Integrated Solar Water Desalination For Drinking, Irrigation, Fish Farming, and Waste Recycling

Project Year: 2023
The project is the result of a unique partnership between the aforementioned entities along German Investment Corporation (DEG), Business Scouts for Development program of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Kenya Ministry of Health, Turkana County Government, Turkana Ministry of Water and the Fisheries Department.

Project Objective
Lodwar County & Referral Hospital receives a solar water desalination system for its drinking, irrigation and sanitation system with capacity of 5000l/h. In addition, a vertical farm with capacity of 7200 plants, fish farm with 200 cbm in water volume and 4500 in fish capacity, plastic recycling machineries to treat over 100kg of plastic waste daily, 25cbm biogas system to tear organic waste of the hospital and provide gas to the kitchen, power to the plastic recycling facilities, and also release over 150 litres of organic fertiliser daily, are all playing significant role in the project.

Impact
The Lodwar County & Referral Hospital Project demonstrates significant social, environmental, and economic impact through its integrated sustainable infrastructure. The system delivers 60,000 litres of safe drinking water daily, improving access for around 150,000 people each year.

It enhances local food security with 2.8 tons of fish and 3 tons of vegetables per harvest, while advancing circular economy practices by recycling 100 kg of plastic and 150 kg of organic waste daily. These processes generate 10 m³ of biogas, 5 kWh of renewable electricity, and 150 litres of organic fertilizer each day.

Driven by a 34 kWp solar array, the project achieves an annual CO₂ offset of approximately 1,000 tons and fosters inclusive growth through the creation of 5 direct and 15 indirect jobs, underscoring its lasting community and environmental impact.