Core area Renewable energy sources Expanding the energy supply

Kenya derives around 90 per cent of its energy from renewable sources (primarily geothermal power and hydropower). The Kenyan government has set itself the goal of raising the proportion of power generated from renewable sources even further and reach 100 per cent by 2030.

View of the geothermal power station Olkaria in Kenya

The country's power supply system has undergone considerable expansion in recent years, so that now 70 per cent of all households are connected – a high percentage by African standards. However, in rural areas people often live in homes with no electricity. By 2030, all households in Kenya are to be connected to the electricity grid.

German activities

Germany is supporting the continued expansion of renewable energies in Kenya, in particular geothermal energy. So far, German support in this area has helped to provide 470 megawatts of power generation capacity – power that is both cheap and from an environmentally friendly source.

Measures to improve grid infrastructure and the installation of a variety of energy solutions such as solar home systems are improving access to electricity for people living in rural areas. And Germany is supporting the electrification of refugee camps by helping with the installation of micro solar power systems.

In November 2022, Germany and Kenya agreed on a climate and development partnership as part of the World Climate Conference (COP27) in Sharm el Sheikh.

The German-Kenyan Climate and Development Partnership builds on long-standing development cooperation, particularly in the renewable energy sector (geothermal energy and grid expansion) but also in the agricultural sector (resilience of agricultural systems). This is to be intensified and expanded. Climate and development partnerships are a key development policy instrument of the German government and an important lever for implementing the Paris Climate Agreement. The central element is that ambitious climate targets are implemented in a socially just manner.

Making a contribution to climate protection

Germany's activities to support increased use of renewable energies, greater energy efficiency and better access to efficient cook stoves are helping Kenya to save around two million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.

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