Kenya incorporated 102.34 megawatts to its installed capacity for electricity generation in the fiscal year 2021/22, bolstering efforts to provide stable power at a time when peak demand reached a new high.
According to Epra data, Kenya’s installed capacity stood at 3,074.34 megawatts in June last year, up from 2,972 megawatts the previous year. The increase was caused by the addition of four new plants that supply the national grid.
“The installed electricity capacity increased by 102.34 megawatts from 2,972 megawatts as of June 2021 to 3,074 megawatts as of June 2022. Geothermal and solar generation increased by 86 megawatts and 120 megawatts, respectively,” says Epra in the report.
The plants added to the grid are 86 megawatts from Olkaria 1 unit 6, 40 megawatts from Selenkei Solar, 40 megawatts from Malindi Solar, and another 40 megawatts from Cedate Solar.
The increase in installed capacity occurred when peak demand reached a record-breaking of 2,057 megawatts on June 14, last year, up from 1,993.63 megawatts the previous year, as economic activity continued to rise despite the easing of coronavirus-induced curbs.
Kenya has traditionally relied on thermal power plants to supplement supply during peak demand for electricity or during prolonged droughts that reduce hydro production significantly.
Kenya Power is also racing to ensure consistent supply to its growing customer base. According to Epra data, the State-owned power utility added 703,331 customers to the national grid in the previous fiscal year, the highest single-year addition since June 2017, when 1.31 million customers joined the national grid.
However, the thermal power plant installed capacity fell 21.02 per cent to 646.32 megawatts during the review period due to the retirement of Tsavo Power, whose purchase contract expired in September 2021.
Kenya is eager to reduce its reliance on thermal power to reduce pollution and is banking on increased supply from solar, geothermal, and wind sources.
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