Solar Energy

Kenya is situated around the equator and is therefore a Sunbelt country with solar irradiance varying from 4-6Kwh/m2/day depending on the location and time of the year. This demonstrates a high potential for solar energy in the country. However, the exploitation of this potential is still low. Estimates indicate that the energy generated by solar is about 9Gwh per year and this is expected to grow to 22Gwh per year by the year 2020.

About 200,000 households (only 1.2% of all households in Kenya) have installed solar home systems for lighting, charging mobile phones and powering television sets. This is mainly in rural areas where there is no access to electricity. The growth rate of the number of households installing solar home systems is estimated to be 20,000 households per annum.

With the creation of Rural Electrification Authourity (REA) to implement rural electrification programmes, use of solar energy is expected to increase from the current rates. Already, REA is targeting educational institutions and health facilities where electricity is not accessible.