Powerhive East Africa which is an American energy technology venture is yet to become Kenya’s first licensed private utility to sell power to the public, leading to and end of a half-century monopoly by Kenya Power electricity firm.   In the beginning of this year, the government granted the company with the authorization to supply electricity to rural homes. For over two years now, Powerhive has been running pilot schemes in.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th July 2015

Kenya is a model investment destination in Africa, founder and CEO of the Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson said Saturday. Sir Branson made the remark when he led a group of investors in talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Harambee House office. The meeting explored how to make the most of Kenya’s abundant potential for green energy.   Other investors in the delegation included Jacqueline Novogratz (founder and CEO,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th July 2015

 The African Energy Commission has concluded and issued a provisional license to Aggreko plc to boost power generation in Ghana by putting up a power generating plant at Esiama, in Ellembelle District. The power plant is expected to generate between 40-50MW of power for a start and later augment its power production to 100MW for the next successive years. The Scottish power producing firm has already signed a Gas Supply Agreement with the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th July 2015

Construction of the Lake Turkana Wind Power project at Loiyangalani in Marsabit County, has kicked off with the inauguration by President Uhuru Kenyatta, last week.   The project, expected to inject 310 megawatts of sustainable clean energy, is a private sector flagship project of Vision 2030 — our long term development blueprint that aims to turn Kenya into a newly industrialising, middle-income country with a high quality of life.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 13th July 2015

 Kenya’s renewable energy sector is set for a boost in September when a solar microgrid company plans to become the country’s first licensed private utility to sell power to the public, ending a half-century monopoly by the State electricity firm.   Earlier this year, the Government granted Powerhive East Africa, an energy technology venture with its roots in the United States, a permit to supply electricity to rural.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 13th July 2015

 African governments should aim to increase power generation 10-fold to give all their people access to electricity by 2030, an effort that would require a big increase in investment focused on renewable energy, a panel of high-profile figures said.   Two in three Africans - around 621 million people - live without electricity, a situation worsening as the population grows, said an annual report from the 10-member Africa Progress.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 10th July 2015

 Renewable energy is one of the most untapped sectors in the country. This was said in Dar es Salaam yesterday by an official with the German firm, the Organisation for Development Cooperation (GIZ), Mr Josephat Focus, at the ongoing Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF).   "There are still huge potentials unexplored in the renewable energy that business community could capitalise and give them maximum returns on.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th July 2015

 The biggest wind power farm project in Africa located in Turkana in Kenya was officially inaugurated by President Uhuru Kenyatta in a function that saw many investors put their money on renewable energy production specifically on wind energy.   The multi million Turkana wind project which costs US$ 692m is also the largest single private sector initiative in Africa with a number of investors participating.   This development.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th July 2015

In North Africa, Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) will soon call for interested bidders to submit proposals for the construction of solar and wind power plants with a total generation capacity exceeding 2,000MW. NREA Head Mohamed Salah Sobky said that the authority receives dozens of offers daily from Arab and foreign companies to establish the renewable power plants, the Daily News Egypt reported on the.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th July 2015

 The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) announced that it more than doubled its project portfolio last year, with commitments of USD 6.5 million, for 10 new projects all over the continent during the launch of its 2014 Annual Report.   SEFA 2014 highlights include: USD 3.6 million in preparation grant approvals for projects in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania expected to result in over 142 megawatts of.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th July 2015

 Tanzania has immense solar and wind power potential that could provide much-needed energy for the developing nation, according to preliminary findings from a World Bank renewable energy resource mapping project.   The country’s resources suitable for solar power generation are estimated to be equivalent to those of Spain, and areas of high wind power potential cover more than 10 per cent of the country, an area the size of.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th July 2015

 NAIROBI: Kenyans living within 600m radius of electricity transformers are taking up the Government’s offer for cheap connection, Kenya Power has said.   Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo said most of those who have applied to be connected are from rural areas.   Dr Chumo said he was encouraged by how Kenyans were taking advantage of the Sh15,000 connection fee which was reduced from Sh35,000 last.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th July 2015