm, which is located near the town of Naivasha and is one of the largest growers in Kenya, with over 3,500 employees. Naivasha, a large town in Nakuru County, about 90 km northwest of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is a popular tourist destination known for its Hell’s Gate National Park, which inspired a number of locations in Disney’s ‘The Lion King’.

Kenya’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and horticulture, which employs more than 500,000 people, including about 100,000 in companies growing roses, carnations and alstroemeria.

“Of course we take the opportunity to support projects that help create sustainable energy. The circular economy is becoming increasingly important for the development of societies that can benefit from renewable energy,” concluded Krzysztof Hernik, director of Tomtech.

Founded in 1986, Tomtech provides everything needed to create, control and maintain the perfect growing conditions in a commercial greenhouse. Their adaptive system is used throughout the UK and beyond to support the horticulture of nearly every type of plant grown in a greenhouse. This is the first time their technology has also been used to control anaerobic digesters, but more projects are planned, both in the UK and Africa.

For more information:
Tomtech
www.tomtech.co.uk