10MW Off-Grid Solar Containerized System Used in Nairobi for Research Station

What is the Kenya off-grid solar access project (Kosap)?

Please see the KOSAP website or read our press release on the launch of the project. The Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) is a flagship project of the Ministry of Energy, financed by the World Bank, aimed at providing electricity and clean cooking solutions in the remote, low density, and traditionally underserved areas of the country.

Is off-grid solar a good investment in Kenya?

In particular, Kenya is the largest market in Africa for off-grid solar products (USAID and Power Africa, 2019; GOGLA, 2019) and according to the Kenya National Electrification Strategy (KNES), off-grid solar solutions will play an important role in achieving universal electricity access for all Kenyans by 2022 (Lighting Africa, 2018a).

How many Kenyans use off-grid solar products?

Currently, it is estimated that nearly 10 million Kenyans use off-grid solar products as compared to less than a million in 2009 at the commencement of the World Bank's Lighting Africa project (Lighting Africa, 2018b). However, after several years of expansion, market growth has stabilized and slower uptake of solar products has become a challenge.

Are off-grid energy solutions a viable solution in Sub-Saharan Africa?

In Sub-Saharan Africa, off-grid energy solutions are pivotal in unlocking economic prosperity and energy access, with Kenya serving as a shining example. There are several productive use applications for off-grid energy, especially in the agriculture sector such as solar water pumps, which also have numerous socioeconomic impacts.