Kenya is eyeing adoption of the latest global energy efficiency and saving technologies to fulfil its decarbonisation target of making its energy generation activities entirely ‘green’.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) says among measures taken to fast track this decarbonisation goal includes promotion of clean energy cooking, energy efficiency, electric mobility and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) technologies.
Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Global Energy Regulatory Energy Transition Accelerator (RETA), at the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) meeting in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo said Kenya plans to install its first 100MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) this year, with plans underway to expedite the development of an additional 250 MW BESS by 2026 as part of the World Bank-funded GREEN program.
“With every lapse of a thermal plant, the energy deficit is being met with the coming on board of new and green energy projects like the planned rehabilitation of Kenya’s oldest geothermal power plant, Olkaria 1. The power plant output will be increased from 45MW to 63MW,” said Kiptoo.
Kiptoo said Kenya has issued a raft of tax incentives to unlock the electric mobility sub-sector across all vehicle classes with priority being public service vehicles, two and three-wheelers that contribute up to 13pc of Kenya’s greenhouse gas emissions.
As of June 2024, Kenya’s total installed capacity of renewable energy sources as was at 2,859.4 MW, accounting for 80.04pc of Kenya’s total installed capacity, according to Kiptoo.
This consists of 2,427.1MW of interconnected renewable energy capacity and 427.7MW of captive renewable energy capacity and this is expected to keep growing based on measures being put in place.
RETA brings together 60 regulatory authorities globally with Africa being represented by Kenya and Cameroon.
