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The solar energy access in Kenya: a review focusing on Pay-As-You-Go solar home system

Author

Listed:
  • George Adwek

    (Hebei University of Technology
    Sunpawa Energy, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre)

  • Shen Boxiong

    (Hebei University of Technology)

  • Paul O. Ndolo

    (Sunpawa Energy, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre)

  • Zachary O. Siagi

    (Moi University)

  • Chebet Chepsaigutt

    (Sunpawa Energy, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre)

  • Cicilia M. Kemunto

    (Hebei University of Technology
    Kenya Industrial Research and Development)

  • Moses Arowo

    (Moi University)

  • John Shimmon

    (Sunpawa Energy, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre)

  • Patrobers Simiyu

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Abel C. Yabo

    (Hebei University of Technology)

Abstract

Only a third of the people living in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to electricity. While the benefits of electricity services for the society continue to increase, solar home system (SHS) provides a long-term rural electrification and development solution. SHS is thought out to be a robust and cost-effective option for supplying basic electrification under Kenya’s metrological conditions. This paper begins with an in-depth justification of the need for SHS in rural areas, and then it presents an overview of SHS financing, benefits and barriers, followed by a crucial component of existing SHSs in Kenya, Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) technology. It ends with succinct analysis of the payment models highlighting the benefits, challenges and methods adopted in overcoming those challenges. Lessons from this review suggest that solar firms face a myriad of challenges operating in poor rural areas in Kenya; credit risk is a major concern for solar firms as well as financiers which makes payment models notably challenging. Technical performance of SHS is becoming well proven, and end users desire a wide range of component preferences and service levels that are of benefit. The challenges faced by solar firms using different payment models show that there is a dire need for integration of SHS with rural electrification policy in Kenya. The principal conclusion is that PAYG model offers the best option for SHS dissemination, though energy-as-a-service implementation has a great potential of improving the dissemination process in rural communities as it offers a promising mechanisms from a sustainability point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • George Adwek & Shen Boxiong & Paul O. Ndolo & Zachary O. Siagi & Chebet Chepsaigutt & Cicilia M. Kemunto & Moses Arowo & John Shimmon & Patrobers Simiyu & Abel C. Yabo, 2020. "The solar energy access in Kenya: a review focusing on Pay-As-You-Go solar home system," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 3897-3938, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:22:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-019-00372-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-019-00372-x
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    2. Florian Egli & Churchill Agutu & Bjarne Steffen & Tobias S. Schmidt, 2023. "The cost of electrifying all households in 40 Sub-Saharan African countries by 2030," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Ogundiran Soumonni & Kalu Ojah, 2022. "Innovative and mission‐oriented financing of renewable energy in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A review and conceptual framework," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(1), January.
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    6. García-García, Jersson & Sarmiento-Ariza, Yennifer & Campos-Rodríguez, Lizeth & Rey-López, Juan & Osma-Pinto, German, 2023. "Evaluation of tax incentives on the financial viability of microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    7. Olumide Hassan & Stephen Morse & Matthew Leach, 2020. "The Energy Lock-In Effect of Solar Home Systems: A Case Study in Rural Nigeria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-24, December.
    8. Jan Fagerberg & Erika Kraemer-Mbula & Edward Lorenz, 2021. "An Evolutionary Analysis of Transformative Change in LDCs: the cases of Kenya and Rwanda," Working Papers on Innovation Studies 20210623, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo.
    9. Heinemann, G. & Banzer, F. & Dumitrescu, R. & Hirschhausen, C.v. & Neuhoff, M.E. & Ogechi Nwadiaru, V., 2022. "Transforming electricity access by replacing back-up generators with solar systems: Recent trends and evidence from Nigeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
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