Power firms urged to adopt smart grids and AI to modernise energy infrastructure

 

Power firms across the country have been urged to adopt smart grids and AI aimed at modernising Kenya’s energy infrastructure.

During a high-level roundtable convened by Huawei Kenya, the stakeholders from Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN) discussed the role of advanced technologies in accelerating the country’s transition to a low-carbon, sustainable energy future.

According to the stakeholders, Kenya has made significant strides toward achieving its Vision 2030 with ambitious goals for renewable energy adoption.

The country’s long-term energy vision, supported by green energy policies and international climate commitments, aims for 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

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Solar energy, wind, and geothermal energy are positioned to play a central role in meeting these goals.

As the country accelerates its transition to clean energy, the roundtable further emphasised the importance of innovative storage solutions and smart grid technologies to ensure that solar power can be efficiently integrated and managed within the national grid.

Huawei’s Digital Power Eastern Africa Chief Executive Officer, Du Peng said these technologies will be essential for enhancing grid resilience, reliability, and affordability, key pillars of Kenya’s green energy transition.

One of the central themes discussed at the roundtable was the critical role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in stabilising Kenya’s increasingly renewable-powered grid.

With solar capacity rapidly growing, BESS solutions will allow excess energy to be stored and used when solar production is low or demand is high.

This capability is essential to mitigating the intermittency of renewable sources and ensuring reliable, affordable, and clean energy for all Kenyans, in line with the country's sustainability goals.

As of 2024, Kenya has over 1,600 solar companies and nearly 2,000 trained solar technicians, all contributing to the country’s green energy agenda.

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By leveraging advanced storage technologies, Kenya can enhance energy security while reducing dependency on fossil fuel-based power sources.

The roundtable also addressed the role of grid-forming technology, an emerging innovation that helps renewable energy sources stabilise power networks by providing essential voltage and frequency support.

This technology, increasingly recognised worldwide, is a crucial enabler of renewable energy integration in grids that have traditionally relied on fossil fuels for stability.

With Kenya’s solar generation capacity expanding, the use of grid-forming inverters will be instrumental in providing the voltage and frequency regulation needed to maintain a stable and resilient grid, while avoiding blackouts or disruptions in service.

In line with Kenya’s green energy transition goals, the roundtable discussed the role of mini-grids and off-grid solar solutions in improving rural energy access.

These solutions are essential for addressing energy inequality, ensuring that even the most remote regions benefit from clean, reliable power.

Huawei and its partners emphasised the importance of flexible, scalable storage systems that can support current off-grid projects while remaining adaptable for integration into the broader grid in the future.

Kenya’s rural electrification efforts align with the country’s commitment to universal energy access and poverty alleviation, both of which are key components of Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

As Kenya’s energy transition accelerates, the roundtable participants stressed the need for continued investment in skills development to address the growing demand for trained solar technicians, engineers, and energy professionals.

Building a local workforce that is capable of installing, maintaining, and optimising clean energy systems will be crucial in ensuring the sustainability of Kenya’s green energy transition.

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Moreover, stakeholders emphasised the need for policy coherence and stability to foster an enabling environment for the growth of Kenya’s renewable energy sector.

The reduction of VAT on solar products and incentivising investments in energy storage are just a few examples of policy actions that can further strengthen Kenya’s clean energy sector and help meet its climate and energy goals.

Du Peng reiterated Huawei’s ongoing commitment to Kenya’s green energy transition by providing cutting-edge technologies designed to modernise the national power grid and expand rural electrification.

He said the company’s advanced BESS solutions, smart grid technologies, and AI-powered energy management systems are key enablers in realising Kenya’s vision of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

“Through our innovative solutions, Huawei aims to drive efficiency and resilience in Kenya’s power infrastructure while supporting the country’s efforts to meet international climate goals and energy access targets,” said Du Peng.