Solar
Solar for Farms in Kenya: Irrigation, Dairy Cooling and Poultry
Short answer
Farms use power in the daytime for water pumping, milk chilling, feed milling and cold rooms, which suits solar well. Pumps can run directly on panels with a water tank, while chillers, incubators and lights usually need batteries or a hybrid system. Start with a list of loads and daily hours, then size the system around it.
Typical farm uses
| Use | Approach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Irrigation and borehole pumping | Solar pump with tank | Often no battery. See <a href="/blog/solar-water-pump-borehole-sizing-kenya/">pump sizing</a> |
| Milk cooling | Hybrid solar with battery or ice-bank | Chilling must be reliable |
| Poultry, brooders and incubators | Hybrid with battery and generator backup | Outages can be costly |
| Lighting and security | Solar lights and CCTV | Low power |
| Feed mill, welding | Larger system or generator support | High surge loads |
Planning
- List all loads and their hours of use.
- Separate daytime loads (solar-friendly) from night loads (need batteries).
- Decide what must never switch off.
- Check power quality and surge protection for motors and electronics.
- Plan for dust, rain and theft protection of the array.
Getting a quote
We design systems for farms and institutions. See solar energy and our guide to solar for businesses.
Common questions
Can solar run a milk cooler?
Yes, with correct sizing for the compressor load and a battery or grid support for evenings.
Is solar good for remote farms?
Yes. Off-grid and hybrid systems can supply power where the grid is absent or unreliable.
Do I still need a generator?
Often as backup for long cloudy periods or heavy loads, depending on the design.