Leveraging Mini-Grids to Support Universal Electricity Access

Lack of access to electricity is widely debated as being a major hindrance to development in Africa with approximately 600 million people lacking access to the 21st century basic need. Inadequate infrastructure in Africa, of which power infrastructure performs a crucial role, greatly hampers economic activity, curtails efficiency, and impedes effective competition.

It is against this backdrop that the Government of Kenya has prioritised investments in electricity access translating to national electricity access of 76.5% according to the 2021 Energy and Petroleum Statistics report released by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Apart from being the highest connectivity rate within the East Africa region, it is laudable that of the electricity mix, 92.3% is generated from renewable energy sources, of note being geothermal, hydro and wind power sources.

The impressive connectivity rate, up from 53% in 2016, has been spearheaded by targeted investments in strategic grid and off-grid electricity solutions in accordance with the Government’s last-mile connectivity program. Traditionally, the power authority favoured on-grid solutions over off-grid solutions. On-grid solutions require the extension of the national grid and ensure that homes are connected directly to the national grid. This requires extensive and costly development as transmission and distribution lines are canvassed across Kenya.

Cognisant of the cost implications arising with respect to ensuring on-grid electricity access in far flung areas, the Government, through its power sector vehicles, has prioritised off-grid solutions to power areas that are considered too far off from the existing network. The aim here is to ensure that areas not on the grid network also have access to electricity as the grid network is extended, a capital and time intensive initiative.

Counties that have benefited or will benefit from off-grid solutions under the Rural Electrification Program include Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana and Garissa through solar-fed mini-grids. Currently, off-grid power solutions account for approximately 1.1% of Kenya’s electricity generated capacity.

Further investments, however, are expected through Kenya’s partnership with the World Bank and SNV under the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP). Vide KOSAP, the Government aims to attain 100% clean energy by 2030. Nonetheless, the Government’s efforts to extend the national grid and achieve 100% grid access are underway, with the understanding that current off-grid solutions shall be connected to the national grid subsequently.

Here lies the allure of off-grid electricity solutions. Not only do they take advantage of the renewable energy sources available to Kenya, such as solar and wind, but further, should they be designed with universal grid network penetration in mind, they can easily be connected to the grid network at a future date. This ensures that access to electricity is prioritised in the short term, whilst opening up the possibility of expanding the country’s generational capacity in the long run.