Kenya's Grid Faces Stability Risks as Wind and Solar Surge

Kenya's national electricity utility has raised concerns that the rapid expansion of wind and solar power is undermining the stability and reliability of the country's grid. In a statement on Tuesday, Kenya Power noted that variable renewable energy sources now make up more than 20% of total grid capacity—exceeding the 15% upper limit recommended by global benchmarks.

During peak daytime demand, these intermittent sources can supply as much as 34% of the energy mix. The utility warned that sudden fluctuations in wind and solar output expose the grid to vulnerability, requiring it to quickly bring other generation sources online to compensate for the intermittency.

Unlike operators in regions like Europe, which can curtail renewable generation to maintain grid frequency and avoid bottlenecks, Kenya operates under a "take or pay" model. This obligates Kenya Power to accept and pay for all wind and solar electricity, even when it is not needed. As a result, the utility says it must dispatch additional plants at extra cost to prevent grid collapse when renewable output suddenly rises or falls—a frequent occurrence that ultimately raises costs for consumers.

To address these challenges, Kenya Power has recommended prioritising investment in more stable renewable sources such as geothermal and hydroelectric power, which do not suffer from the same variability as wind and solar.