Sustainable Energy Consumption

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Browsing Sustainable Energy Consumption by Subject "South Eastern Kenya University"

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  • Publication
    Publication
    Cost benefit analysis of different energy sources used in public secondary schools in Mtito Andei Division, Makueni County
    (South Eastern Kenya University, 2020-09-02) Kazungu, Arnold T.
    Energy affects all aspects of development: social, economic and environmental,including livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, populationlevels and education. Public schools spend a lot of money every year on energy bills.Currently, they are experiencing an exponential increase in student enrolment whichputs more pressure on energy needs. This study focuses on cost benefit analysis ofdifferent energy sources used in public secondary schools in Mtito Andei Division,Makueni County. The specific objectives are to: (1) establish the sources of energyused in public secondary schools, (2) investigate the factors determining the choice ofthe energy source(s), (3) assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of majorenergy sources and (4) conduct cost benefit analysis of major energy sources. Thestudy used Survey Research Design (SRD) and a census survey, with all 30 schools inthe study site studied via questionnaire administration, observation, interview andphotography for data collection. Both descriptive and Benefit Cost Ratio analyticalprocedures were used. The study findings showed that firewood was the most popularcooking energy source with all (100%) schools using it while charcoal came second(23%) followed by LPG gas (10%) and paraffin (7%). Only 3% of the schools usedelectricity for cooking. The over reliance on firewood for cooking is expected to havenegative environmental consequences in the study area. Electricity was the mostpopular source of energy for lighting (60%) followed by solar energy (27%) andparaffin (7%). These are expensive sources of energy. An investigation into forms oflow cost energy technologies as perceived by the respondents revealed energy savingstoves (87%), solar power (27%) and energy saving bulbs (10%). The reasons foradoption of these energy technologies was mainly high cost of other energy sourcesand need to conserve the environment. The challenges associated with the differenttypes of energy identified were; electricity (unreliability), firewood (scarcity),charcoal (scarcity) and solar power (high installation cost). The study found firewoodconsumption was on average 10 tonnes per school per term and that firewood hadbeen used for cooking for more than 13 years on average in all schools in the studyarea. The study found the Benefit cost ratio (BCR) of solar power at 1.19 and BCR offirewood at 0.19. The study concludes that there was over reliance on firewood forcooking and adoption of modern energy technologies like solar power was very lowwith adoption by only 27% of schools. The study recommends: (1) the national andcounty governments to come up with policies such as subsidies, grants and tax reliefthat will make these technologies affordable and accessible to schools for adoption,(2) establishment of school-based woodlots consisting of fast-growing tree varieties toaddress the school wood fuel demands instead of escalating the destruction and loss ofindigenous forest ecosystems in the area, (3) since solar power has a BCR greater than1, the study recommends that schools should consider installing more of solar powerto reduce huge energy bills and to reduce over dependency on firewood.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Factors influencing use of multipurpose trees and shrubs in arid and semiarid lands of Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2021-01) Kisangau, Patrick D.; Kimiti, Jacinta M.; Mburu, Mary W. K.; Snelder, Denyse J.
    Multipurpose trees and shrubs are vital components of arid and semiarid ecosystems. They offer both regulatory and production services, yet there is inadequate information on their actual use and factors affecting utilization of these plant resources. A study was carried out in three agroecological zones (counties) of southeastern Kenya: Machakos (subhumid zone), Kajiado (semiarid zone), and Kitui (arid zone). The research objective was to assess the local uses of multipurpose trees and shrubs and determine how socioeconomic factors (gender, type of occupation, and education level) influenced their use. A field survey was conducted along a 324-km transect across the three agroecological zones. Data were collected from 196 respondents using focus group discussions, key informants, and individual household questionnaires. A total of 86 plant species belonging to 47 plant families were recorded. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed that women significantly used a higher number of different plant species than men (P < 0.05). The level of education and type of occupation also significantly affected plant use (P < 0.05), with subsistence farmers having primary or no formal education, reporting the highest number of species. Fifteen plant-use categories comprising production and service provision were identified. Plant species use-value index (UVI) revealed 10 indigenous and wild woody species of high value in the study area. Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne had the highest UVI of 0.33, followed by Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. (0.17), Terminalia brownii Fres. (0.13), and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. (0.12). There was a significant positive correlation between the reporting frequency for woody species and the overall UVI (P < 0.05). Economic development, climate change, and land use changes jeopardize distribution, utilization, and knowledge preservation of multipurpose woody species. There is a need for monitoring and adoption of gender-sensitive strategies for their sustainable utilization in order to safeguard these unique plant resources from degradation and overexploitation.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Power Quality Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources Integration on MV Networks.
    (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, 2019-10-10) Itote, Francis; Irungu, George; Saulo, Michael
    The amount of energy harnessed from Renewable energy sources (RES) is constantly increasing. This rise can be attributed to technological advancement that has lowered generation costs, financing from governments and private sector, efficient payment plans (e.g. Pay As You Go), and need for clean energy. RES are either integrated into the local distribution grids or used as standalone/off grid solutions that facilitate easy energy access to meet the ever-increasing power requirements. Extensive studies on the behavior of power networks integrated with RES is therefore required so as to facilitate the changes that will be made on the current grid configuration. This study assessed the impact on the harmonics and flicker of distributed networks due to the integration of wind and solar energy sources. To achieve this, the IEEE-33 bus system was integrated with RES at selected locations and power quality and harmonic analysis performed using DigSILENT PowerFactory software. Results obtained indicate increased harmonic and flicker levels of distribution networks. The levels of harmonic distortion and flicker obtained were found to be reliant on the type, penetration level and installation patterns of RES.