6d ago

Kenya More Than Doubled Electricity Access Over A Decade

www.forbes.com

5 comments

I genuinely don't know if that's impressive. A decade is a long time, and Kenya isn't known for having outstanding infrastructure to start.
At its face it kinda sounds like the expected pace? But I also know nothing about this...
- Its went from 37% electrification to 79%, with 90% of power from renewables, and have the goal of hitting 100% electrification by 2030, with 100% renewables by 2035. They have the biggest wind farm in Africa, and are the one of the biggest importers of solar for off grid power in the world.
  That is intense, and stunning.
  
  Going from 37% to 79% in 10 years is roughly the rate every industrialized nation did it.
  I will be impressed if they reach 98% by 2030.
  There's an S curve to these things. The middle moves real fast.
  The beginning is hard work and it's expensive.
  Then the infrastructure allows explosion to areas with easy access.
  Lastly, diminishing marginal returns to extend the infrastructure to the less easy to access areas.
  So what I'm saying is, what they've done isn't really impressive, yet. Other than "In the greater context of 'Africa'".
  Their goal (100% by 2030), is lofty and if they reach it that'd be crazy and article-worthy.
  I'm glad to know Kenya is moving apace, but they are moving exactly that. Apace. Not exceptional. Not yet.
- If you read the article they seem to think it's impressive. But you're right, it would be interesting to know how this rate compares with other countries when they went through electrification.