Socio-economic and environmental analysis of wind power projects as viable renewable energy resources in Kenya

Abstract

The demand for power in Kenya is on the increase with the ongoing growth of the country’s economy. There is a need for the country to balance energy efficiency, sustainability and low-carbon technologies. This entails drafting and implementing policies and strategies towards a low-carbon development path, ranging from fuels, technologies and infrastructure. This work examines the drivers of renewable energy resources in Kenya, focusing on Ngong Wind Farm. Results show that most low-carbon innovations in Kenya are driven by government tariffs and policies. Funding, and political and community goodwill remarkably influence the success of wind power projects in Kenya. The case study is a novel experiment that offers sustainable alternatives in the energy sector. There is need for more investment in the renewable sector, especially in the set up of power plants and power storage. To address the shortcomings in the renewable energy sector, there is a need for further research and development, and collaborations to foster innovations in the wind power sector in country. A combination of knowledge and resources, and leveraging local and national policies are potential ways in which institutional platforms can foster wind technology advancement and dissemination.

Keywords:

• renewable energy
• wind power
• low-carbon innovations
• Kenya

Acknowledgement

The author takes this opportunity to thank the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the African Network for Economics of Learning Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics) for sponsoring this work. Special appreciation goes to the entire fraternity of Nanjing University of Information, Science and Technology, and South Eastern Kenya University for offering the author ample time when conducting researching on this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

ORCID

Victor Ongoma http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5110-2870

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).