NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya may need about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage to manage rising electricity demand, reduce reliance on costly thermal generation and accommodate more renewable energy as the country modernises its power grid.
The need for large-scale storage emerged during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 held on August 11, where government officials, energy executives, technology companies and research institutions discussed ways to strengthen the country’s electricity system.
The forum was convened by the State Department for Energy under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in partnership with Huawei Kenya.
Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya’s peak electricity demand had recently reached 2,549 MW and was expected to rise to between 2,600 MW and 2,650 MW by the end of the year as new transmission and generation projects come online.
However, demand falls significantly at night, averaging between 1,600 MW and 1,700 MW, creating an opportunity to store surplus electricity and dispatch it during the evening peak.
“It means that we have about 1,000 megawatts that we need to store and we can dispatch it within the four hours that we are having during the evening peak,” Wachira said.
Storage key to renewable energy growth
The PS said battery storage would allow Kenya to shift electricity generated during periods of lower demand to peak hours, reducing the need to activate thermal power plants.
The technology could also help the country absorb more electricity from intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind.
“The energy transition is therefore not simply about adding more renewable generation. It is also about modernising the electricity grid and transforming the way we plan, operate and manage the power system,” Wachira said.
He identified smart grids, advanced grid management systems, improved forecasting, digitalisation, demand-side flexibility, power electronics and energy storage as critical technologies for maintaining grid stability.
Such technologies could also improve the resilience of the power system while helping reduce technical and commercial losses.
Huawei Kenya Deputy CEO for Public Affairs James Sun Quan said the technology company was open to working with Kenyan stakeholders to support the country’s energy transition.
“Technologies such as grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions can help Kenya integrate more renewable energy while keeping the grid stable and reliable, and we look forward to continuing this partnership to deliver practical solutions for the country’s power sector,” Quan said.
Renewable energy dominates Kenya’s power mix
The push for storage comes as renewable energy continues to dominate Kenya’s electricity generation.
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Chairman Moses Mabonga said renewable sources accounted for 80.17 per cent of Kenya’s electricity mix in the financial year ended June 2025.
Thermal generation, meanwhile, accounted for 9.23 per cent of the electricity mix.
Mabonga attributed part of the increased reliance on thermal generation to rising electricity demand during the evening peak, particularly between 7 pm and 10 pm.
Large-scale battery storage could help bridge that peak-period gap by allowing electricity generated earlier in the day to be deployed when demand is highest.
KenGen explores wider renewable mix
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is also looking beyond its traditional reliance on geothermal and hydroelectric power as the country diversifies its generation capacity.
KenGen CEO Eng. Peter Njenga said the company is exploring additional solar and wind opportunities, including wind potential in Marsabit and Meru.
However, he acknowledged that integrating intermittent renewable sources presents new challenges for grid management.
“Just like it has been explained here, it means then that we have to look at new technologies for us to be able to handle the challenges of grid instability when you introduce intermittency into the grid,” Njenga said.
He said Kenya would need to combine different technologies to maintain reliable electricity supplies.
“To ensure there is security of power, it requires taking all these technologies and bringing them together, mixing them into one energy mix,” he added.
Investment needed as electricity demand rises
Kenya’s energy transition is therefore increasingly shifting from simply adding generation capacity to building a more flexible and responsive electricity system.
The proposed battery storage capacity would allow the country to make better use of existing renewable generation while reducing the need for expensive thermal plants during periods of high demand.
Wachira urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and focus on practical investments, supportive policies and appropriate regulation for energy storage and modern grid technologies.
As electricity demand continues to rise and Kenya seeks to expand its renewable energy base, the ability to store, manage and efficiently distribute power will become increasingly important to maintaining a stable and affordable electricity supply.
