| dc.description.abstract | In Vision 2030, whose main objective is to make Kenya a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by the year 2030, the role to be played by power and in retrospect its generation cannot be overemphasized. A higher rate of growth of the power sector is expected to have several effects. Firstly, it will result in the creation of employment with the resultant reduction in poverty. Secondly, the use of clean energy will reduce greenhouse emissions. Thirdly, the standards of Kenyans living in regions without
any supply of electrical power will also be improved.
Whereas Kenya has many viable sources of electrical energy, a substantial contribution would be from RES projects, but this is only if access to information pertaining to their harnessing and operation is made easy. In addition, a policy on the implementation of projects in the renewable energy sector to act as a guide to investors and consumers is necessary. The study hence aimed to critically analyze the existing methods of exploitation of RES in Kenya, to identify the problems faced in the development of RES projects and finally to propose how exploitation of RES in Kenya can be facilitated.
The study was carried out by visiting eight project sites for solar, ten for mini/micro hydro and five. for wind in twelve districts in Kenya namely Bomet, Kericho, Embu, Mbeere, Meru South, Kirinyaga, Muranga, Kajiado, Kangundo, Thika, Nyeri and Tharaka-Nithi. Data on various aspects ofthe project such as why the particular RES was settled upon, means of financing the project, how design and installation was carried out as well as how maintenance is done was collected by interviewing the owners of the projects. Photographs of the set up were also taken.
The data was then analyzed by content analysis which involved a critical look at previous experiences and solutions arrived at after dealing with the various problems. The correlation of design processes such as the use of similar equipment was also done. From the still photographs, an idea of the particular solution in a given project in terms of site selected, type and location of the power generator and other components of the generating plant was arrived at. This data was then presented in a descriptive form, in tables and in form of still photographs.
The three sources of renewable power were found to have been utilized in many parts of Kenya on a case by case basis with no standard approach. The lack of a standardized approach resulted in the planning and set-up of the projects being more difficult, time consuming and expensive. The schemes were found to be of different ratings, of different designs and used to meet different power needs. The owners are also found to be quite diversified, ranging from a government owned utility company, private institutions,
community-based groups to individuals.
Each type of RES faced its own set of problems both during set-up and operation. The challenges encountered at each site and the solutions applied are also found to be quite diversified. To facilitate exploitation of RES in Kenya, introduction ofa feed-in tariff for mini/micro hydro plants between lOOkW and 500kW and solar (PV) power as well as a net metering system for solar, mini/micro hydro and wind power is recommended. Other recommendations include setting up of energy centres for disseminating information, tax incentives for those exploiting these resources or manufacturing components for use in exploitation of the RES, and having the Ministry of Energy compile and avail information on models for use in exploiting RES, maintain a database of existing projects and introduce a RES fund to facilitate access to funds for financing RES projects. | en_US |
