NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 10 – Some 86 percent of electricity generated in Kenya now comes from renewable energy sources following increased investment in the sector, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said in an annual report released Monday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
The industry regulator noted that the country generates more than 12,652.74 gigawatts hours (GWh) of electricity annually, with the bulk from geothermal and hydroelectric sources and contributions from wind and solar energy fast-rising.
“As a result of investments made in developing the renewable energy sub-sector, 86.98 percent of the energy generated in Kenya is obtained from renewable energy sources,” said EPRA’s Director-General Daniel Kiptoo in the report for the financial year ending 2022.
Electricity demand in Kenya has been steadily rising in recent years with peak demand increasing 3.1 percent on average each year to over 2,000 MW. Kiptoo observed economic recovery from COVID-19 disruption has helped push up demand for electricity in the East African nation.
Geothermal, which is mainly produced by state-owned firm Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), accounts for a major portion of the power generated while hydroelectric as well as solar and wind energy are critical for the stability of the grid.
The rest of the power comes from thermal sources. Kenya ranks first in Africa and seventh in the world in installed geothermal power generating capacity.
