Last week KenGen announced a 42 MW solar power plant plan, supported by battery energy storage. The project located on the Tana Seven Folks mirrors a similar solar plant that will twin Grand Falls hydro power complex further downstream.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have become a preferred green energy solution across the world, with China, Europe and USA stepping up solar technology development and uptake.
Battery energy storage systems allow solar grid generation to become a 24/7 baseload supply to the national grid, as it stretches power availability beyond daylight.
Solar power plants are investment-friendly because they are modular and quick to instal with capacity increased as demand rises. Within two years a greenfield power plant can be up and supplying the grid. As solar technologies evolve, unit capital and operating costs are decreasing.
For Kenya, battery supported solar generation can add value to existing power plants, where idle transmission capacity exists. For hydro plants, which are exposed to seasonal rainfall fluctuations, BESS-supported solar can maintain supplies to the grid.
Geothermal power generators can similarly add incremental solar capacity using the same transmission capacity — an ideal business opportunity for the sunny Naivasha and Menengai geothermal locations.
Existing thermal power plants can be given a “green” opportunity to rebrand to solar by replacing thermal generators with solar panels and batteries. Thermal plants located at Rabai, Muhoroni and Athi River should explore this option, as their locations have plenty of good sunshine, space and existing transmission lines.
This will be a fair compromise and practical solution to environmental and power affordability challenges.
Further, Kenya should facilitate the widest possible off-grid generation and use of solar energy as a regulatory practice. Smaller remote towns can and should be served with battery-supported solar generation.
Globally, solar is the fastest growing renewable energy type. The oil-rich Middle East is fast converting its power generation from oil and gas to solar, with the spared oil and gas exported. The Chinese solar investors and contractors are expanding their activities in the Middle East grid power sector. And similar conversion from fossil fuel to solar is happening in Europe and USA.
I believe Kenya should avoid premature preoccupation with expensive nuclear power and green hydrogen technologies and focus on practical and cheaper solar solutions.
However, how to replace imported fuel oil and coal for Kenya’s industrial heating—cement, steel, and other heavy industries — remains an outstanding debate. Using our own Kitui coal and Turkana oil resources may be the ‘common- sense” solution pending affordable green solutions.
