The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has held a research and innovation conference, aimed at discussing local innovation and developing energy solutions that are affordable, accessible and reliable for consumers.
Stakeholders in the energy sector have been encouraged to embrace research and innovation, especially in emerging areas, to develop energy solutions that are affordable, accessible and reliable for consumers.
Speaking at the event, EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo said that as the country strives towards a cleaner and more sustainable future, the research community should focus their efforts on emerging areas of energy transactions.
“This research has the potential to unlock innovative solutions that directly benefit Kenyan consumers by lowering costs, increasing access to clean energy and creating a more secure and reliable power supply,” said Kiptoo.
The Director General who was speaking at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi during a conference themed “The energy transition,” which focuses on promoting sustainable energy access, decarbonization and energy market development to showcase the cutting research and innovation solution to inspire actionable strategies for building sustainable energy future.
Kiptoo added that the conference is an initiative that is aligned with the EPRA Energy and Statistics report 2019, which managed to collect information and statistics in the energy and petroleum sector to promote research and innovation in energy space in all life spheres including private and public sectors and academia.
The report focuses on energy transition, opportunity in the country, challenges and how to tailor locally made solutions that fit the circumstances to be able to address the opportunities in the energy sector.
“Research and innovation makes things better as it brings to the fore technical and economic analysis on ways to produce more power using less resources,” said Kiptoo.
“As regulator, we are there to promote the interest of the consumers, investors and government,” he said, adding that youth is the work force and biggest asset that the country has and should be fully utilized.
He urged the youth in training institutions to take interest in energy research and innovation which will change their lives by coming up with innovations which can create job opportunities for them.
The DG said that by 2030 the country will be above 90% green since EPRA is committed to energy transition and it will attract the capital that is required to develop green energy and resources for the environment.
“Climate change is real, we need to ensure that we decarbonize our economy and harness the resources that will be able to allow EPRA to decarbonize the economy and also the future,” said Kiptoo.
He added that EPRA is working with the multi-sectoral approach with the security agencies, NEMA, ministry of environment to put in place a clear regulatory framework on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Economic Society of Kenya Executive committee member Salim Mzamau said that energy transition should always be based on quality data which plays a pivotal role in shaping policies for energy transition adding that it serves as a cornerstone for informed decision.
“Through accurate insight into energy usage, production and consumption patterns, policy makers can design strategies that are effectively traction towards renewable energy sources, efficiency and mitigate Carbon emission,” Mzamau said.
He added that quality data enables the setting of achievable goals, ensuring that objectives are realistic and grounded in a reliable information and regular monitoring of progress is facilitated by quality data allowing policy makers to track the implementation of energy transaction policies assessing the impact of time
“By identifying trends and patterns on energy consumption and production, policy makers can anticipate future challenges and opportunities in the energy sector,” he stated
He added that quality data optimizes resource allocation by identifying priority areas for investing ensuring that resources are directed towards initiatives with greatest potential impact.
He commented that transparent access of data fosters public trust in policy making process gathering support and engagement for energy transition efforts.
Mzamau noted that the country’s data becomes necessary for understanding the current energy usage patterns, assessing the environment impact, identifying opportunities for renewable energy integration, evaluating economic implementation on energy usage, monitoring progress and impact information public awareness and engaging transparent access to quality data.
By Lilian Mwikali and Sharon Atieno
