Kenya is keen on deploying renewable energy as the country makes progress towards achieving a 100 per cent transition to clean energy by the year 2030.
Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua said the Government was sourcing for investors who will help the country achieve this transition through an installed capacity of 3,000MW of renewable energy by year 2030, as she retires its investments in thermal (Fossil) sources and transitions fully to green renewable energy generation.
Speaking when he toured the Olkaria Geo – thermal power station in Naivasha on Saturday, Dr Mutua said Kenya had the largest geothermal power station in the world and the Government is keen to expand it with the help of investors in order supply renewable energy to some European countries who have shown interest and grow her Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The Russia –Ukraine war has affected energy to many European countries and they are now looking for alternative sources from renewable energy with many of them focusing on Kenya to supply this power,” Dr Mutua said.
He said European Council and European Commission presidents during the President William Ruto`s recent visit to Europe have revealed they are looking at Kenya as an alternative source of clean renewable energy.
To this end, the CS announced that the Germany Government had advanced Kenya a 45 million Euros (Sh6.5 billion) loan facility for expansion of the Olkaria Geo-thermal power station in Naivasha.
Dr Mutua then revealed that because of this loan facility, the Germany Chancellor; Mr Olaf Sholz will be visiting Kenya soon to visit the Olkaria Geo-thermal power station in Naivasha where this money is going to be invested.
The CS said the Germany Government is the biggest investor in the Olkaria project and has supplied most the technology used at Olkaria.
“We intend to export this green energy to Europe as a net exporter of clean renewable energy to the continent in the near future since the countries have realized we are now sole producers of cheap clean renewable power,” Mutua said and revealed that an Austrian investor was already in the country to invest in renewable hydrogen, green hydrogen.
Research shows this hydrogen gas has been used to fuel cars, airships and spaceships since the beginning of the 19th century and is a source of clean renewable energy.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) Acting Managing Director (MD) Abraham Serem led the CS who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs principal Secretary (PS) Dr Alex Korir Sing`oei on a tour of the facility.
Kenya has a geothermal potential of 10,000MW mainly found on the floor of the Rift Valley. So far, Kenya has only exploited about 0.9 gigawatts (GW) which is only 900MW of her 10 GW (10,000 MW) geothermal potential.
According To Data from The Ministry of Energy, Kenya’s current effective installed (grid connected) electricity capacity is 2,990 MW. Electricity supply is predominantly sourced from hydro and fossil fuel (thermal) sources. This generation energy mix comprises hydro at 838 MW, geothermal at 863 MW, two per cent from bio gas co generation, wind at 437 MW and solar at 173 MW.
By Mabel Keya-Shikuku
