Electricity in Kenya in 2023

In 2023, Kenya's electricity consumption from low-carbon sources, primarily geothermal, hydropower, and wind, totals roughly 11.5 TWh. Geothermal energy is the most significant contributor with just over 6 TWh, followed by hydropower at close to 3 TWh, and wind energy at around 2 TWh. Fossil fuels and other non-clean sources contribute minimally compared to these low-carbon technologies. With a population of approximately 54 million people, this equates to an average electricity consumption of about 243 watts per person. This is significantly lower than the global average of 432 watts per person. Such low levels of electricity generation and consumption can hinder economic growth, limit access to education and healthcare, and reduce overall quality of life, which underscores the importance of scaling up clean energy generation.

Suggestions

To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, Kenya can focus on expanding its existing wind energy infrastructure given its proven potential in the country. Learning from successful endeavors in other nations, China leads in wind energy with 886 TWh, demonstrating the vast potential of this clean energy source. India, with 82 TWh from wind energy, is another plausible model given similar developmental contexts. Kenya could also explore solar energy expansion, taking lessons from China, which generates 584 TWh, and India, with 113 TWh from solar power. These examples demonstrate that significant investments and supportive policies can result in substantial increases in low-carbon electricity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change impacts.

History

Analyzing the history of low-carbon electricity in Kenya, there have been notable developments and fluctuations. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, hydropower faced several setbacks, with notable declines in 1999 and 2000, losing 0.8 TWh and 1.1 TWh respectively, but recovered with gains in subsequent years. The decade of the 2010s saw considerable expansion in geothermal energy, with important contributions starting in 2014 when geothermal added 1.2 TWh and another 1.3 TWh in 2015. Wind energy also saw significant growth, particularly in 2019 when it added 1.2 TWh to the grid. Recent years depict a mixture of stability and incremental growth, with geothermal contributing an additional 0.5 TWh in 2023. These developments highlight Kenya's commitment to clean energy, although continued investment and expansion are essential for further progress.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources