page_title: Renewable energy in Kenya
section_title: Solar power
hierarchical_section_title: Renewable energy in Kenya / Solar power
caption_attribution_description: English: Global Horizontal Irradiation of Kenya
context_page_description: The renewable energy sector in Kenya is among the most active in Africa. In Kenya, investment grew from virtually zero in 2009 to US$1.3 billion in 2010 across technologies such as wind, geothermal, small-scale hydro and biofuels. This is not saying that Kenya was never active in the renewable energy sector. Kenya is Africa's first geothermal power producer and leads Africa in the number of solar power systems installed per capita. It is still the largest producer of geothermal power in Africa today at 200 MW with only one other African country producing geothermal power, Ethiopia.In 2011, Kenya was also the first country in Africa to open a carbon exchange.
context_section_description: Kenyans are a world leader in the number of solar power systems installed per capita. More Kenyans are turning to solar power rather than connections to the country's electric grid. This is due to relatively high connectivity costs to the grid and the abundance of solar power in Kenya.
  Kenya has several notable solar power distributors including M-Kopa with locally adopted payment schemes including pay-as-you-go and microfinance. The World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) have partnered as part of a Lighting Africa initiative. Western companies have also helped sponsor efforts to introduce decentralized solar power solutions in the country.
  Several solar power stations are operational or under construction are 55 MW Garissa, 40 MW Rumuruti, 40 MW Radiant, 40 MW Eldosol, 40 MW Alten, 10 MW Kenyatta University, 52 MW Malind and 50 MW Kopere.
caption: Solar potential of Kenya
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