Kenya is implementing smart grid technology with the purpose of not only stabilizing the current supply of electricity but also increasing storage capacity, and meeting the rising energy demand, stated Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
This move will be made possible by the use of electrical monitoring systems, demand control, and forecasting analytics that will enhance the efficiency of utilities by minimizing power cuts that occur regularly.
Wandayi also emphasized that the methodology would bring down the cost of clean energy integration such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro-electric power, into the national grid.
There has been a huge reliance on renewables and they currently provide more than 80 per cent of the country’s electricity, making Kenya the leader in Africa in the uptake of clean energy.
However, inconsistencies in solar and wind generation, coupled with a decline in hydropower production during the dry season, are causing reliability issues.
The government notes that the rapid growth of the industrial sector, electric vehicles, and the popularity of clean cooking stoves, are all factors contributing to an increased load on the national grid.
Kenya plans to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, with smart grids and modern storage systems being seen as the main solutions for reliable energy delivery that is sustainable.
