Renewable energy in Kenya
[15] Recently, environmentalists have been critical of extracting energy at Hell's Gate, a national park that has been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
[23] To accelerate the development of wind power, Kenya has reformed its legal and institutional frameworks through low feed-in tariffs, energy auctions, and net metering.
[26] The neglect of local land rights has led to displacement of indigenous communities and a persistent energy demand gap that remains unaddressed.
Companies such as M-Kopa offer pay-as-you-go plans to make solar power products more affordable and accessible to low-income households.
[36] In 2008, the Kenyan government introduced feed-in-tariffs (FIT) to attract private investments in electricity generation from renewable energy sources.
[38] Under the FIT system, investors of renewable energy are granted investment security and market stability for supplying electricity into the national grid.
[40] Through Power Africa, the United States has collaborated closely with Kenya's government ministries, energy utilities, private sector companies, and entrepreneurs to expand access to electricity across the country.
Specifically, the Power Africa Off-Grid Project works with solar home systems and mini grid companies to expand energy access to underserved communities and businesses.
[43] Kenya's economy is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dependency on rainfed agriculture, tourism, and hydroelectric energy generation.
[45] Titled, “Towards Ending Drought Emergencies (TWENDE),” the project seeks to strengthen the existing institutional framework for climate response and enhance the resilience of the agriculture sector in Kenya's arid lands.
[47] Support from key stakeholders, including the national government and development partners, are needed to ensure proper implementation of community-driven projects in response to climate adaptation.
[50] To do this, the Kenyan government launched the Kenya National Electrification Strategy in 2018 to provide off-grid options, mini-grids, and stand-alone solar systems to rural communities.
[51] In partnerships with the World Bank and other institutions, the project has supported government efforts to expand electricity access to Kenya's North and Northeastern counties through private-sector delivery of solar off-grid products.
The Prospectus is intended to help investors and financiers identify opportunities in power generation, transmission, distribution, and off-grid electrification to meet the expected supply as outlined in Kenya Vision 2030.
In such cases, families often rely on firewood and charcoal to meet their basic energy requirements, which are unreliable and could lead to indoor air pollution.
[9] Studies have shown that the low electrification rates in rural communities correlate with lower educational levels and poorer life expectancy.
To address the issue of energy poverty, the Kenya National Electrification Strategy has used a geospatial planning tool to identify the least cost technology options and the associated investments required for providing affordable and reliable electricity to low income remote populations.
[54] The high dependence on imported oil and wood biomass exerts significant strain on the remaining forests and accelerates the process of land degradation.
