Takatena
Taka (Swahili: Waste) Tena (Swahili: back/again)
Clean Energy for a Clean Kenya
We aim to solve Kenya's waste management and energy supply challenges through the innovative use of waste to create sustainable energy and products.
Waste Surplus and Energy Scarcity
Kenya has a surplus of landfills overflowing with waste and a deficit of electricity. At the same time, soil quality is decreasing rapidly while global warming makes crop security less reliable due to irregularity in rainfall. We want to play a part in solving each of these aspects.
Bringing carbon back into the ground
We transform organic waste into biochar to improve soil fertility and water retention, reducing methane emissions. This method efficiently utilizes waste, turning it into an asset for environmental and agricultural benefits. Our biochar integration fosters sustainable, resilient food systems, aiding in the creation of a healthier, greener future.
Closing the waste loop
The vast majority of waste collected in Kenya end up in dangerous landfills. With over 70% of the waste being organic, the result is a stinky mess that leaks methane right out in the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 30x more powerful compared to CO2 from a global warming perspective. Rather than considering it a problem, we try to look at the opportunity. By employing state of the art pyrolysis reactors based on age old technology, we convert waste into useful materials:
Biochar, a charcoal like material that has great implications for farm soil resilience in the fight against climate change
Syngas, a bio-gas used to power the entire plant
Bio-oils that can be used to power a generator and produce electricity
Wood vinegar, a by-product that can be easily refined into a bio-fertilizer.
As a cherry on the cake, the biochar stores three tons of CO2 per ton of biochar produced in a near permanent state. Not only do we get rid of the methane leakage in the process, we also help build a carbon sink by putting the carbon back into the ground.