Germany-Kenya program builds sustainable flower trade through solar energy

KENYA – Europe remains the world’s top buyer of cut flowers, and Germany leads the pack with roses as a favorite.

One in five roses sold in the country comes from Kenya. To strengthen this trade while supporting climate-friendly solutions, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has partnered with a Kenyan flower farm through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs’ Energy Export Initiative.

Simbi Roses, located north-east of Nairobi, faced high electricity bills and regular power outages that slowed down watering and cooling operations.

Like many Kenyan farms, it relied on diesel generators that raised costs and harmed the environment. The company needed a cheaper and cleaner solution.

GIZ’s Project Development Programme connected Simbi Roses with Ecoligo, a German crowdfunding investment platform that installs photovoltaic systems. The farm signed a leasing deal for a fully serviced solar plant.

“Electricity costs in Kenya are among the highest in Africa. We wanted a reliable option that reduces costs and keeps our operations steady,” a representative from Simbi Roses said. Since installing the system, the farm reports energy savings of about 25 percent.

Ecoligo also sees strong value in the deal. “We look at commercial and industrial clients in markets where solar makes sense but upfront costs lock out many businesses. Leasing spreads this cost, making solar accessible,” the company noted.

Through the Project Development Programme, GIZ identifies energy needs across African businesses and matches them with German companies offering sustainable technology.

Since 2018, the initiative has supported 180 signed contracts across developing countries and started another 560 business connections. Collectively, these projects are expected to save 38 million tonnes of CO2.

“There is global demand for renewable energy solutions, and these partnerships give German firms a chance to expand while local companies gain stable and cheaper power,” GIZ said in a statement.

The program continues to support new links, with another 1,600 potential business relationships under review.

Logistics forum pushes for freight shift

The flower industry is also advancing on another front. At the recent Naivasha Horticulture Logistics Workshop, the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) led discussions on how growers can expand the use of sea freight supported by reefer rail transport.

“This is about more than air versus sea freight,” said KFC Chief Executive Clement Tulezi. “We must guarantee that our flowers, fruits, and vegetables reach global markets on time, in perfect condition, and at costs that keep Kenyan growers competitive.”

Exporters called for lower freight charges, faster customs processes, and stronger technology integration to support this shift.

Delegates also toured a flower farm and the Naivasha Inland Container Depot to see reefer rail operations in practice.

With energy savings at farms like Simbi Roses and new logistics efforts from KFC, Kenya’s flower sector continues to link sustainability with competitiveness in the global market.

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