Total Kenya adopts solar energy in 107 service stations

Total Kenya has installed solar panels in 107 of its service stations across the country in a significant shift towards solar energy. The move comes at a time when the energy sector in Kenya is experiencing a growing shift to solar power systems by heavy-consuming industrialists leading to a significant reduction in the reliance on the electricity distributor, Kenya Power.

With the debate on the future of national electricity grid verses off-grid solar energy heating up in Kenya, Total is one of the biggest firms to opt out of the main power grid.

According to Total Kenya, the 107 service stations have been solarized through installation of 3,390 solar panels with 41 stations planned in 2021.The solar energy powers lights, pumps, fridges, air conditioning, coffee machines reducing reliance on the grid.

The energy dealer started the solarization campaign in 2018 in an effort to align its operations with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal number 7, which focuses on provision of sustainable, affordable, reliable and modern energy for all.

“Total remains committed to the global ambition to be CO2 emissions Net Zero by 2050. This is a step in the direction as a broad energy major. And the solarization of our network of stations is part of our contribution to this great objective,” Total Kenya tweeted.

READ: Industrial shift to Solar Energy spurs debate in Kenya

In May, Total announced its ambition to get to net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, the company has, for the past two years, been installing solar panels on the rooftops of its buildings and convenience stores across Kenya.

The move by Total Kenya is a confirmation that some of Kenya Power’s industrial customers are progressively shifting to own-generated solar power despite the high installation and maintenance costs of solar systems in the region.

Kenya Power recently revealed in its annual report that its sales revenues have plummeted due to the revolution towards renewable energies by some of its major customers.

Kenya’s adoption of net metering, a concept that allows customers connected to the Kenya Power grid to own solar grids, and thus pay lower power bills, has not significantly helped the energy supplier. The concept has instead encouraged more consumers to install solar panels to push back energy to the grid for lower rates. This has forced Kenya Power to review the concept before fresh implementation.

Kenya is producing surplus electricity by an excess capacity of about 30 per cent of the 1,938MW peak demand. The East African country has an installed electricity generating capacity of about 2,766 megawatts (MW).