Eden Exchange Program: Max's trip to GridX

I joined the GridX team in Nairobi for two weeks. GridX is Eden’s partner in Africa working across the continent.

After my 9-hour flight, I made my way to shared accommodation where I was welcomed by a couple of housemates, and, much to my joy, Malika, a 9 month flat coat labrador. Once I was settled, I had a day to navigate myself around the city before starting work.

After arriving at the office I was welcomed by the GridX team, as well as a troop of monkeys in the garden. My fascination with this everyday experience was very amusing for the team.

The work with the GridX team was a really interesting experience and considerably different to the day-to-day tasks I was used to with the UK team. The GridX projects mainly consisted of responding to customers’ approaches and requesting development proposals for solar and battery solutions that would be best suited to cover the energy consumption of their companies.

This allowed me to gain new experience in the modelling and sizing of hybrid solar developments for a range of organisations, all with very differing energy requirements. I worked on a variety of presentations and proposals to companies, demonstrating the type of project we could develop for them and illustrating the savings they could make.

Outside working hours I was kindly shown around by the GridX team and taken to local live music, sports bars, and restaurants. The sports bars were busy with friendly locals and were a fun place to watch the rugby World Cup (other than watching England lose to South Africa).

After my time with the GridX team, I took some time off to visit the Masai Mara and see an incredible range of wildlife. Thanks to our drivers Bandi and Jefferson we spotted lion cubs, leopards, and cheetahs. I also had the surreal experience of a night drive through fields full of hippos.

I finished at Lamu, a historic town on the coast, with incredible white sand beaches and an old town with many markets and beautiful architecture. I would like to thank the GridX time for their kind hospitality and an adventure that will not be forgotten.