Kenya is looking to expand energy storage as it seeks to accommodate more renewable electricity while keeping the national power system stable and reliable.
This comes as renewable sources already dominate Kenya's electricity system, accounting for 80.17 per cent of electricity generated in the year to June 2025, according to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( EPRA).
Renewable sources also accounted for 80.48 per cent of the country's installed electricity generation capacity during the same period, with geothermal, hydro, wind and solar forming the bulk of the capacity.
The country's growing reliance on renewable energy is now creating a new challenge; how to maintain a steady electricity supply when generation from sources such as wind and solar changes with weather conditions and time of day.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya's energy transition must therefore go beyond building additional renewable generation to strengthening the systems that manage electricity once it enters the grid.
“The energy transition is therefore not simply about adding more renewable generation. It is also about modernising the electricity grid and transforming the way we plan, operate and manage the power system,” said Wachira.
Battery energy storage can help address the challenge by storing electricity when generation is high and releasing it when supply falls or demand rises.
This allows electricity produced during periods of strong sunshine or wind to be retained and used when renewable generation declines, helping to balance fluctuations in supply and demand.
The need for greater flexibility has become more pressing as Kenya increases the contribution of variable renewable energy to its electricity system.
Kenya Power said Tuesday that the rapid integration of wind and solar was affecting grid stability and reliability, pointing to the need for upgrades in grid infrastructure and management.
Wachira identified energy storage alongside smart grids, advanced grid-management systems, improved forecasting, digitalisation, demand-side flexibility and power electronics as important technologies for strengthening grid stability and integrating higher levels of renewable energy.
Kenya has already incorporated energy storage into its longer-term energy transition plans. The government's Energy Transition and Investment Plan identifies renewable energy and energy storage among the technologies expected to support the country's move towards a net-zero energy sector by 2050.
The plan is intended to provide a roadmap for investment in the energy sector, including projects that can attract both public and private financing.
Wachira said the country must now focus on practical solutions that can be deployed at scale, rather than simply identifying technologies that are available.
He also called for investment and appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks to unlock the potential of new energy technologies.
“Kenya has a unique opportunity to position itself at the forefront of Africa’s energy transition,” he said. “We have the renewable energy resources, a growing technology ecosystem and a strong foundation in our energy sector.”
Huawei Kenya is promoting grid-forming energy storage and smart-grid technologies as potential solutions to help manage the country's growing renewable-energy capacity.
Huawei Deputy CEO for Public Affairs Kenya James Sun Quan said the company was ready to support Kenya's transition through technologies aimed at improving grid stability.
“Huawei is proud to partner with the State Department for Energy on Kenya’s energy transition journey,” said Sun.
He said grid-forming energy storage and smart-grid solutions could help Kenya integrate more renewable energy while keeping the grid stable and reliable.
Grid-forming storage goes beyond simply storing electricity. Using advanced power electronics and control systems, it can also provide rapid support to the electricity network, including helping manage voltage and frequency as conditions on the grid change.
For Kenya, the technology could become increasingly important as the country seeks to expand wind and solar generation without compromising the reliability of electricity supplied to homes, businesses and industries.
The country's energy transition is therefore shifting from simply increasing renewable generation to building the storage, transmission, digital and grid-management capacity needed to make renewable power dependable at scale.
