Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has rolled out a smart energy monitoring system at its tea factories to enhance efficiency and optimise energy use.
The system is currently being piloted at Itumbe and Kiru tea factories by KTDA Foundation in collaboration with the German Development Agency (GIZ).
It will enable factories track their energy consumption electronically, generate data on key metrics such as the amount of biomass used in tea production and the amount of steam being generated by factories.
It will also measure pressure and save the data online for access by the management of the factories, allowing them to make decisions on the operations.
The system also issues comprehensive reports outlining recommendations to minimise energy inefficiencies and achieve peak operational effectiveness.
A standout feature of the system is the real-time quantification of energy use per energy source at the factory processing stage, which facilitates swift decision-making and interventions.
Speaking while assessing the programme at the Kiru tea factory, KTDA Foundation general manager Sudi Matara, said the agency wants to leverage on energy-efficient systems to reduce operation costs and cut carbon emissions to lessen climate change.
“We are here to launch the Smart Energy Management System programme that will help us address energy-related costs. If we are able to manage our costs, then that is a gain to the farmer,” said Matara.
The system is the first of its kind to be deployed in tea factories to manage operational costs through energy efficiency and automation.
Kiru Tea Factory chairman Chege Kirundi, said they are delighted to participate in the pilot phase and are looking forward to the energy savings accruing from the scheme.
