Policy Brief No. 05 of 2022-2023 on Tracking the Progress Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Transition in Kenya

Abstract

Energy transition is a policy-driven process involving a systematic global shift from fossil-based energy production and consumption systems to carbon neutrality, renewable, sustainable, efficient, secure, and reliable energy systems (World Economic Forum, 2018). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Goal 7, guides the global energy transition process advocating for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy sources for all. While energy transition is a shared global concern, the progress and pathways differ across countries and are driven by socio-economic context, political economy, resource endowment, and the priority sectors that require intervention (International Renewable Energy Agency - IRENA, 2021). Tracking energy transition indicators provides precise and comparable measurements for analysts and policy makers to evaluate policy impacts and implications (Yu et al., 2020). The critical energy system performance dimensions for energy transition include: 1) economic development and growth; 2) universal access; 3) reliable energy supply; and 4) environmental sustainability (World Economic Forum, 2021). 11,620.7 Gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2019 to 11,603.6 GWh in 2020, due to reduced demand from large-scale consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, sustained electricity generation from renewable sources enhances electricity contribution to GDP, and is therefore a pivotal pathway to the energy transition.