• They minimize greenhouse gas emissions and hence curb global warming.
• They enhance rural
development since wind, solar, biomass and rivers are abundant in most parts of Africa.
• Their less pollutive effects help to protect ecosystems and soils.
• The diversity of energy sources reduce over-dependency on oil and counter oil crisis, and
• They serve as inexhaustible sources of energy since they have the capacity to regenerate.
Certain challenges stand in the way of full exploitation of
renewable energies. These include:
• High initial capital cost of investment;
• Inadequate legal and institutional frameworks to provide for their development and exploitation;
• Limited technical and
institutional capacity to implement and manage renewable energy investments;
• Limited public awareness of the availability, benefits and opportunities of renewable energy and technologies;
• Inadequate standards and quality assurance for most alternative energies;
• Lack of capacity-building measures such as training, research and development, and technological transfer;
• Inadequate integration of energy issues in development policies;
• Lack of attention in international and regional agenda and co-operation, and
• Limited stakeholder participation (only government dominates) in the development and implementation of energy projects and policies.
Africa’s potential in renewable energy development
Africa suffers energy supply and 30 | The Parliamentarian | 2010: Issue Three - Kenya
security problems yet it is richly endowed with renewable energy resources. These alternative energy potentials need to be fully exploited to enhance development in the continent. Indeed Africa has both the human and material resources that can be tapped for the exploitation of these energy resources. The energy resource potential
in Africa is characterized by the following facts:
• Abundant rivers and lakes are ideal for hydropower;
• Abundant solar energy since most parts lie within the tropics;
• Interaction between the sun and Africa’s land surface always generates strong winds;
• Africa is surrounded by oceans (Indian and Atlantic) which makes tidal power ideal;
• Large deposits of mineral resources such as coal and uranium are ideal for nuclear power production;
• Africa’s population stands at
about 1 billion and provides a ready market for energy services;
• Highly skilled professionals are in the diaspora and need incentives to come and work at home, and
• Agricultural land and forests are conducive for development of biofuels.
The status of renewable energy in Kenya The Kenya Vision 2030 identifies energy as one of the enablers of the three pillars of the Vision, namely Economic, Social and Political. Subsequently, Kenya expects to use more energy in the resolve to become an industrialized nation under the Vision, and especially in the commercial sector.
Commercial energy in Kenya is dominated by petroleum and electricity as the prime movers of the modern sector while biomass provides energy needs of the traditional sector including rural communities and the urban poor.