State Of Renewable Energy In Kenya

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Kenya has an enormous potential for growth of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs). However, technological gaps continue to hinder the realisation of this vision, a baseline study has established. The study, which was commissioned by REREC, was undertaken by the Institute of Energy & Environmental Technology (IEET) of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) between the period from February and October 2021.The study, which was meant to establish the state, penetration and readiness levels of Renewable Energy Technologies in Kenya, established that electrical power generation potential along the Kenyan coast is 1.9 GW (16.5 TW/h per annum) of tidal waves power compared to the country’s installed capacity of 3.0 GW. Currently there are no installed tidal or wave energy technology systems in Kenya and the study recommends further research on this, including its utilization in rivers and the mapping of Tidal and wave energy resources.The study further recommends mainstreaming climate finance as part of resource mobilization for RETs, and the development and enforcement of an enabling environment that supports growth and investments in clean cooking; noting that this will enhance the country’s move towards Higher Tier cooking Technologies (HTTC) of tier 4 and Tier 5, by focusing on the development of cook stove economics. Development of a wind resource map with a horizontal spatial resolution of between 30m to 100m has also been recommended by the baseline study. Speaking during an online Validation workshop during which STATE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KENYA the study outcomes were shared with stakeholders, REREC’s CEO, CPA Peter Mbugua said that the Corporation will continue to support research that will further the advancement of Renewable Energy in the country. “Research in renewable energy is expected to promote use of renewable energy through resource assessment, study of latest & effective RE technologies and the study of adoption of RE technologies in the Kenyan market. It will also provide the current status of use of renewable energy resources in Kenya which will inform investors, researchers, policy makers and all stakeholders”, the CEO said.

Speaking in the same meeting, the Research and Innovation manager at REREC, Eng. Ephantus Kamweru noted the need for the sector to have consolidated and validated data on Renewable Energy Technologies, saying that this would help identify market gaps, address county specific needs, inform the government on the current state of RET and to also provide recommendations that shall inform RET’s policies and Regulations.

Mageta Island

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Situated on Lake Victoria in Bondo Constituency, this island boasts of rich history dating back to pre-colonial area. The reclusive island on the fresh water lake harbored detention camps used by the colonial administrators in the ‘60s to hold the so called African dissidents. Magenta Island on Lake Victoria is a beacon of peace and tranquillity, Mageta is home to a population of approximately eleven thousand residents, who main economic activities includes fishing, farming and cross border trade with neighbouring Uganda, which is a stone throw away. REREC, through a World Bank sponsored project dubbed Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP), is in the process of connecting Mageta to electricity. Th e Island currently has six (6) primary schools, four (4) market centers, 10 landing beaches each having a fishing banda, one health center, one secondary school, a police post and over fifty (50) churches, which are among the targeted beneficiaries of the project besides the households. Once complete, the project is expected to boost trade, with residents hoping to expand their fishing activities having investing in modern storage facilities having longer working hours and improved security conditions. Currently, most activities shut down as soon as the sun goes down, curtailing movement and trade in the otherwise active shores.

It’s strategic positioning not withstanding and once electrification is complete Mageta is expected to attract both local and international tourists, trade and industrial activities, with a net effect of employment opportunities in youth enterprises.

Energy Centers’ Staff To Join REREC

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142 employees from the Ministry of Energy (MoE) will join Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) on 1st July 2022. This follows the enactment of the Energy Act 2019 which transferred the Renewable Energy function from MoE to REREC and subsequent approval by the Public Service Commission (PSC) for the staff there in to transit to the later. The Corporation had previously issued transfer offer letters to the 156 employee’s at all 16 energy centers. The PSC however approved the transit of 142 employees. The 14 staff who did not meet the approval criteria will be retained at the MoE. PSC transit approval was for staff aged below 57 years by 01/07/2021. A team from REREC drawn from the technical committee on Energy Centre’s transfer is currently sensitizing energy center staff on these developments in preparation for the upcoming transition.  Following the legal dispensation surrounding the enactment of the energy act 2019. The activities in the energy centres are expected to grow exponentially. The 16 energy Centres are located in; Bukura, Busia, Garissa, Homa Bay, Jamhuri, Kericho, Kisii, Kitui, Lodwar, Marsabit, Migori, Mitunguu, Mirangine, Mtwapa, Wajir and Wambugu.

KOSAP Launch, Stakeholder Engagement & Exhibition

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Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) together with the Ministry of Energy have embarked on land acquisition to construct mini-grids under the World Bank-sponsored Kenya Off-grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP). The project, implemented through the Ministry of Energy, REREC, and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) aims to provide electricity to off-grid towns using solar mini-grids and supporting the use of clean cooking technology to drive the electrification of households, enterprises, community facilities, and water pumps. The launch, held in January 2022 at Babla Grounds, Kwale County, involved stakeholder engagement & exhibition of KOSAP component 2 products. KOSAP Component 2 supports the private sector by establishing sustainable supply chains for marketing and sales of solar home systems and clean cooking solutions. The Ministry of Energy, KPLC, and REREC will implement the facilities in 4 components over five (5) years (2018-2023): Component 1 US$40M: Mini-grids for community facilities, enterprises, and households Component 2 US$48M: Stand-alone solar systems and clean cooking solutions for households Component 3 US$40M: Stand-alone solar systems and solar water pumps for community facilities Component 4 US$22M: Implementation, support and capacity building KOSAP Projects are being implemented in the 14 Counties of Garissa, Isiolo, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Narok, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir, and West Pokot. These counties have been defined as “marginalized areas” by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). The 14 KOSAP Service Territories collectively represent 72 percent of the country’s total land area and 20 percent of the country’s population.

Over 3,000 Customers To Be Connected Through World Bank Partnership

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REREC is at an advanced stage of acquiring land for the construction and implementation of solar mini grids under the World Bank sponsored; Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP). The project aims at connecting 3,368 customers to electricity in areas that are far from the national grid. In compliance to the World Bank’s safeguard policy guidelines on land acquisition, REREC has already held public participation barazas to allocate land in all the seven proposed project sites to sensitize the beneficiary communities on the need to donate land for the solar mini grid projects and also identify communal projects that REREC could implement as a way of giving back. During the public Barazas, the team is expected to get consent for advance possession of the land, determine the adequacy of the land, and initiate a formal transfer of the project land to REREC while ensuring that the whole process complies with the safeguard policies of the Country and the Financier. On completion, the solar mini-grids will connect the following number of customers to electricity;

331               180           280     1395        502          280          400

Takawiri       Ngodhe    Kerio Mageta   Wasini/   Kaeris      Dabel

                                                                    Mkwiro

KEMP’s scope includes; ~ Design, Supply and Installation of 1175 kW AC (1410 kWp Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation Plants (SPGP) with Associated Power Distribution Network (PDN)

~ Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services of the facilities and reliable supply of power to the consumers for a period of 15 years in selected un-electrified areas in Kenya.

Energy Sector Reforms

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The Cabinet Secretary for Energy Amb. Dr. Monica K. Juma, (Oxon), EGH, said that the ongoing Energy sector reforms are irreversible and the government will not relent on the implementation. The CS, who was addressing the media at the Ministry of Energy Offices, noted that her current brief is to spearhead the reforms in the sector with a sharp focus on the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force Report on Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). The PPA Taskforce was appointed by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta on 29th March, 2021 against the backdrop of a sustained public outcry from consumers, businesses, and individuals, about the high cost of power, especially when compared to the cost of electricity in neighboring countries and peer economies. The Taskforce’s appointment was also a recognition and acknowledgment of the risk posed by comparatively high power prices to Kenya’s ambitions of becoming a globally competitive, newly industrialized, middle-income, and prosperous country by 2030. In her address, the CS said the reforms were sector-wide and far-reaching and are being implemented in the short to medium term. The reduction in tariffs constitutes one component of the overall reform envisaged. The CS revealed that 77 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have so far engaged with the Ministry of Energy in the ongoing effort to renegotiate power tariffs to scale down the cost of electricity in Kenya as promised by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta. She pointed out that this exercise is not limited to KPLC only, “We are also looking at the other Semi-Autonomous Agencies (SAGAs) in the Ministry to ensure alignment Energy Sector Reforms across the ecosystem. For instance, we are moving towards mandating agencies in a manner aligned to the value chain – from prospecting to generation, transmission and distribution”, said Dr. Juma. These reforms are aimed at ensuring that the sector responds to its constitutional mandate which is to provide clean, affordable, reliable, and accessible energy. The reforms, she said, will enhance Kenya’s leadership in the path of renewable energy globally. The CS further said that the government is developing a white paper that will guide the Energy Sector Policy onwards and warned that those who do not discharge their duties diligently and responsibly will be held accountable. White papers are policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future legislation.