Currently, Kenya generates and consumes a total of approximately 11.53 TWh of low-carbon electricity over the twelve-month period from July 2023 to June 2024, primarily sourced from geothermal (5.71 TWh), hydropower (3.39 TWh), and wind (1.8 TWh). An additional 1.15 TWh comes from net imports, which also contribute to the low-carbon category. Kenya's domestic low-carbon electricity contributes to a majority of its total, but the overall electricity generation still falls short when compared to global averages. With Kenya's population factored, the per capita electricity consumption is significantly lower than the global average of 3606 watts/person. Low levels of electricity generation can limit economic development, curtail industrial activities, and hinder improvements in the standard of living, including healthcare and education.
To ramp up low-carbon electricity generation, Kenya could expand its existing wind energy infrastructure. Learning from successful countries, Kenya could take cues from Brazil (97 TWh of wind), India (92 TWh of wind), and Spain (62 TWh of wind), which have comparable economic conditions and have achieved substantial wind energy generation. Leveraging advancements in turbine technology and attracting international investments in wind energy can potentially replicate these successes. Investments in solar energy should also be considered, inspired by the significant contributions in countries like India (125 TWh) and Japan (98 TWh), providing a diversified and resilient low-carbon electricity portfolio.
Kenya's journey toward low-carbon electricity dates back to notable fluctuations in hydropower contributions, such as the drops in 1999 and 2000, followed by recovery phases in 2001 and 2002. From 2008 to 2010, hydroelectric generation saw a dip but rebounded again in 2010. Geothermal energy started making significant strides from 2014 onward, with substantial boosts in 2014 and 2015. Wind energy began its rise in 2019 with a significant addition of 1.2 TWh and continued to grow in 2021. Furthermore, recent years have seen relatively stable hydro contributions, apart from minor declines in 2021 and 2022, with a positive increment of 0.7 TWh in 2023/2024. These historic trends underscore Kenya's evolving low-carbon electricity landscape and the potential for further growth through strategic investments and technological advancements.