On 2 December 2025, the Kenyan Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (MoECCF) and GIZ Proklima officially handed over 80 R290 split air-conditioning units to nine technical training institutions. The units are part of a total of 200 green split R290 ACs donated in 2025 to 28 training institutions and demonstration projects across Kenya under the GRACE Project.
The GRACE (Green Room Air Conditioning) Project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), and implemented by GIZ Proklima. It builds on previous green cooling initiatives to support Kenya’s transition towards sustainable cooling solutions, aligned with the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali Amendment, and national environmental regulations.
R290 air conditioners use propane, a natural refrigerant with low global warming potential, and are recognised for their energy efficiency and climate benefits compared to conventional synthetic refrigerants. The donated units are intended for both demonstration and hands-on training, supporting the education of students and technicians in environmentally friendly cooling technologies.
In addition to equipment donations, GIZ Proklima facilitated training sessions in January 2025 for RAC technicians on safe handling of R290 units. Further activities included the donation of tools to selected institutions, the delivery of 35 R290 AC units to three hospitals for demonstration purposes, and a training-of-trainers session involving 30 RAC trainers from Kenya and eight other African countries.
“These AC units will be used to train thousands of students and technicians on future cooling technologies, preparing Kenya for its HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment,” the organisers stated.