Nairobi, Central
Kenya
Project Highlights -As a result of the project, 3 million Kenyans enjoy cooking with KOKO bioethanol Fuel, including ~30% of all homes in Nairobi. -By displacing demand for charcoal, KOKO's technology plays a crucial role in protecting existing tropical forests. -KOKO’s solution also leads to a major reduction in household air pollution, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases.
Methodology
Cookstoves that use renewable fuel sources produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional cooking methods. These projects are typically found in developing countries and promote: Health benefits resulting from reduced indoor air pollution. Time savings, especially for women, due to reduced cooking times. Economic benefits from households needing to purchase less fuel
Background
Charcoal and other solid biomass fuels are still used in 70 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa, killing more than 4 million people annually, causing misery and depleting forests, in turn reducing rainfall and further contributing to climate change. Starting in Kenya, KOKO is driving a national-scale energy transition from charcoal, to sustainably sourced and safe to use bioethanol cooking fuel.
To compete with charcoal on price and convenience, KOKO has built a vertically integrated business, from sourcing and transporting fuel, to last mile delivery with a dedicated fleet of MicroTankers. Across five cities in Kenya, KOKO has a rapidly expanding network of agents - convenience store owners - who have KOKO Fuel "ATMs", where consumers can top-up their smart-canisters with fuel. Thanks to its cashless system and its network of IoT sensors, KOKO is able to track usage and monitor for issues, in real-time right across the supply chain.