Nairobi Energy Storage Power Sales

A battery energy storage. The question of power storage has become critical as Kenya embraces e-mobility which requires reliable power supplies. The Energy and Petroleum ministry targets to mainstream power storage in its electricity master plan as the country's renewable energy generation expands.

4.1 Electricity imports Kenya has a 200 MW electricity supply agreement with Ethiopia Electricity Power Company (EEP) and has energy exchange contracts with Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). These contracts allow Kenya to import additional energy from its neighbors while increasing the interconnected grid's reliability.

Separately on September 9, 2019, the US Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to Kenya's Craftskills Energy Limited for a feasibility study by an American firm, Delphos International for the development of a 50MW wind power plant with integrated battery storage capacity in Kenya.

During the review period, 1,127.11 GWh of energy was generated from thermal sources, accounting for 8.24% of Kenya's total energy demand. As shown on figure 4.3, the highest thermal energy generation occurred in October 2023, at 140.57 GWh. This figure declined after November 2023 due to improved hydro conditions and increased electricity imports.

Solar photovoltaic systems and wind generation contribute 12.38% and 12.19% to the total installed capacity. During the review period, Kenya's interconnected capacity decreased by 73.5 MW, bringing the total to 3,199.9 MW, due to the expiration of the Power Purchase Agreement for the Kipevu 1 power plant.

Kenya has an installed thermal capacity of 636.1 MW, comprising 512.8 MW from medium-speed diesel and 60 MW from gas turbines, 21.3 MW of captive capacity and 42 MW of off grid capacity. These thermal energy resources are used to meet peak demand, support voltage stability, and address the intermittency of variable renewable energy sources.