Kenya's energy consumption
Kenya's energy consumption is characterized by a mix of traditional and renewable sources. The country primarily relies on fuelwood, petroleum, and electricity, with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal gaining significance. As of 2022, approximately 76 percent of Kenyan households had access to electricity, reflecting improvements over previous years. However, the country still faced a consumption imbalance, importing more energy than it produced, with a total installed electric capacity of 3.746 million kilowatt-hours against a consumption of 9.622 billion kilowatt-hours.
In recent years, Kenya has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, generating about 90 percent of its electricity from these sources by 2023. Notably, half of this energy was derived from geothermal resources, making Kenya the seventh-largest geothermal producer globally. The Lake Turkana Wind Power Plant, Africa's largest, has also contributed significantly, supplying 17.3 percent of the country's energy in 2022. Solar energy, while still limited to about 3.1 percent of total generation, holds potential for off-grid solutions, particularly in remote areas. Additionally, Kenya is exploring nuclear power, having signed an agreement with the United States to facilitate the development of this energy source by 2026. Overall, Kenya's energy landscape reflects a challenging but evolving transition towards more sustainable energy practices.
Subject Terms
Kenya's energy consumption
Official Name: Republic of Kenya.
Summary: Fuelwood, petroleum, and electricity are the three major sources of energy for the Republic of Kenya. Renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, windmills, power alcohol, and biogas, are becoming more important, yet still play a minor role.
Energy Production and Consumption
In 1922, through a merger of two companies (the Mombasa Electric Power and Lighting Company and Nairobi Power and Lighting Syndicate, both established in 1908), the East African Power and Lighting Company (EAPL) was established. In 1954, the Kenya Power Company (KPC) was formed as a subsidiary of the EAPL with the mandate to construct electricity transmission lines between Nairobi and Tororo in Uganda. With operations confined within Kenya, the company finally changed its name to Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited (KPLC) in 1983.
According to the World Fact Book, by 2022, Kenya had a total installed electric capacity of 3.746 million kilowatt-hours and consumed 9.622 billion kilowatt-hours. Because its consumption is greater than its production, the country imported 221.841 million kilowatt-hours of energy in 2020 and exported only 18 million kilowatt-hours. Kenya's population has increased over the years, and as of 2022, only 76 percent of homes had electricity, although this us significantly more than in the past.
Major Sources of Energy
About 90 percent of Kenya's electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2023. Kenya is the seventh largest geothermal producer in the world. About half the country's energy was generated from geothermal sources, which had an estimated potential of generating 10,000 megawatts but produced 985 megawatts in 2023.
Wind energy also played a significant role in Kenya's generation of electricity. The country had a wind power potential of 3,000 megawatt-hours in 2023. Its Lake Turkana Wind Power Plant was the largest in Africa and supplied 310 megawatt-hours of energy. Wind energy supplied the country with 17.3 percent of its energy in 2022.
Kenya also had the potential for solar energy, especially off-grid that could supply communities far from existing infrastructure with electricity. Solar energy generated about 3.1 percent of the country's energy in 2022.
Kenya began plans to become a nuclear power producer in by 2026. To achieve this goal, in 2022 it signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States in which the United States would share information with Kenya about nuclear power production and technology.
Fossil fuels played only a small role in Kenya's energy production in 2022, generating only about 8 percent of Kenya's total installed energy capacity. Kenya consumed 1,168 million metric tons of coal during this year and 119,000 billion barrels per day of refined petroleum.
Bibliography
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"Kenya." US Energy Information Agency (EIA), 2022, www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/KEN. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.
"Kenya." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, July 30, 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kenya/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.
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United Nations Environment Programme. Kenya, Integrated Assessment of the Energy Policy: With Focus on the Transport and Household Energy Sectors. Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations Environment Programme, 2006.