UN-backed initiative funds Waste-to-Energy project for Kenya’s tea industry 

KENYA – Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS), a leading waste-to-energy innovator, has secured multimillion-pound funding under a United Nations initiative aimed at advancing industrial decarbonisation in Kenya’s tea sector.  

The funding was awarded through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) facility, with additional investment from the private sector. 

The three-year project will see CSS construct a 500KW MicroHub at a Kenyan tea factory in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Supivaa Advisory Group.  

The initiative seeks to provide a sustainable energy alternative, reduce carbon emissions from tea production, and address long-standing energy insecurity challenges in the industry. 

Kenya, one of the world’s largest tea exporters, generates approximately £1 billion in annual revenue from tea sales, with a significant portion of its high-quality produce reaching British markets.  

However, producers have historically struggled with an unreliable and costly electricity grid, forcing many to rely on diesel generators and firewood for heat. These traditional energy sources have driven up production costs while contributing to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Paul Willacy, CEO of Compact Syngas Solutions, highlighted the transformative potential of the project. “This United Nations funding is a game-changer for the Kenyan tea sector, which is under threat from an unstable and expensive power supply. Our MicroHub will provide a practical and efficient pathway for factories to decarbonise,” he said. 

At the core of the initiative is CSS’s gasification technology, which converts high-carbon biomass, including tea prunings, into syngas—a blend of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.  

This fuel alternative significantly reduces carbon emissions, saving up to 2.8 kilograms of CO₂ for every litre of diesel replaced and cutting emissions by up to 1.98 tonnes per tonne of firewood substituted. 

Each 500KW MicroHub is expected to create jobs for ten skilled technical and operational workers, with an additional ten positions in fabrication and support. Within five years, the initiative aims to generate approximately 300 jobs across Kenya. 

The project integrates digital monitoring tools to track biomass supply chains, carbon footprints, and energy efficiency. This ensures seamless synchronization with other power sources while optimizing heat recovery for tea processing. 

Supivaa-Co-REGEN will oversee site visits, engage stakeholders within the tea industry, and evaluate financial and environmental outcomes while ensuring gender-inclusive implementation.  

Meanwhile, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture will manage biomass sourcing, biochar application, and carbon credit registration. 

By demonstrating the effectiveness of gasification technology in an operational tea factory, the project aims to drive broader industry adoption.  

Following its success in Kenya, the initiative will be expanded to Malawi, Uganda, and South Africa before scaling globally. 

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