Field of steam: How Kenya has become a geothermal superpower
Kenya is a global superpower of the flower trade, and Oserian, one of the largest fair-trade flower farms in the country, is a major reason why.
The company's 200-hectare site on Lake Naivasha produces 700,000 flowers each day, which are exported across the world.
Oserian is also leading change in the country's energy sector, by running its operation largely on geothermal power. The company pipes steam from the ground to heat a water recirculation system that maintains its mighty greenhouses.
"Before we had the geothermal power we had to have a lot of backup generators and we were using a lot of diesel," says Alasdair Keith, Engineering Manager of the Oserian Development Company. "Our electrical savings are probably $750,000 a year compared to before."
Until recently, Kenya has largely relied on hydroelectric power, which has proved fallible under strain such as during drought.
Looking underground could provide a more reliable alternative.
photo credit: soho42