Kenya is accelerating efforts to modernise its power system as rising electricity demand and increasing levels of renewable energy create a greater need for energy storage, smart grids and digital technologies. At the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026, convened by the State Department for Energy under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in partnership with Huawei Kenya, stakeholders discussed strategies to strengthen grid stability and support the country’s clean energy transition. Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya could require about 1,000 megawatts of battery energy storage to store electricity during periods of lower demand and dispatch it during the evening peak. Huawei said it remains open to collaboration as Kenya works to integrate more renewable energy while maintaining a stable and reliable electricity system.
Key Overview
- Kenya could require about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage.
- Peak electricity demand recently reached 2,549 MW.
- Demand could rise to 2,600–2,650 MW by the end of the year.
- Renewable sources accounted for 80.17 per cent of the electricity mix in the financial year ended June 2025.
- Thermal power contributed 9.23 per cent.
- Stakeholders highlighted smart grids, digitalisation and energy storage.
- Huawei is supporting discussions around grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions.
- KenGen is exploring additional solar and wind generation.
Kenya Energy Stakeholders Push Smart Grid Modernisation
The State Department for Energy under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, in partnership with Huawei Kenya, convened the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 on August 11 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
The forum brought together government officials, energy executives, technology leaders, development partners and research institutions to discuss strategies for strengthening and modernising Kenya’s power system.
The half-day programme included a Huawei keynote address and sessions covering Kenya’s energy development trends and challenges, grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions and wireless network solutions.
The forum also featured a Green Smart Energy Initiative Ceremony and an open discussion on the next steps for the sector.
Kenya Could Need 1,000MW of Battery Storage
A major focus of the discussions was the growing need for battery energy storage as electricity demand increases and Kenya integrates more intermittent renewable energy.
Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya had recently recorded a peak electricity demand of 2,549 MW, with demand expected to rise to between 2,600 and 2,650 MW by the end of the year as new transmission and generation projects come online.
However, demand falls to between 1,600 and 1,700 MW at night, creating an opportunity to store electricity and release it during the evening peak.
“It means that we have about 1,000 megawatts that we need to store and we can dispatch it within the four hours that we are having during the evening peak,” Wachira said.
According to Wachira, the storage would also help reduce thermal generation while allowing Kenya to integrate more solar and wind power.
Energy Transition Requires Grid Modernisation
Wachira said Kenya’s energy transition is not simply about adding more renewable generation.
“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,” he said.
He identified smart grids, advanced grid management systems, improved forecasting, digitalisation, demand-side flexibility, power electronics and energy storage as important technologies for strengthening grid stability.
These technologies can also support higher levels of renewable energy integration, improve resilience and reduce technical and commercial losses.
Huawei Backs Smart Energy Solutions
At the forum, James Sun Quan, Deputy CEO Public Affairs at Huawei Kenya, said the technology company is open to collaborations in Kenya’s energy transition journey.
He highlighted the role of grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions in helping Kenya integrate more renewable energy while keeping the grid stable and reliable.
“Technologies such as grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions can help Kenya integrate more renewable energy while keeping the grid stable and reliable, and we look forward to continuing this partnership to deliver practical solutions for the country’s power sector,” Quan said.
Sun reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment as a long-standing partner to local energy providers, saying the company will continue offering smart power technologies to enhance connectivity and fuel industrial growth.
He noted that Huawei has already backed major infrastructure projects in Kenya, including a large-scale solar power plant in Garissa County and last-mile connectivity programmes aimed at expanding access to clean, reliable energy.
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Renewable Energy Dominates Kenya’s Power Mix
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Chairman Moses Mabonga said renewable sources accounted for 80.17 per cent of the electricity mix in the financial year ended June 2025.
Thermal power contributed 9.23 per cent.
Mabonga attributed the increased use of thermal generation partly to higher demand during the evening peak between 7pm and 10pm.
The figures highlight the importance of technologies capable of storing electricity and making it available when demand rises.
KenGen Explores Solar and Wind Generation
KenGen CEO Eng. Peter Njenga said the company is expanding beyond its traditional focus on geothermal and hydro to explore more solar and wind generation.
He particularly cited wind potential in Marsabit and Meru.
Njenga said Kenya would need new technologies to manage grid instability associated with the introduction of intermittent renewable energy.
“Just like it has been explained here, it means then that we have to look at new technologies for us to be able to handle the challenges of grid instability when you introduce intermittency into the grid,” Njenga said.
He stressed the importance of combining different technologies to maintain reliable electricity supply.
“To ensure there is security of power, it requires taking all these technologies and bringing them together, mixing them into one energy mix.”
Outlook
Kenya’s energy transition is entering a phase where expanding renewable generation will need to be supported by greater investment in energy storage, smart grids and digitalisation. The potential requirement for about 1,000 megawatts of battery energy storage highlights the need to manage the gap between lower nighttime demand and the evening peak. With renewable sources accounting for 80.17 per cent of Kenya’s electricity mix, technologies that strengthen grid stability, reduce thermal generation and support additional solar and wind power will remain important. The continued partnership between Kenya’s energy sector and Huawei could support the adoption of smart energy technologies as the country works to modernise its power system and meet rising electricity demand.
FAQs
1. How much battery energy storage could Kenya require?
Kenya could require about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage to store electricity and dispatch it during the evening peak.
2. What percentage of Kenya’s electricity came from renewable sources?
Renewable sources accounted for 80.17 per cent of Kenya’s electricity mix in the financial year ended June 2025.
3. What technologies can support Kenya’s energy transition?
Stakeholders highlighted smart grids, advanced grid management systems, improved forecasting, digitalisation, demand-side flexibility, power electronics and energy storage.
4. What role is Huawei playing in Kenya’s energy transition?
Huawei Kenya is supporting discussions around grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions and has expressed openness to further collaboration in Kenya’s energy transition.
Sources: Citizen Digital, KBC Digital, Safi News
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