World Banks provides $150 million for off-grid solar in Kenya

The World Bank has announced it will grant an International Development Association Credit of $150 million to the government of Kenya for the development of off-grid PV solutions for Kenya’s remote regions with no connection with the country’s power transmission network.

The funds will be used to bring electricity to around 1.3 million people in 277,000 households across 14 counties in Northeastern Kenya. The World Bank stated that ten of the counties are included as part of the north-eastern Development Initiative (NEDI).

The project, which includes collaboration between the public and private sectors, embedded operation and maintenance, as well as financing of the solar home system component, will provide households, businesses and community facilities with off-grid and micro grid PV solutions.

Kenya is increasing its efforts to ensure universal access to electricity by 2020. The country’s percentage of people having access to electricity, on the other hand, has increased raised from 27% in 2013 to 55% at the end of last year. The government’s plan also includes the construction of grid-connected solar facilities as the 50 MW Garissa solar park, which is being constructed in Garissa, one of the above-mentioned under served northeastern counties. The 12.8 billion KES ($116.0 million) project, which was originally announced in 2012, is being financed through concessional funding from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.