THE KENYA OFF-GRID SOLAR ACCESS PROJECT

The Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) is a flagship project of the Ministry of Energy, financed by the World Bank aimed at providing electricity and clean cooking solutions in remote, low density, and traditionally underserved areas of the country. The Project is part of the government’s commitment to providing universal access to electricity in Kenya by 2022, universal access to modern energy services for cooking by 2030 as well as the impetus for growth in achieving Vision 2030. The Project is implemented jointly by the Ministry of Energy, Kenya Power and Lighting (KPLC) as well as Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).

Beneficiaries

The Project targets to reach approximately. 277,000 households (1.3 million people),  community facilities: schools; health facilities, and administrative offices as well as  380 community boreholes in the 14 Counties of West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Narok.

Duration
and Funding

The
Six year Project was launched in July 2017 and will complete by June 2023. It is
funded to the tune of $USD 150 Million (approximately KSh 15 Billion) by the
World Bank.

Scope of the Project;

Component 1 Mini-grids for Households and Public Facilities

 As the target counties are not served by the national grid, mini-grids will be constructed to be the main source of energy. A total of 151 mini-grids will be constructed throughout I2 of the 14 Counties. The mini-grids will then be used to provide electricity to community facilities, enterprises, and households. The mini-grids will be constructed in areas that have a population of 100 households and sufficient existing or potential business and institutional loads.

• Mini-Grid Project Sites in Isiolo County
• Badana
• Eras Ha Boru
• Garfasa
• Kipsing
• Bassa
• Kombolla
• Oldonyiro
• Malkadaka
• Malkaghala
• Rapsu
• Leparua

 To achieve this, a private-sector contractor will be procured by KPLC for each service territory to supply, install and maintain stand-alone solar systems in community facilities.

Component 2 on Stand Alone Solar Home Systems

The vast majority of the off-grid population in the 14 counties is dispersed and requires individual system solutions (Solar Home Systems- SHS). Under this component, the Project aims to establish sustainable supply chains for marketing and sales of solar home systems in KOSAP Counties. While the Private Sector Actors have penetrated the solar market in other parts of the country they have not made the same in-roads in the 14 Counties. The Project has established a Results-Based Financing and Debt Facility (RBF) which will provide incentives to solar businesses to extend and expand their reach in the 14 Counties. 

Under this component, the project aims to deliver 250,000 Stand-alone Solar home Systems and 150,000 high-tier clean cooking solutions. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in partnership with SunFunder is the Facilities Manager.

Types
of Support under the RBF and Debt Facilities

There are three Facilities
available for access by private companies:

1. Results-Based
   Financing (SSP RBF) Facility (KES 1.2 billion) for Solar Service Providers
2. Debt Facility (KES 3
   billion) for Solar Service Providers
3. Challenge Fund and
   Results-Based Financing (RBF) Facility (KES 0.5 billion) for Clean Cooking
   Solutions Service Providers (CCS SPs)