The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), a government-owned power producer, announced on Wednesday its intention to scale back reliance on hydropower due to its vulnerability to erratic rainfall, aiming to enhance the country’s energy resilience.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
KenGen CEO Peter Njenga stated that hydropower currently makes up around 840 megawatts, or 24 percent, of Kenya’s total electricity generation capacity.
“While hydropower remains the most cost-effective and well-established energy source, it is also the most susceptible to the effects of climate change,” Njenga said in a statement from Nairobi.
He noted that recent droughts have significantly affected power output, prompting a reassessment of Kenya’s dependence on water-driven electricity.
Geothermal energy leads Kenya’s power mix with 26.13 percent of the installed capacity, followed by thermal sources at 17.36 percent. The remaining energy comes from wind, solar, and other renewables, according to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
To mitigate risks, KenGen has implemented real-time monitoring technologies at its hydropower facilities to optimize water usage and detect potential threats early.
Njenga added that the government is fast-tracking the development of geothermal projects in regions such as Olkaria and Menengai, with the goal of bolstering national energy stability and supporting regional electricity trade through the Eastern Africa Power Pool.
