Assisting Kenya develop a national energy efficiency strategy

Experts from UNEP DTU Partnership together with Kenyan and international stakeholders have developed the Kenya National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy (NEECS), launched today by the Ministry of Energy of Kenya.

Improvements in energy efficiency from the new strategy will help reduce the demand for fossil fuels while enhancing the potential of renewable energy to meet a larger portion of the country’s energy needs. Furthermore, the strategy will contribute towards the achievement of Kenya’s Paris Agreement commitments, as well as SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy.

UNEP DTU Partnership is a leading international research institution on energy, climate, and sustainable development founded by the UN Environment Programme, the Danish Foreign Ministry and the Technical University of Denmark. The partnership is collaborating with developing countries worldwide on climate adjustment, reduction of CO2 emissions, and implementation of green technology.

The culmination of a collaboration agreement attracts funding

Energy efficiency and conservation is a priority area targeted by the Government of Kenya to enhance the quality of life of its citizens, and the strategy will serve as the Government´s roadmap towards achieving energy efficiency goals that will have a positive impact on Kenya’s economy.

The strategy marks a preliminary culmination of a far-reaching and detailed five-year agreement, signed by UNEP DTU Partnership’s Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency and the Ministry of Energy of Kenya, to accelerate energy efficiency actions in Kenya. The 2018 agreement aims at accelerating energy efficiency actions and ensuring that the country achieves its ambitious targets.

Throughout 2019, UNEP DTU Partnership provided crucial technical support in the development of this national energy efficiency strategy, based on targets and actions decided by national stakeholders. While the Ministry of Energy provided policy direction, UNEP DTU Partnership’s Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency delivered technical expertise during the preparation of the strategy based on national stakeholder comments and suggestions, and supported the finalisation and publication of the strategy.

The centre worked with a wide range of stakeholders in a country-driven process to ensure that the energy efficiency goals of the Kenyan government become a reality for all Kenyans. Experts from the World Bank joined in reviewing draft versions of the Strategy and contributed with comments and suggestions. The World Bank now plans to include a selection of the priority actions in the Strategy in its next package of loans to Kenya.

Attracting attention and moving forward

Working with stakeholders in Kenya, UNEP DTU Partnership experts were impressed with the strong interest, continuous support and high degree of expertise from both the Kenyan government and key organisations, such as the Ministry of Energy, the Kenya Association of Manufacturing, the national grid company, as well as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The development of the Kenya National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy has attracted attention from both donors interested in supporting the implementation, and other countries in the region. The East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE) is currently in talks with the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency on a collaboration to develop an energy efficiency strategy for the East African region.

Looking towards the next steps, the Ministry of Energy has requested that UNEP DTU Partnership, through the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency and the World Bank support the development of an Action Plan for the Kenya NEECS.

A key to sustainable development

Energy efficiency is a key pillar for sustainable development in Kenya. It improves energy security, reduces expenditures of foreign reserves on energy imports, eases strain on the national grid during times of peak demand and the county’s forest, and reduces pollution from power generation and fuel use.

The national strategy also aims to help Kenya reach its international and national targets articulated in the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.

The Kenyan government’s energy efficiency programme, led by the new strategy, targets all the essential areas in the country’s Big Four Agenda: food security, affordable housing, manufacturing, and affordable healthcare for all.

Virtual launch

The “Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy” will be launched virtually with a webinar, presenting the strategy, the importance of energy efficiency, and follow-up action on the strategy implementation.

The event is open to national and international attendees, and features High-level representatives from the Government of Kenya joined by private sector actors in Kenya through the Kenya Association of Manufactures and representatives of World Bank and the UN Environment Programme representing UNEP DTU Partnership.

As well as the work on the energy efficiency strategy, UNEP DTU Partnership and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency are also supporting Kenya through other projects with professional training for energy efficiency practitioners, deployment of renewable energy and NDC transparency work.