Kenya’s power imports double in 6 months on low wind, solar output
The highest energy imports were recorded in November at 134.18 GWh, while the lowest occurred in July at 106.11 GWh.
Kenya’s electricity imports nearly doubled in the six months period to December 2024 compared to the same period the previous year, an analysis has shown.
Data from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) shows the country imported 751.95 GWh of electricity in the period under review.
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This compared to 419.13 GWh imported during the same period last year, representing a 79.4 percent jump.
The highest energy imports were recorded in November at 134.18 GWh, while the lowest occurred in July at 106.11 GWh.
The surge could arguably be because of the need to compensate for the dwindling production from solar and wind.
The biannual sector report for the FY 2024/25 shows power production from solar and wind during the period under review dipped 5.5 and 0.1 per cent, respectively.
Energy generated from interconnected solar PV systems decreased to 227.82 GWh from 240.99 GWh in the corresponding period of the previous year.
On the other hand, wind energy contributed 971.90 GWh to the interconnected grid, down from 972.82 GWh in the corresponding period in 2023.
Production from the country’s dams, however, increased 16.5 per cent to 1,786.9 GWh from 1,534.01 GWh.
Kenya imports 200 MW of electricity from the Ethiopia Electricity Power (EEP) company and has energy exchange contracts with Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) and Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (TANESCO).
“These energy exchange contracts allow Kenya to obtain competitively priced renewable energy from its neighbours while increasing the interconnected grid reliability and promoting regional power trade,” Epra said.
Kenya strategically banks on electricity imports and increased tapping of geothermal to progressively cut reliance on thermal plants and help stem the spike in electricity costs.
The report further highlights that in the period under review, 81.16 per cent of the energy supplied to Kenya's national grid was obtained from renewable energy sources.
Thermal plants accounted for 8.42 per cent while 10.41 percent was imported.
For the renewable energy sources, geothermal energy generation continues to supply the majority of Kenya's electric energy demand, accounting for 39.81 per cent of the total energy generation.
Hydro and wind generation were second and third, accounting for 24.74 and 13.46 per cent, respectively.
Speaking during the release of the report on Thursday, Epra Director-General Daniel Kiptoo said Kenya’s energy and petroleum sector keeps evolving and the country has seen interesting advancements that keep promoting access, affordability and sustainability.
“As of December 2024, we have seen encouraging shifts such as a 7.12 per cent growth in local petroleum demand, a commencement of power transmission through the Isinya-Arusha-Singida 400kV line, and a 480.65 per cent increase in electricity consumption under the electric mobility tariff,” Kiptoo said.
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