456
J. M. Kariuki
some profound differences in circumstances between developing countries. We note that in much of Sub-Saharan Africa only between 2 and
5% of the rural population are connected to the grid, while in Thailand
which is our benchmark study it is at 98% (Martinot et al. 2002).
When we study the Thailand story, we learn of the first ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Member State to institute
the equivalent of a feed-in tariff (FIT), and subsequently, more solar
power capacity has been installed in Thailand than in any other of the
10 ASEAN members. That’s a diverse group that, along with Thailand, ranges from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, Indonesia and the
Philippines to Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. A solar power
milestone was reached in Thailand in 2017 as cumulative installed
capacity surpassed the 3-gigawatt (GW) mark (EPPO 2016). Table 15.1
highlights the energy situation in Thailand.
As illustrated in Table 15.1, the Thailand energy market is supplied
by the following sources/fuel types; Hydropower, fuel oil, lignite, natural
gas, geothermal, diesel (Salosis 2020). Table 15.1 shows Thailand’s
successful energy generation system, which could be replicated in East
Africa. To illustrate the potential and opportunities for this, I shall
compare the energy industry of two East African nations; Kenya and
Rwanda. These are illustrated in Table 15.2.
As illustrated in Table 15.2, there are impressive efforts to develop the
energy sector in both Kenya and Rwanda. However, in both countries,
we notice that renewable energies are under-utilized. One would be sidetracked and blinded by the good news coverage on a clean Kigali, ease
of doing business rankings and the recent Kigali Arena launch. However,
energy yardstick really matters in economic development. Currently, the
total installed generation capacity in Rwanda is 218 MW from more
than 40 plants, mainly hydro; in contrast, the Kenyan installed capacity
is 12X (2856 MW dependable capacity).
In a bid to catch up with energy demand, Rwanda seeks to increase
around 400 MW on the existing national grid by 2024. Even then,
most of these pipeline projects are Independent Power Producers (highly
unlikely to be locally funded), with the Rwandan Government playing
a facilitation role. Nyabarongo Hydro II will increase grid generation capacity to an estimated 513.5 MW. Other several power plant
J. M. Kariuki
some profound differences in circumstances between developing countries. We note that in much of Sub-Saharan Africa only between 2 and
5% of the rural population are connected to the grid, while in Thailand
which is our benchmark study it is at 98% (Martinot et al. 2002).
When we study the Thailand story, we learn of the first ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Member State to institute
the equivalent of a feed-in tariff (FIT), and subsequently, more solar
power capacity has been installed in Thailand than in any other of the
10 ASEAN members. That’s a diverse group that, along with Thailand, ranges from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, Indonesia and the
Philippines to Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. A solar power
milestone was reached in Thailand in 2017 as cumulative installed
capacity surpassed the 3-gigawatt (GW) mark (EPPO 2016). Table 15.1
highlights the energy situation in Thailand.
As illustrated in Table 15.1, the Thailand energy market is supplied
by the following sources/fuel types; Hydropower, fuel oil, lignite, natural
gas, geothermal, diesel (Salosis 2020). Table 15.1 shows Thailand’s
successful energy generation system, which could be replicated in East
Africa. To illustrate the potential and opportunities for this, I shall
compare the energy industry of two East African nations; Kenya and
Rwanda. These are illustrated in Table 15.2.
As illustrated in Table 15.2, there are impressive efforts to develop the
energy sector in both Kenya and Rwanda. However, in both countries,
we notice that renewable energies are under-utilized. One would be sidetracked and blinded by the good news coverage on a clean Kigali, ease
of doing business rankings and the recent Kigali Arena launch. However,
energy yardstick really matters in economic development. Currently, the
total installed generation capacity in Rwanda is 218 MW from more
than 40 plants, mainly hydro; in contrast, the Kenyan installed capacity
is 12X (2856 MW dependable capacity).
In a bid to catch up with energy demand, Rwanda seeks to increase
around 400 MW on the existing national grid by 2024. Even then,
most of these pipeline projects are Independent Power Producers (highly
unlikely to be locally funded), with the Rwandan Government playing
a facilitation role. Nyabarongo Hydro II will increase grid generation capacity to an estimated 513.5 MW. Other several power plant