National Economy
The population of the Republic of Kenya is approximately 55.94 million people[1]. In 2020, 71.4 % of the people in this East African country had access to electricity[2].
In 2021, Kenya’s economy was ranked 61st in gross domestic product (GDP) in the world[3]. The country’s economy is dependent on the export[4] of tea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, gold, and coffee.
Environment Policies
In 2011, Kenya passed the Least Cost Power Development Plan[5] with the goal of increasing renewable energy power generation by 2031.
In 2016, Kenya signed the Paris Climate Agreement[6], committing to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to a business as usual scenario.
In 2021, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) used renewable energy (89.2 %) and petroleum (10.8%) to generate electricity in the country[7]. Geothermal, hydropower, wind, and solar are the primary types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Kenya.
Recent renewable energy projects in Kenya include:
- 360 MW Geothermal Project – KenGen is continuing work on the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Menengai geothermal project at a site approximately 175 miles northwest of the nation’s capital, Nairobi.
- 100 MW Wind Project – In July 2021, South African power company, BTE Renewables commissioned the Kipeto wind project at a site approximately 50 miles south of Nairobi.
- 86 MW Geothermal Project – KenGen is continuing work on the 4th stage of the Olkaria geothermal project at a site approximately 40 miles northwest of Nairobi.
- 40 MW Solar Project – In April 2022, Spanish power company, Alten Renewable Energy commissioned the Kesses solar project at a site approximately 150 miles northwest of Nairobi.
- 5 MW Hydropower Project – Kenya’s National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority is continuing work on Koru-Soin hydropower project, which is located approximately 220 miles northwest of Nairobi. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
- 5 MW Solar Project – In December 2020, Kenyan company Marco Borero commissioned the Nyeri solar project at a site approximately 60 miles north of Nairobi.
- 69 MW Floating Solar Project – In March 2021, German renewable energy company, ecoligo GmbH commissioned a floating solar project at a site approximately 50 miles northwest of Nairobi.
Conclusions
Kenya has significant undeveloped geothermal, hydropower, wind, and solar energy potential. Unlike many countries, Kenya has made the development of renewable energy a national priority.
Kenya is on track to meet its Climate Paris Accord commitments and to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. Kenya is making clean, green electricity a reality.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
[1] Kenya Population (2022) – May 5, 2022, www.worldometers.info
[2] The World Bank Group, Access to Electricity (% of Population – Kenya
[3] Gross Domestic Product By Country 2021 – Worldometer
[4] The Observatory of Economic Complexity – Kenya
[5] International Energy Agency – Least Cost Power Development Plan 2011-2031, 29 August 2026
[6] Carbon Brief “Paris 2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”
[7] Our World In Data, Kenya: Energy Country Profile by Hanna Ritchie and Max Roser