KenGen has been appointed to serve as the Implementing Agency for the Kenya Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the program funded by the World Bank institution known as the Kenya Green and Resilient Expansion of Energy (GREEN). In order to facilitate this project, a pioneer BESS capacity installation is considered to be set up in quite a number of key regions in the country namely: Coastal Region, Mount Kenya, Nairobi, Western Kenya, Central Rift, and Not Rift. Appointing the site for the implementation shall depend solely on the outcomes of an upcoming Feasability Study (FS) that would be conducted by KenGen, in partnership with earmarked FS Consultants, who shall preside over the most suitable location for installing the Kenya Battery Energy Storage System .
Preliminary results that were acquired from the analysis conducted underscored the urgent need for developing the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the electricity infrastructure of the country. This project will serve as a critical repository or extra energy generated from sources of geothermal and the Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) sources, to enable improved delivery of electricity services to Kenyans in the country.
Also read: KenGen Issues Tender for Kamburu Floating Solar Photovoltaic Plant
Kenya Battery Energy Storage System Project Development
The Kenya Battery Energy Storage System project is being developed in accordance to the Environment and Social Framework (ESF) of the World Bank and its Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). KenGen in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the World Bank is committed to enabling the successful implementation of the BESS project. This project showcases a great step of the country towards achieving a more reliable and sustainable energy future for Kenya as a country.
Currently, KenGen PLC has set up a generation capacity of 1,940 Megawatts. A total of 86% of this energy is drawn from green sources which include 826 Megawatts of hydro, 799 Megawatts of Geothermal, and 25.5 Megawatts of wind power.
