The fresh EEP S&EA Innovative Business Model publication features a rapidly growing biogas company SimGas. Currently operating in Kenya and Tanzania, SimGas manufactures, sells and installs domestic off-the-shelf biogas digester systems for rural farming households. Fed with water and manure from livestock, the digester produces both biogas for daily cooking, and fertilizer slurry which can be used to improve crop yields. A full GesiShamba package includes the digester, stove and other accessories as well as installation, piping, end-user training, 5 year service agreement and a warranty.
The benefits of SimGas digesters are reduced energy expenditures, increased farm revenues from improved yields and shift to clean energy from fossil fuels that cause health hazards, CO2 emissions and deforestation. The tailor-made financial solutions are based on an upfront payment combined with set monthly payments for a specified duration. Another innovation in the business model is the carbon credit programme, which enables customers to get a 200 USD discount through SimGas’ carbon credit sales.
SimGas’ growth has been supported by EEP S&EA at two different stages of project development. To date SimGas has sold more than 1,000 biogas systems and the expansion plans include establishing new SimGas hubs in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Read the SimGas Innovative Business Model and take a look at the other four previously published EEP IBMs.