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((More citations needed|date=March 2019))
[[File:Olkaria V Geothermal Power Station.jpg|alt=Olkaria V Geothermal Power Station located within Hell's Gate National Park|thumb|upright=1.3|Olkaria V Geothermal Power Station]]
Most of Kenya's electricity is generated by renewable energy sources.<ref>((Cite web |last=International Trade Administration |first=International Trade Administration |date=2022-08-19 |title=Energy-Electrical Power Systems |url=https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/kenya-energy-electrical-power-systems#:~:text=Renewable%20Sources%3A%20Over%2080%25%20of,capacity%20of%20less%20than%20863MW. |access-date=October 11, 2022 |website=trade.gov))</ref> Access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is one of the 17 main goals of the United Nations’ [[Sustainable Development Goals]].<ref>((Cite web |last=Martin |title=Energy |url=https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=United Nations Sustainable Development |language=en-US))</ref> Development of the energy sector is also critical to help Kenya achieve the goals in [[Kenya Vision 2030]] to become a newly industrializing, middle-income country.  With an installed power capacity of 2,819 MW, [[Kenya]] currently generates 826 MW hydroelectric power, 828 geothermal power, 749 MW thermal power, 331 MW wind power, and the rest from solar and biomass sources.<ref>((Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=Power Africa in Kenya ((!)) Power Africa ((!)) U.S. Agency for International Development |url=https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/kenya |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.usaid.gov |language=en))</ref> Kenya is the largest geothermal energy producer in Africa and also has the largest wind farm on the continent ([[Lake Turkana Wind Power Station|Lake Turkana Wind Power Project]]).<ref>((Cite web |date=2018-12-06 |title=Kenya the largest geothermal energy producer in Africa starts construction of new plant |url=https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/kenya/kenya-the-largest-geothermal-energy-producer-in-africa-starts-construction-of-new-plant/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Construction Review Online |language=en-us))</ref><ref>((Cite web |title=The largest wind power plant in Africa has opened in Kenya |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/07/wind-power-project-opens-in-kenya/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=World Economic Forum |date=26 July 2019 |language=en))</ref> In March 2011, Kenya opened Africa's first carbon exchange to promote investments in renewable energy projects.<ref>((cite news |last=Gachenge |first=Beatrice |date=24 March 2011 |title=Kenya opens Africa's first carbon exchange |website=reuters.com |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-carbonexchange-idUSTRE72N4NL20110324 |access-date=13 April 2018))</ref> Kenya has also been selected as a pilot country under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programmes in Low Income Countries Programme to increase deployment of renewable energy solutions in low-income countries.<ref>((Cite web |title=Africa Energy Futures: Kenya ((!)) ((!)) Insights ((!)) DLA Piper Global Law Firm |url=https://www.dlapiper.com/en/africa/insights/publications/2021/11/africa-energy-futures/africa-energy-futures-kenya/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=DLA Piper |language=en))</ref> Despite significant strides in renewable energy development, about a quarter of the Kenyan population still lacks access to electricity, necessitating policy changes to diversify the energy generation mix and promote public-private partnerships for financing renewable energy projects.<ref>((Cite web |title=Kenya - Electrical Power Systems ((!)) Privacy Shield |url=https://www.privacyshield.gov/article?id=Kenya-electrical-power-systems |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.privacyshield.gov |language=en))</ref><ref name=":2"/>

==Renewable energy sources==
[[File:Worker in Olkaria Kenya.jpg|thumb|250px |Worker at [[Olkaria II Geothermal Power Plant|Olkaria Geothermal Plant]]]]
((main|Geothermal power in Kenya))

=== Geothermal ===
Kenya is the eighth largest [[geothermal power]] producer in the world and the largest geothermal producer in Africa.<ref>((Cite web|title=Geothermal Association of Kenya – Geothermal Association of Kenya|url=https://gak.co.ke/|access-date=2021-04-23|language=en-US))</ref><ref>((Cite web |date=2020-10-12 |title=KENYA: Construction of the Menengai geothermal power plant is completed |url=https://www.afrik21.africa/en/kenya-construction-of-the-menengai-geothermal-power-plant-is-completed/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Afrik 21 |language=en-US))</ref> It was one of the first countries in [[Sub-Saharan Africa|Sub-Sahara Africa]] to exploit geothermal power on a significant scale. Exploration of geothermal resources in the Kenyan Rift Valley started in the 1950s and gained momentum in the 1960s. In 1970, the [[United Nations Development Programme]] and the [[Kenya Power and Lighting Company]] conducted geological explorations in the Kenya Rift and identified Olkaria as the best candidate for exploratory drilling.<ref name=":0">((Cite journal |last=Mwangi |first=Martin N. |date=November 20–22, 2008 |title=Financing Geothermal Projects |journal=United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme))</ref> This led to the construction of the [[Olkaria I Geothermal Power Station|Olkaria Geothermal Power Station]], the first geothermal power plant in Africa.<ref>((Cite web |title=Geothermal |url=https://www.kengen.co.ke/index.php/business/power-generation/geothermal.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.kengen.co.ke))</ref> With over 300 wells sunk to date, Kenya derives nearly half of its energy (47%) from geothermal plants, a proportion greater than any other nation.<ref>((Cite news|last=Yee|first=Amy|date=2018-02-23|title=Geothermal Energy Grows in Kenya|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/business/geothermal-energy-grows-in-kenya.html|access-date=2021-04-23|issn=0362-4331))</ref><ref name=":0" /> However, the high costs and high risks of field development pose significant barriers for private sector financing. Lack of technical expertise and poor governance structures also limit the development of geothermal energy.<ref>((cite report|url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11864576_05.pdf|title=Chapter 8 The Barriers of Geothermal Development and Necessity of Government Support|publisher=[[Japan International Cooperation Agency]]))</ref> Recently, environmentalists have been critical of extracting energy at [[Hell's Gate National Park|Hell's Gate]], a national park that has been designated as a [[UNESCO]] world heritage site.<ref>((Cite news |last=Yee |first=Amy |date=2018-02-23 |title=Geothermal Energy Grows in Kenya |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/business/geothermal-energy-grows-in-kenya.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |issn=0362-4331))</ref> This warrants further considerations for the local wildlife and underground water supply when drilling steam walls for geothermal energy.

The [[Geothermal Development Company]](GDC), a semi-autonomous government agency, is tasked with developing steam fields and selling geothermal steam for electricity generation to [[Kenya Electricity Generating Company]] (KenGen) and Independent Power Producers. The Geothermal Development Company drilled 59 wells in the [[Olkaria]] I to Olkaria IV projects between 2009 - 2010.<ref>((Cite web|title=Geothermal Development Company|url=https://www.gdc.co.ke/olkaria.html|access-date=2021-04-23|website=www.gdc.co.ke))</ref> The [[Rift valley|Rift Valley]] has an estimated geothermal potential of 15,000 MW using today's technology.<ref>((Cite journal|date=29 October 2010|title=Overview of Geothermal Resource Utilization in the East African Rift System|url=https://rise.esmap.org/data/files/library/kenya/Renewable%20Energy/RE%209.2%20Omenda%20Teklemariam%202010%20Overview%20of%20Geothermal%20Resource%20Utilization%20in%20the%20East%20African%20Rift%20System.pdf|journal=Short Course V on Exploration for Geothermal Resources|pages=organized by UNU-GTP, GDC and KenGen, at Lake Bogoria and Lake Naivasha, Kenya))</ref>

=== Hydropower ===
((main|List of hydroelectric power stations in Kenya))

Hydropower accounts for 36% of Kenya's renewable energy mix.<ref>((Cite journal |title=Economic Survey 2021 |url=https://www.knbs.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Economic-Survey-2021.pdf |journal=Kenya National Bureau of Statistics))</ref> Much of the hydroelectric power of Kenya is derived from the Tana River. The Seven Forks Hydro Stations are five stations situated along the lower part of the Tana River: [[Masinga Power Station]], [[Gitaru Power Station]], [[Kamburu Power Station]], [[Kindaruma Power Station]], and the [[Kiambere Power Station]]. Several small hydropower plants have also been established as stand-alone systems for supplying power to remote areas.<ref>((Cite journal |last=Mbaka |first=John G |date=Fall 2016 |title=Small Hydro-power Plants in Kenya: A Review of Status, Challenges and Future Prospects |url=https://www.jree.ir/article_70096_c8340df86da3b404058360253252594f.pdf |journal=Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=20–26))</ref> Although the Kenyan government has historically relied on hydropower for electricity generation, climate change has impacted the reliance on hydropower by influencing patterns of rainfall and temperature, leadings to periods of floods and droughts.<ref>((Cite journal |last=Berggren |first=Anna |title=Kenya meeting the electricity demand of 2030 |url=http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1201920/FULLTEXT01.pdf |journal=KTH School of Industrial Engineering and Management Energy Technology))</ref> The Kenyan government is strongly pushing for a shift to other alternative sources of electricity generation. By 2030, hydropower will only account for 5% of total capacity.<ref name="iaea.org">((cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.iaea.org/nuclearenergy/nuclearknowledge/schools/NEM-school/2012/Japan/PDFs/week2/CR6_Kenya.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613001823/http://www.iaea.org/nuclearenergy/nuclearknowledge/schools/NEM-school/2012/Japan/PDFs/week2/CR6_Kenya.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-13 |access-date=2013-08-04))</ref> Considerations also have to be taken to not endanger access to clean drinking water when expanding the energy system.

=== Wind power ===
((main|Wind power in Kenya))

Since the beginning of the 19th century, wind energy has been used for domestic water pumping and irrigation in Kenya.<ref>((Citation |last=Oludhe |first=Christopher |title=Chapter 10 - Renewable Energy Resources in Kenya |date=2013-01-01 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444595591000104 |work=Developments in Earth Surface Processes |volume=16 |pages=115–122 |editor-last=Paron |editor-first=Paolo |series=Kenya: A Natural Outlook |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/B978-0-444-59559-1.00010-4 |isbn=9780444595591 |language=en |access-date=2022-03-25 |editor2-last=Olago |editor2-first=Daniel Ochieng |editor3-last=Omuto |editor3-first=Christian Thine))</ref> 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.<ref>((Cite journal |last=Kazimierczuk |first=Agnieszka H. |date=2019-06-01 |title=Wind energy in Kenya: A status and policy framework review |journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews |language=en |volume=107 |pages=434–445 |doi=10.1016/j.rser.2018.12.061 |s2cid=115528339 |issn=1364-0321|doi-access=free |hdl=1887/70560 |hdl-access=free ))</ref> Recently, Kenya launched the [[Lake Turkana Wind Power Station|Lake Turkana Wind Power Project]], the largest wind power project in Africa and Kenya's largest public-private investment in history. The wind farm consists of 365 turbines with the capacity to generate 310 MW to Kenya's national grid. However, the project has also been accused of infringing on the rights of Rendille, Samburu, and Turkana communities living on the concession land.<ref>((Cite web |last=Cormack |first=Zoe |title=How Kenya's mega wind power project is hurting communities |url=http://theconversation.com/how-kenyas-mega-wind-power-project-is-hurting-communities-122061 |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=The Conversation |date=3 September 2019 |language=en))</ref> Tensions ensue as villages were forced to be relocated and residents struggle to secure employment with competition from all over the country. Moreover, because the communities surrounding the [[Marsabit County]] are not connected to the national grid, residents themselves will not receive the energy produced by the project.<ref>((Cite web |title=The cost of ignoring human rights and Indigenous Peoples - IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs |url=https://www.iwgia.org/en/news/4562-the-cost-of-ignoring-human-rights-and-indigenous-peoples.html |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=www.iwgia.org))</ref> The neglect of local land rights has led to displacement of indigenous communities and a persistent energy demand gap that remains unaddressed.

=== Solar power ===
[[File:Kenya GHI mid-size-map 156x220mm-300dpi v20191015.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Solar irradiance|Solar potential]] of Kenya]]Kenya has one of the highest household solar ownership rate in the world.<ref name="Jacobson 144–162">((Cite journal |last=Jacobson |first=Arne |date=2007-01-01 |title=Connective Power: Solar Electrification and Social Change in Kenya |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X06001860 |journal=World Development |language=en |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=144–162 |doi=10.1016/j.worlddev.2006.10.001 |issn=0305-750X))</ref> More Kenyans are turning to [[solar power]] due to relatively high connectivity costs to the grid and the abundance of solar power in Kenya.<ref>((cite web |title=Definitive Solar |url=http://www.definitivesolar.com/_documents/ShiningLight_DevelopingCountries.pdf |access-date=13 April 2018 |website=Definitivesolar.com))</ref> Solar photovoltaic systems are particularly prevalent among rural households with limited access to grid electricity.<ref name="Jacobson 144–162"/> They are sold to users in Kenya through a competitive free market network and are commonly used for solar water pumping, solar irrigation, and cold storage. More factories are installing solar panels on their rooftops to counter against the high cost and instability of grid electricity. Under the [[Value-added tax|Value Added Tax]] (VAT) Act 2013, the VAT Amendment Act 2014, and the Finance Act 2018, the Kenyan government agreed to remove import duty and zero-rated VAT for renewable energy equipment and accessories.<ref>((Cite web |last=USAID |date=October 2019 |title=Off-Grid Solar Market Assessment Kenya |url=https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/PAOP-Kenya-MarketAssessment-Final_508.pdf))</ref>

To achieve the renewable energy goals set forth in “[[Kenya Vision 2030|Vision 2030]],” the Kenyan government has launched several solar energy projects, of which the [[Garissa Solar Power Station|Garissa Solar Power Plant]] has substantially reduced energy costs in Kenya and has become the largest solar power plant in East and Central Africa. Several other solar power stations that are operational or under construction include: [[Rumuruti Solar Power Station|Rumuruti]] (40 MW), [[Radiant Solar Power Station|Radiant]] (40 MW), [[Eldosol Solar Power Station|Eldosol]] (40 MW), [[Alten Solar Power Station|Alten]] (40 MW), [[Kenyatta University Solar Power Station|Kenyatta University]] (10 MW), [[Malindi Solar Power Station|Malindi]] (52 MW), and [[Kopere Solar Power Station|Kopere]] (50 MW). Companies such as [[M-Kopa]] offer pay-as-you-go plans to make solar power products more affordable and accessible to low-income households.<ref>((Cite web |last=Shapshak |first=Toby |title=How Kenya's M-Kopa Brings Prepaid Solar Power To Rural Africa |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tobyshapshak/2016/01/28/how-kenyas-m-kopa-brings-prepaid-solar-power-to-rural-africa/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Forbes |language=en))</ref> Furthermore, the [[World Bank]] and [[International Finance Corporation|International Finance Corporation (IFC)]] have partnered as part of a Lighting Africa initiative.<ref>((Cite web |title=About Us ((!)) Lighting Africa |url=https://www.lightingafrica.org/about-us/ |access-date=2016-07-26 |website=Lightingafrica.org))</ref> Western companies have also helped sponsor efforts to introduce decentralized solar power solutions in the country.<ref>((Cite web |date=6 February 2015 |title=Orb Energy Secures Funding to Replicate Indian Business Model in Kenya ((!)) Lighting Africa |url=https://www.lightingafrica.org/orb-energy-secures-funding-to-replicate-indian-business-model-in-kenya/ |access-date=2016-07-26 |website=Lightingafrica.org))</ref><ref>((Cite web |date=2013-06-04 |title=Why Coke Is Bringing Solar Power To Rural Kenya |url=http://www.fastcoexist.com/1682126/why-coke-is-bringing-solar-power-to-rural-kenya |access-date=2016-06-04 |website=Co.Exist |language=en-US))</ref> These efforts have made Kenya a global leader in the number of solar power systems installed per capita.

== Regulatory and economic policies ==
Beginning in the mid-1990s, Kenya embarked on a series of structural and regulatory reforms in its energy sector. The Electric Power Act of 1997 granted the [[Kenya Electricity Generating Company|Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen)]] the responsibility of power generation and the [[Kenya Power and Lighting Company|Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)]] the responsibility for power transmission and distribution.<ref>((Cite web |title=State of Electricity Reforms in Kenya |url=https://cuts-nairobi.org/pdf/Country_Base_Paper-State_of_Electricity_Reforms_in_Kenya.pdf))</ref> The Act also established the Electricity Regulatory Board to determine consumer tariffs and promote competition.<ref>((Cite web |last=Onyango |first=Christopher H. |date=July 2013 |title=Regulatory and Competition– Related Reforms in Kenya's Power and Petroleum Sectors |url=https://media.africaportal.org/documents/tapolicybrief18_onyango1.pdf))</ref> Later, the Energy Act of 2006 established the Energy Regulatory Commission as the single regulatory agency responsible for regulating the economic and technical aspects of the energy sector. Most recently, President [[Uhuru Kenyatta]] passed the Energy Act 2019 to consolidate laws relating to energy and establish the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority in place of the Energy Regulatory Commission.<ref>((Cite journal |last=Twesigye |first=Peter |date=2022-02-22 |title=Understanding Structural, Governance and Regulatory Incentives for Improved Utility Performance: The Case of Kenya and its Kenya Power |url=https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202202.0269/v1 |language=en |doi=10.20944/preprints202202.0269.v1 |doi-access=free ))</ref>

In 2008, the Kenyan government introduced feed-in-tariffs (FIT) to attract private investments in electricity generation from renewable energy sources.<ref>((Cite web |title=Revised Feed-in-Tariffs for Renewable Energy – Policies |url=https://www.iea.org/policies/4957-revised-feed-in-tariffs-for-renewable-energy |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=IEA |language=en-GB))</ref> The first iteration of this policy, however, was only limited to wind, hydropower, and biomass generated electricity. In 2010, the policy was revised which added new tariffs for geothermal, solar, and [[biogas]] generated electricity.<ref name="sciencedirect.com">((Cite journal |last1=Ndiritu |first1=S. Wagura |last2=Engola |first2=Monica Katungi |date=2020-12-01 |title=The effectiveness of feed-in-tariff policy in promoting power generation from renewable energy in Kenya |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148120311587 |journal=Renewable Energy |language=en |volume=161 |pages=593–605 |doi=10.1016/j.renene.2020.07.082 |s2cid=224887572 |issn=0960-1481))</ref> Under the FIT system, investors of renewable energy are granted investment security and market stability for supplying electricity into the national grid. Although FIT policies were adopted to diversify power sources, generate income, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, there has been a significant delay in the deployment of renewable energy projects due to the lack of technical expertise and the inefficiencies in policy implementation.<ref name="sciencedirect.com"/>

== Foreign investment ==

=== Power Africa ===
Kenya is a beneficiary of the Power Africa movement, a partnership with the [[United States Agency for International Development|United States Agency for International Development (USAID)]] to increase access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.<ref>((Cite web |date=2021-10-05 |title=About Us ((!)) Power Africa ((!)) U.S. Agency for International Development |url=https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/aboutus |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.usaid.gov |language=en))</ref> The movement has supported various renewable energy projects in Kenya, including the [[Kipeto Wind Power Station|Kipeto Wind Farm]], the Garden City Mall Solar System, and the [[Lake Turkana Wind Power Station|Lake Turkana Wind Power project]].<ref>((Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=Power Africa in Kenya ((!)) Power Africa ((!)) U.S. Agency for International Development |url=https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/kenya |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.usaid.gov |language=en))</ref> 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.<ref>((Cite web |title=Power Africa Off Grid Program Fact Sheet 2022 |url=https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Power_Africa_Off-Grid_fact_sheet.pdf))</ref> As land-related issues have traditionally been the biggest source of community grievances against development projects, discussions have been centered on community engagement to ensure transparency in the land acquisition process and foster mutually beneficial relationships between the developer and the community.<ref>((Cite web |date=2018-01-24 |title=Guide to Community Engagement for Power Projects in Kenya |url=https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1860/guide-community-engagement-power-projects-kenya |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.usaid.gov |language=en))</ref>

=== Green Climate Fund ===
Established in 2010, the [[Green Climate Fund]] is the world's largest climate fund that supports developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their ability to respond to climate change.<ref>((Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=2017-11-10 |title=Green Climate Fund |url=http://www.unep.org/about-un-environment/funding-and-partnerships/green-climate-fund |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=UNEP - UN Environment Programme |language=en))</ref> Kenya's economy is highly [[Climate change vulnerability|vulnerable to climate change]] due to its dependency on rainfed agriculture, tourism, and hydroelectric energy generation.<ref>((Cite web |title=USAID Kenya Climate Change Fact Sheet |url=https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Kenya_Climate_Change_Country_Fact_Sheet.pdf))</ref> Recently, Kenya has launched a five-year, multi-million project under the Green Climate Fund to tackle the effects of climate change on the local water supply and the country's national economy.<ref>((Cite web |date=2021-03-02 |title=Kenya launches $34 million project to tackle effects of climate change |url=https://www.iucn.org/news/eastern-and-southern-africa/202103/kenya-launches-34-million-project-tackle-effects-climate-change |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=IUCN |language=en))</ref> 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.<ref>((Cite web |date=2022-02-17 |title=Towards Ending Drought Emergencies (TWENDE) |url=https://www.iucn.org/regions/eastern-and-southern-africa/our-work/drylands-resilience-land-management/towards-ending-drought-emergencies-twende |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=IUCN |language=en))</ref> Although these efforts to support climate mitigation and adaption are well-intentioned, concerns exist over whether Kenya has put in place adequate mechanisms to tap into the Green Climate Fund in its fight against climate changed-related effects.<ref>((Cite web |title=Is Kenya Ready for the Green Climate Fund allocations in 2020? |url=https://www.adaconsortium.org/index.php/our-approach/achievements/95-blogs/112-is-kenya-ready-for-the-green-climate-fund-allocations-in-2020 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.adaconsortium.org))</ref> 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 change adaptation|climate adaptation]].

== Future targets ==
[[File:Vision2030 logo.svg|thumb|The official logo of Kenya Vision 2030]]
The development of new and renewable sources of energy is one of the key projects in [[Kenya Vision 2030]], a program launched by the former late [[Mwai Kibaki|President Mwai Kibaki]] to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country.<ref>((Cite web |title=Development of New and Renewable Sources of Energy ((!)) Kenya Vision 2030 |url=https://vision2030.go.ke/project/development-of-new-and-renewable-sources-of-energy/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |language=en-US))</ref> Over the past decade, Kenya has expanded its access to electricity from below 30% to over 75%.<ref>((Cite web |date=November 2, 2021 |title=Kenya To Fully Transition To Clean Energy By 2030, President Kenyatta Says |url=https://www.president.go.ke/2021/11/02/kenya-to-fully-transition-to-clean-energy-by-2030-president-kenyatta-says/))</ref> In line with [[Sustainable Development Goal 7]], Kenya aims to achieve universal access to sustainable energy to all, double the global rate of energy efficiency, and double the global share of renewable energy mix by 2030.<ref>((Cite web |title=Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) |url=https://www.seforall.org/sustainable-development-goal-7-sdg7 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Sustainable Energy for All ((!)) SEforALL |language=en))</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">((Cite web |title=Kenya National Electrification Strategy: Key Highlights |url=https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/413001554284496731/Kenya-National-Electrification-Strategy-KNES-Key-Highlights-2018.pdf))</ref> 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.<ref>((Cite web |date=2018-12-21 |title=Off-Grid Energy Has Key Role in Kenya's New Electrification Strategy |url=https://www.lightingafrica.org/off-grid-energy-has-key-role-in-kenyas-new-electrification-strategy/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Lighting Africa |language=en-US))</ref> Similarly, the Kenyan government also launched the Investment Prospectus to attract investments in the country's energy sector. 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.

== Challenges ==

=== Energy poverty ===
Energy poverty is a persistent problem in Kenya, particularly in rural communities. Only 40 percent of Kenya's population has access to reliable electricity.<ref>((Cite news |last=Yee |first=Amy |date=2018-02-23 |title=Geothermal Energy Grows in Kenya |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/business/geothermal-energy-grows-in-kenya.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |issn=0362-4331))</ref> Despite the government's effort to subsidize electricity connections, many households are located far from the national grid, where it would not be economically viable to extend electricity. 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.<ref name=":2">((Cite journal |last1=Njiru |first1=Christine W. |last2=Letema |first2=Sammy C. |date=2018-11-14 |title=Energy Poverty and Its Implication on Standard of Living in Kirinyaga, Kenya |journal=Journal of Energy |language=en |volume=2018 |pages=e3196567 |doi=10.1155/2018/3196567 |issn=2356-735X|doi-access=free ))</ref> Studies have shown that the low electrification rates in rural communities correlate with lower educational levels and poorer life expectancy.<ref name=":2" /> Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of providing access to modern energy services to improve living standards. 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.<ref name=":1" /> In particular, pay-as-you-go photovoltaic systems have been quite successful in locations where grid extension is not viable. The main challenge is to achieve the scale needed for this delivery strategy to be financially sustainable.

=== Underexploited renewable energy potential ===
Another challenge with renewable energy in Kenya is that a substantial proportion of renewable energy resources are unexploited. Although the majority of Kenya's electricity power mix is derived from renewable sources, Kenya harnesses only about 30% of its hydropower sources, 4% of its geothermal resources, and a much smaller proportion of its wind and solar power potentials.<ref>((Cite journal |last1=Kiplagat |first1=J. K. |last2=Wang |first2=R. Z. |last3=Li |first3=T. X. |date=2011-08-01 |title=Renewable energy in Kenya: Resource potential and status of exploitation |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032111001262 |journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews |language=en |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=2960–2973 |doi=10.1016/j.rser.2011.03.023 |issn=1364-0321))</ref> The high dependence on imported oil and wood biomass exerts significant strain on the remaining forests and accelerates the process of land degradation. In addition, the demand for electricity is outstripping the installed generation capacity, and additional incentives are needed to attract private investors to invest in renewable energy projects in Kenya.

==See also==
((Portal|Renewable energy|Kenya))
*[[Energy in Kenya]]
*[[List of countries by renewable electricity production]]
*[[Wind power in Kenya]]
*[[Geothermal power in Kenya]]
*[[Renewable energy by country]]

==References==
((Reflist))

==External links==
((commons category))
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130901014608/http://www.renewableenergy.go.ke/ Renewable Energy Portal (Kenya)]
* [http://www.energy.go.ke/ Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (Kenya)]
* [http://www.erc.go.ke/ Energy Regulatory Commission (Kenya)]
* [http://www.gdc.co.ke/ Geothermal Development Company (Kenya)]
* [http://www.kplc.co.ke/ Kenya Power]
* [http://www.kengen.co.ke/ KenGen]

((Renewable energy by country))
((Africa topic|Renewable energy in))

((DEFAULTSORT:Renewable Energy In Kenya))
[[Category:Renewable energy in Kenya| ]]
[[Category:Economy of Kenya| ]]
[[Category:Electric power in Kenya|Kenya]]

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