Page 4 - Solar PV for Enhancing Electricity Access in Kenya: What Policies are Required?
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Policy Brief
systems. The three different classes recognized are be taken up with policymakers at both the country and
Class T1: for single PV module or single battery DC national levels. Experts representing industry, policy
system of up to 100 Wp; Class T2: for medium size researchers, academics, NGOs, financing institutes,
PV systems, that is, multiple modules of up to 300 Wp etc., attended the stakeholders’ workshop so as to
or multiple batteries that may include an inverter; and take care for all interest groups.
Class T3: for advanced, including grid connected and
hybrid solar PV systems. Solar PV Development in Kenya
Another important instrument in the solar market is The Kenyan market can be divided into three broad
the publication of Feed-in-Tarrifs (FiTs) policy of 2012, segments. The first and biggest segment encompasses
which is a revision of 2008 and 2010 versions. The domestic and small-scale commercial PV applications.
policy was intended to attract investment in renewable Their typical capacity is well below 100 Wp. The
energy and standardized power purchase agreements second segment comprises systems purchased
for embedded power9 for solar, biogas, biomass, by institutional buyers, such as governments or
wind, and small hydro and geothermal technologies. donors. These systems are predominantly used to
The potential introduction of net metering, which is provide electricity for off-grid social uses. They can
currently under active discussion, is another initiative sometimes be bigger than 100 Wp. The third segment
that is expected to increase the investment on solar conventionally consists of telecoms and signalling
PV and other technologies further. systems that tend to be much larger in size and where
a public entity acts as the buyer (ESDA 2003). Table 2
Though much effort has been made in policy describes further details on solar PV market segments.
development, there remain numerous important
policy issues that need to be addressed urgently to Government programmes
enable sustainable solar market development in the
country. It is against this background that the African The government, through Kenya Power Ltd (KPL),
Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in partnership has been running off-grid thermal generators in
with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India, areas that are not connected to the national grid.
with support from the United Kingdom Department For the past few years, these station are being
for International Development commissioned a study changed to use renewable energy, mainly wind and
to investigate the impact of policy on solar market solar by incorporating hybrid systems. Though its
development in Kenya. main mandate is to distribute and retails electricity
throughout Kenya, the company is also involved in
Study Approach off-grid power production from solar, wind, and hybrid
systems. Some of the sites are Mandera (300 kWp
The methodology used primarily involved desk studies solar), Elwak (50 kWp solar), Habasuieni (30 kWp
and consultation with stakeholders. Consultation was solar and 50 kWe wind), Lodwar (60 kWp solar), Merti
done with stakeholders including but not limited to (10 kWp solar), Hola (60 kWp solar), and Marsabit
governments, NGOs, private sector, entrepreneurs, (500 kWe wind). All these are hybrid systems with
and academicians. The policies reviewed included diesel generators. KPL have also been providing solar
energy related policies and other national policies with lanterns to communities around their installations
direct or indirect impact to solar energy development. as part of their corporate social responsibility
Constraints and challenges were identified and the activities. The villages covered include Nasiger
outcomes used to come up with a report. The report (Lodwar), Lagbogol (Wajir), and Merti (Isiolo), where
then was presented to the stakeholders’ workshop, 100 lanterns have been provided in each village.
organized on June 2, 2015 in Nairobi, to deliberate KPL and the Ministry of Energy are implementing a
and come up with precise policy recommendations to
9 Distributed power generators that are connected to the electricity network.
4 JULY 2015
systems. The three different classes recognized are be taken up with policymakers at both the country and
Class T1: for single PV module or single battery DC national levels. Experts representing industry, policy
system of up to 100 Wp; Class T2: for medium size researchers, academics, NGOs, financing institutes,
PV systems, that is, multiple modules of up to 300 Wp etc., attended the stakeholders’ workshop so as to
or multiple batteries that may include an inverter; and take care for all interest groups.
Class T3: for advanced, including grid connected and
hybrid solar PV systems. Solar PV Development in Kenya
Another important instrument in the solar market is The Kenyan market can be divided into three broad
the publication of Feed-in-Tarrifs (FiTs) policy of 2012, segments. The first and biggest segment encompasses
which is a revision of 2008 and 2010 versions. The domestic and small-scale commercial PV applications.
policy was intended to attract investment in renewable Their typical capacity is well below 100 Wp. The
energy and standardized power purchase agreements second segment comprises systems purchased
for embedded power9 for solar, biogas, biomass, by institutional buyers, such as governments or
wind, and small hydro and geothermal technologies. donors. These systems are predominantly used to
The potential introduction of net metering, which is provide electricity for off-grid social uses. They can
currently under active discussion, is another initiative sometimes be bigger than 100 Wp. The third segment
that is expected to increase the investment on solar conventionally consists of telecoms and signalling
PV and other technologies further. systems that tend to be much larger in size and where
a public entity acts as the buyer (ESDA 2003). Table 2
Though much effort has been made in policy describes further details on solar PV market segments.
development, there remain numerous important
policy issues that need to be addressed urgently to Government programmes
enable sustainable solar market development in the
country. It is against this background that the African The government, through Kenya Power Ltd (KPL),
Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in partnership has been running off-grid thermal generators in
with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India, areas that are not connected to the national grid.
with support from the United Kingdom Department For the past few years, these station are being
for International Development commissioned a study changed to use renewable energy, mainly wind and
to investigate the impact of policy on solar market solar by incorporating hybrid systems. Though its
development in Kenya. main mandate is to distribute and retails electricity
throughout Kenya, the company is also involved in
Study Approach off-grid power production from solar, wind, and hybrid
systems. Some of the sites are Mandera (300 kWp
The methodology used primarily involved desk studies solar), Elwak (50 kWp solar), Habasuieni (30 kWp
and consultation with stakeholders. Consultation was solar and 50 kWe wind), Lodwar (60 kWp solar), Merti
done with stakeholders including but not limited to (10 kWp solar), Hola (60 kWp solar), and Marsabit
governments, NGOs, private sector, entrepreneurs, (500 kWe wind). All these are hybrid systems with
and academicians. The policies reviewed included diesel generators. KPL have also been providing solar
energy related policies and other national policies with lanterns to communities around their installations
direct or indirect impact to solar energy development. as part of their corporate social responsibility
Constraints and challenges were identified and the activities. The villages covered include Nasiger
outcomes used to come up with a report. The report (Lodwar), Lagbogol (Wajir), and Merti (Isiolo), where
then was presented to the stakeholders’ workshop, 100 lanterns have been provided in each village.
organized on June 2, 2015 in Nairobi, to deliberate KPL and the Ministry of Energy are implementing a
and come up with precise policy recommendations to
9 Distributed power generators that are connected to the electricity network.
4 JULY 2015
