NAIROBI, Kenya – Daniel Kiptoo, Director General of Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), has been elected chairman of the 13-member steering committee of the Regulatory Energy Transition Accelerator (RETA).
This election marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards accelerating clean energy initiatives, with Kiptoo at the helm until 2026.
Kiptoo’s election to this influential position underscores Kenya’s growing leadership in the global clean energy sector.
The RETA committee, established to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among energy regulators worldwide, plays a crucial role in navigating the complex landscape of renewable energy adoption.
In his acceptance speech, Kiptoo emphasized the importance of leveraging renewable resources like geothermal energy and battery storage systems, alongside promoting electric mobility across the nation.
“EPRA is committed to steering the adoption of renewable energy from generation to end-use in Kenya. Through RETA, we can collectively share knowledge and resources to expedite clean energy transition for a sustainable future for all,” Kiptoo stated.
RETA, launched during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the World Bank and key energy innovators.
The initiative is part of the broader Green Grids Initiative, aimed at accelerating the development of infrastructure necessary for a global shift to renewable energy.
The current committee includes representatives from diverse regions, such as ARSEL from Cameroon, ARESEP from Costa Rica, CRE from France, and others from North Macedonia, Thailand, St. Lucia, Canada, and Great Britain.
Permanent members include the World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency, and the International Energy Agency.
Kenya’s strides in renewable energy are noteworthy, with recent data from the Economic Survey 2024 revealing that renewable sources contributed a remarkable 89.6% to local electricity production in 2023.
Geothermal energy leads this effort, accounting for 48.2% of the total, followed by hydro and wind energy at 21.3pc and 16.1pc, respectively.
According to Ember’s fifth Global Energy Review Report, Kenya outperforms the global average in renewable energy generation, ranking alongside Senegal and Morocco as leaders in Africa.
