Kisumu: The government has announced measures to scale up cogeneration and bioethanol connectivity and access to clean energy by the year 2030. Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Opiyo Wandayi stated that the government is advocating for the diversification of Kenya's energy mix to meet the rising demand for power while addressing climate change concerns.
According to Kenya News Agency, cogeneration, the simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat alongside bioethanol sourced from the sugar sector, has been identified as one of the most sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels and biomass. To achieve the target, the State Department for Energy, in partnership with the sugar sector, has rolled out measures to scale up cogeneration and bioethanol to help bridge the energy gap.
Wandayi noted that despite producing 11.3 million liters of ethanol annually, the country faces a growing demand for over 40 million liters per year, a gap currently met through imports. The demand is projected to rise fivefold by the year 2035, posing both a challenge and an opportunity for local production.
The CS highlighted that the sugar industry currently has the capacity to generate 196 MW of electricity, which is underutilized. With additional investment, this capacity could exceed 300 MW, providing a stable and clean energy source to support the country's goal of achieving 100% clean energy and electricity access by 2030.
Speaking in Kisumu during the Cogeneration and Bioethanol conference, Wandayi emphasized that the initiative aligns with the country's efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims to provide modern energy solutions for all while addressing climate change.
'We have set national targets towards this goal including universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030 to drive socio-economic transformation. In this manner, we will also be achieving our national obligations to international frameworks such as the Nationally Determined Contributions,' he said.
To accelerate the development of these sectors, the government has already implemented initiatives such as the Feed-in-Tariff policy introduced in 2018, encouraging investment in renewable energy. Additionally, the Bioenergy Strategy (2020) and its action plan are being rolled out to foster the growth of bioethanol production.
'We are also in the process of revising the National Energy Policy to take on board emerging local and international trends and further align with the current government development agenda across sectors,' Wandayi added.
To give impetus to the drive, the CS announced plans to develop a National Strategy for the Accelerated Development of Cogeneration and Bioethanol Sectors. Once in place, the ministry will establish a dedicated Cogeneration and Bioethanol Development Committee to spearhead the sector.
The conference themed 'Cogeneration and Bioethanol Production for a Greener Future' sets the agenda for collective action by different sectors and multiple stakeholders to overcome barriers and exploit opportunities for enhanced investments in cogeneration and bioethanol industries.
'Our objective is to stimulate the growth of the sector, meet growing demand, ensure sustainable supply, safeguard local investments, and create employment while fostering the wellbeing of stakeholders including smallholder farmers and local industries,' Wandayi concluded.