Is Solar Power Our Best Bet To Sustainable Energy In Kenya?
By Michelle Makena
With the current trend in rise of energy resources in Kenya, it is safe to predict a further rise in electricity bills and fuel prices in oncoming months. In August, Kenyans paid Ksh.24.77 for a kilowatt of electricity consumed. In the month of September this has risen to Ksh.26.57 per unit of power. When we take a look at the petroleum prices, Kenyans are facing agony after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority heightened super petrol by Ksh.7.58 per litre. With the current national economy, this is a sharp rise that will press hard on Kenyans who are already struggling. Candidly, switching to more sustainable energy practices is the way to go if we do not wish to have a long-lasting negative impact on the Kenyan economy.
Why is solar energy the ultimate way to go? Well, less than 1% of the country’s energy is obtained from solar, yet Kenya being located in the equatorial zones, has great potential in solar energy. Nonetheless, it is first appropriate to note that not everybody in the country can afford the installation, maintenance and other costs associated with Solar energy. On the other hand, industrial factories, schools, manufacturing plants and other firms that consume huge amounts of electricity can opt for a more reliable supply and reduced costs by installing solar panels.
Kenya can also borrow a leaf from India’s ‘Solar Girls’. After discovering that 70% users of energy in India is women, Frontier Markets which is a social enterprise chose to hold the hands of women in the society by establishing a project that provides affordable clean energy products. Due to long hour power cuts in the region, majority of the people are forced to rely on candles, Kerosene lanterns and burning wood. The overall costs compared solar are very high, whilst it lacks convenience, durability and safety. The Solar Girls get to create awareness and sell solar lights in remote areas of India while earning an income. Due to that, children have been able to study upto late in the night and there has been a reduction of death cases associated with Kerosene fumes, household fires, burns, injuries and much more.
In the solar energy switch, Kenyans who have a low income should not be left behind. Investors should see this as an opportunity to profit while at the same time help in lighting up generations. Policy makers should also be outspoken on this issue and intervene on the electricity versus solar energy conversations. If people cannot sustain costs correlated with Solar installations, then reasonably priced items like lighting, water heaters, chargers and others can make a difference in reducing utility bills.
If we are aware of all the benefits associated with the solar switch, then why can’t we make strides to make this achievable? George Porter once said, ” I have do doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun’s energy. For if sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago.”