From 2015 to 2024, Kenya's renewable capacity almost doubled, increasing from 1.6 GW to 3.1 GW

  • Kenya’s renewable energy capacity grew from 1.6 GW in 2015 to 3.1 GW in 2024.
  • This represents a near doubling of capacity in less than a decade.
  • The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was 6.9% between 2015 and 2024.
  • The largest single-year jump came in 2016 with a 23.2% increase.
  • Kenya faced a setback in 2021 when capacity dipped by -8.6%.
  • A strong rebound occurred in 2022 (+15.5%), reaffirming momentum.

Kenya has made remarkable strides in renewable energy over the past decade, with capacity nearly doubling from 1.6 GW in 2015 to 3.1 GW in 2024. This growth reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%, showing Kenya’s consistent commitment to expanding its clean energy base. The trend positions Kenya as one of Africa’s leaders in renewable energy adoption, even if the absolute capacity remains modest compared to larger economies.

Kenya’s renewable energy expansion wasn’t always smooth. While growth surged in years like 2017 (23.2%), 2019 (11.2%), and 2022 (15.5%), there were also setbacks, such as in 2021 when capacity dropped by -8.6%. Still, Kenya rebounded strongly in subsequent years, reaching its peak of 3.1 GW in 2024.

Source:

IRENA

Period:

2015-2024
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Africa’s renewable capacity has more than doubled since 2016, but its share of global capacity remains below 2%
  • About 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.
  • Africa has 20% of the world's population but receives less than 3% of global energy investment.
  • South Africa added the most renewable capacity from 2016–2025, followed by Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco and Tanzania.
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Electricity generation in Africa: fossil still leads 2.5-to-1, but the gap is closing
  • Fossil fuels still generate 2.5x more electricity than non-fossil sources, though the gap has narrowed from a 2007 peak of 4.5x.
  • South Africa and Egypt together account for all of Africa's nuclear power and 59% of its non-hydro renewables.
  • Hydropower, the largest non-fossil source at 188.6 TWh, tells a different geographic story, with 91% generated outside South Africa and Egypt, mainly in Eastern, Middle, and Western Africa.
  • Gas still leads at 403.9 TWh, but its growth slowed to 0.8% in 2025 versus 11.9% growth for non-fossil sources.

Non-fossil generation overtook coal in 2023, and the gap has widened every year since
  • Non-fossil generation overtook coal in 2023, with the gap reaching 57.5 TWh in 2025.
  • Coal generation fell to 225.3 TWh, below its 262.6 TWh peak in 2007.
  • Hydropower dominates non-fossil generation, producing 188.6 TWh in 2025.
  • Fossil fuels still dominate, generating 703.2 TWh versus 282.8 TWh from non-fossil sources.

Egypt overtook South Africa's electricity generation in 2024 and extended its lead in 2025
  • Africa’s share of global electricity generation rose only from 2.6% in 1985 to 3.1% in 2025.
  • Africa’s electricity generation increased 283% over the past 40 years.
  • Egypt overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest electricity producer in 2024.
  • Egypt generated 242.4 TWh in 2025, up from 30.3 TWh in 1985.
  • South Africa generated 231.1 TWh in 2025, down from its 263.5 TWh peak in 2007.
  • Egypt and South Africa accounted for 24.5% of Africa’s electricity generation in 2025.

Nigeria retained Africa’s third-highest refinery throughput as output reached a record high in 2025
  • Nigeria recorded its highest refinery throughput since 1990 at 360,000 b/d.
  • Throughput increased by 50.6% from 239,000 b/d in 2024.
  • The 2025 level was more than 20 times the 17,600 b/d recorded in 2023.
  • Nigeria remained Africa’s third-highest, behind Algeria and Egypt.
  • Dangote’s contribution is not reported separately.

East African countries accounted for seven of the continent's 15 biggest electricity access gains in 23 years
  • Eswatini recorded Africa’s largest electricity access gain, rising by 66 percentage points from 2000 to 2023.
  • Kenya and Rwanda followed with gains of 61 pp and 58 pp, respectively.
  • East African countries accounted for 7 of Africa’s top 15 electricity access improvements.
  • Comoros, Ghana and Cape Verde reached very high access levels by 2023, at 90%, 90% and 99% respectively.
  • Nigeria’s electricity access improved by 18 percentage points, from 43% in 2000 to 61% in 2023.
  • Despite that improvement, Nigeria remained outside Africa’s top 15 gainers over the period.
  • Some countries were absent from the ranking because they had already reached high access levels by 2000.

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