KenGen Reports A 5.6% Increase In Hydropower Stations

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has reported a 5.6 percent increase in the amount of electricity generated through its hydropower stations.

EPRA stated that this increase has exceeded the company’s 581-Megawatt hour (MWh) monthly projections.

This is according to a report by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which revealed that the total installed hydro capacity of the Gitaru, Kindaruma, Samburu, and Kiambere power stations currently stands at 826 megawatts (MW). exceeding its 581-Megawatt hour (MWh) monthly projections.

The report further noted that Kenya’s demand for electricity this week had risen to an all-time high of 2,036 MW, citing that this is the highest it has ever recorded since March 2020.

KenGen Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rebecca Miano on the other hand stated that the numbers indicated the company’s commitment, through their renewable energy sources, to meet the growing demand for electricity by Kenyans.

“We are committed to ensuring a steady and reliable supply of competitively priced energy to support Kenya’s economy. We are doing this by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind, and solar,” said Miano.

KenGen further recorded a new energy gross demand peak of 36,381 MWh that was mostly drawn from renewable energy sources. This suggests that the company is committed to joining the Kenyan government in the fight against climate change according to Miano.

Renewable energy currently accounts for 73 percent of Kenya’s installed power generation capacity while 90 percent of electricity in use is from green sources among them geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro-electric installations.

Miano added that the company’s commitment to supporting the Government’s ambition to achieve 100 percent utilization of renewable energy by the year 2030 is a way of fighting climate change.

“Our future project pipeline is mostly green which includes geothermal, wind, hydro, and solar. The projects will be implemented in phases with the first, 83MW Olkaria I unit 6 expected to be commissioned by end of this year,” she said.