- The European Union [EU] and the German Development Corporation [GDC] have committed to strengthening their support towards Kenya’s ambition for a 100 per cent green electricity system by 2030.
- Kenya seeks to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, enabling universal access to electricity by 2030 and clean cooking by 2028.
The European Union [EU] and the German Development Corporation [GDC] have committed to strengthening their support towards Kenya’s ambition for a 100 per cent green electricity system by 2030. The two international partners lauded Kenya’s efforts in her transition drive to clean energy, noting that more than 90 percent of the country’s electricity mix is green. They said the green mix of geothermal power, solar and wind helps Kenya absorb and withstand shocks occasioned by the global energy crisis, setting the country towards building a sustainable and resilient energy sector.
Speaking during an energy stakeholders’ forum in Naivasha, EU Head of Energy in Kenya, Martin Andersen, said since 2014, the EU has spent over Sh19 billion in grants to the renewable energy sector, especially in the generation, transmission and distribution systems. He announced that the EU plans to spend another Sh2.7B in grants for a new energy project, “Green Resilient Electricity System”, designed with Kenyan energy actors. According to the Ministry of Energy, Kenya seeks to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, enabling universal access to electricity by 2030 and clean cooking by 2028.
Additionally, Mr Andersen said the EU had increased its grant funding to Sh542 million for the ongoing Sustainable Energy Technical Assistance [SETA] that will benefit 20 county governments to meet their energy generation provisions. Andersen added that in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and other European partners, they have embarked on developing a green hydrogen roadmap and strategy for Kenya. He stated that the new frontier could create new business opportunities for Kenya and be a major job creator, such as venturing into national fertiliser production based on green hydrogen.
The German Development Corporation Country Director, Bodo Immink, said Germany has scaled up its investments in the country in geothermal power generation, wind, solar, electric mobility, green hydrogen and clean cooking technologies. Immink said they have also helped create an enabling environment by developing policies, regulations, and Integrated Energy Planning [IEP] to help scale-up investment in clean energy.