This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
Tracy Kimathi's journey into the world of solar energy began in 2017 while interning at an electrical company in Maasai Mara. There, she witnessed firsthand the impact of mini-grids on the lives of residents who had previously had no access to electricity.
Her experience sparked a desire to invest in energy generation, and she has since become one of the first African energy investors to be invited to the Global Grad Show in Dubai this November.
Tracy's 15KW project in Isiolo is currently in operation, and she is looking forward to exhibiting it at the Global Grad Show. She hopes to share ideas with other young innovators and showcase the potential of solar energy in rural communities.
Tracy's determination to make a difference in rural communities has been driven by her passion for sustainable development through solar energy. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Kenyatta University in 2017 and has since been studying issues related to environmental sustainability.
She has been an avid follower of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and has attended workshops and forums on environmental sustainability. It was during one of these workshops that she learned about the Micro Grid Academy, a programme funded by UNEP that offers technical and entrepreneurial training on renewable energy solutions.
Tracy spent eight weeks learning about mini-grids at the Micro Grid Academy and set up Tree_Sea.mals, an organisation that advocates for the use of environment-friendly sources of energy. She visited Telek in Masai Mara, where she saw the vast use of mini-grids, and was inspired to execute her plan of building mini-grids for communities with limited energy access.
Tracy's latest achievement did not happen by magic. It came as a result of unstinting work, a quest for perfection, and the determination to make a difference in rural communities. She has encountered several challenges in the course of her work, including funding and lack of mentorship, but she remains committed to her vision of providing electricity locally and enabling locals to make electricity work for them.
