Kenya's electricity consumption in 2024 distinctly highlights its commitment to low-carbon sources, primarily geothermal and hydropower. More than half of the country's electricity is generated through geothermal energy, contributing around 6 TWh, with hydropower following close to a third at approximately 4 TWh. Wind energy also makes a significant contribution, adding almost 2 TWh to the mix, which demonstrates the critical role of low-carbon sources in Kenya's electricity generation, producing over 11 TWh in total. In comparison, fossil fuels account for a small fraction with just over 1 TWh, showcasing a decisively green approach in the nation's energy strategy. Nevertheless, with an average consumption of around 248 kWh per person, Kenyans’ electricity usage remains much lower than the global average of 3813 kWh per person, which may limit economic opportunities and impede technological advancement due to restricted energy availability.
Is Electricity Growing in Kenya?
The growth of electricity consumption in Kenya indicates a slow but positive trend. In 2024, electricity usage per person marginally increased to 248 kWh compared to the historic high of 244 kWh in 2022. This modest growth reflects a slightly improved per capita availability, which although encouraging, remains incremental. Focusing on low-carbon electricity, the slight ascent from 210 kWh to 211 kWh per person underscores a steadfast commitment to sustainable sources, but the progress is frail. The small scale of change, both in overall and low-carbon electricity, suggests that while Kenya is moving in the right direction, its growth pace is quite modest, requiring more robust advancements to keep up with global trends and future energy demands.
Suggestions
To foster this necessary growth, Kenya can capitalize on and expand its existing wind energy resources. By learning from countries like Brazil and India, where wind energy production ranges over 82 to 108 TWh, Kenya can significantly boost its low-carbon energy generation through technological advancement and strategic investment. For instance, China and the United States are exemplary due to their massive contributions from wind and other low-carbon sources like solar and nuclear. Promoting a similar holistic approach in Kenya could tremendously scale up clean electricity production, aligning with global sustainable energy objectives. Embracing offshore wind technology and enhancing infrastructure can further advance Kenya’s ambitions of solidifying its position in the low-carbon energy landscape.
History
Historically, Kenya's low-carbon electricity journey reflects diverse developments primarily driven by geothermal and hydro sources. Since the late 1990s, hydroelectric production faced fluctuations, notably dipping sharply around 1999 and 2000, but eventually rebounded with moderate gains in subsequent years like 2010 and 2020. The early 2010s marked significant strides in geothermal energy with notable increases in 2014 and 2015, establishing it as a pillar of Kenya's sustainable electricity production. Furthermore, wind energy emerged as a vital complement, with notable expansions in 2019 and 2021, underscoring Kenya's dynamic embrace of green technologies. These ebbs and flows across decades underline the importance of sustained efforts and investments, especially in geothermal and wind sectors, to bolster future low-carbon electricity development in Kenya.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.