- Kenya may need about 1,000MW of battery energy storage to manage rising electricity demand.
- The proposal emerged during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 held on August 11.
- Officials say storage could reduce reliance on expensive thermal power plants.
- Battery systems would help absorb more solar and wind energy and improve grid stability.
- Renewable energy currently accounts for more than 80% of Kenya’s electricity generation mix.
Kenya may require approximately 1,000 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage capacity as electricity demand continues to rise and the country seeks to integrate more renewable energy into its power system.
The proposal was discussed at the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 held on August 11, where government officials, energy companies, technology firms and researchers examined ways of strengthening the national electricity grid.
Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya’s peak electricity demand had recently reached 2,549MW and is projected to rise to between 2,600MW and 2,650MW by the end of the year as new generation and transmission projects come online.
He explained that electricity demand falls sharply at night to about 1,600MW-1,700MW, creating an opportunity to store surplus power generated during low-demand periods and release it during the evening peak.
According to Wachira, that gap represents roughly 1,000MW that could be stored and dispatched over the four-hour peak period in the evening.
The Energy Ministry believes large-scale battery storage could significantly reduce the need to switch on expensive thermal power plants during periods of high demand.
Wachira said the energy transition is not only about adding renewable generation but also about modernising the electricity grid and improving how the power system is planned and operated.
He identified smart grids, digital systems, advanced forecasting, power electronics, demand-side flexibility and battery storage as critical technologies for maintaining grid stability.
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Battery storage would also help Kenya absorb greater amounts of electricity from intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind. Excess power generated during the day could be stored and supplied later when demand is highest.
Energy experts at the forum said storage technologies can improve reliability while helping reduce technical and commercial losses across the network.
Huawei Kenya Deputy CEO for Public Affairs James Sun Quan said the company was ready to work with Kenyan institutions on grid-forming storage systems and smart-grid technologies that support renewable energy integration.
The discussion 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% of the country’s electricity mix in the financial year ended June 2025.
Thermal generation contributed 9.23%, with much of that demand occurring during the evening peak between 7pm and 10pm.
Mabonga said battery storage could help bridge that peak-period gap by shifting electricity generated earlier in the day to the hours when demand is highest.
KenGen looking beyond geothermal
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is also exploring additional renewable projects beyond its traditional geothermal and hydroelectric portfolio.
KenGen Managing Director and CEO Eng. Peter Njenga said the company is assessing solar and wind opportunities, including potential projects in Marsabit and Meru.
He acknowledged, however, that integrating variable renewable energy creates new challenges for grid management and requires investment in modern technologies that can maintain stability.
Officials said Kenya’s energy transition is increasingly becoming a question of flexibility rather than simply adding new generation capacity.
The proposed 1,000MW of storage would allow better use of existing renewable resources while reducing reliance on costly thermal plants during high-demand periods.
Wachira urged government agencies, investors and technology providers to move beyond discussion and focus on practical investment, supportive regulation and clear policies for energy storage.
As electricity demand continues to grow and Kenya expands its renewable energy ambitions, the ability to store, manage and efficiently distribute power is expected to become one of the most important factors in ensuring a stable and affordable electricity supply.
