Kenya: New Solar Rules Not Meant to Cushion Kenya Power, Says Energy Regulator allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE STANDARD By
Macharia Kamau |
December 15th 2020 at 08:25:09 GMT +0300
solar panel and turbine with sunset background. clean energy power in nature concept (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Kenya has emerged as the single largest market for off-grid solar products globally.
The country, for instance, accounted for nearly a third of all off-grid solar products sold globally between January and June this year.
A report by the Global Association of the Off-grid Solar Energy Industry (Gogla) showed that over the period, manufacturers affiliated to the association sold 3.03 million units of off-grid products across the world.
These included lanterns, television sets, water pumps and refrigeration units as well as complete solar home systems.
THE STANDARD
BUSINESS NEWS
To police the sun or not is the question. This free natural resource is raising quite some heat.
On one hand is the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra), which seeks to set the tone on how best people should use the sun.
Private sector stakeholders, on the other hand, question the need for regulations to harness the energy.
In the middle of this tussle lies a proposed law that has caused heated discussions.
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In the Draft Energy (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) Regulations, 2020, Epra has set tough licensing and operational conditions for solar investment.
For instance, a person shall not engage in the importation, manufacture, sale or installation of solar systems without a valid licence from Epra.
Senate Rejects Tough Solar Switch Fines, Issues Alternative
File image of Kenya Power electricians at work
File
The Senate Committee on Energy rejected stringent measures proposed by EPRA (Energy Regulatory Commission of Kenya) to curb the massive switch from government powered electricity to solar energy.
On Wednesday, December 9, the Senators argued that high licensing fees, education requirements and penalties imposed on technicians and contractors would slow down Kenya s plan of adopting renewable energy solutions.
They added that the move by EPRA was meant to protect major players in the energy sector and to allow the government to enjoy a monopoly in the industry.
Encourage more Kenyans to embrace solar, wind energy standardmedia.co.ke - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from standardmedia.co.ke Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.