ESDS Electrification (Mini-Grids)
SUN-ESDS Contributes to High Tier Electricity Supply in Kenya’s Displacement Settings
The SUN-ESDS focuses on market-based energy solutions by providing global advisory services, implementing technical and financial measures and cooperating with relevant stakeholders in order to provide Access to energy for livelihoods in displacement settings. In Kenya, the project seeks to promote access to sustainable energy supply for refugees and their host communities in Turkana West Sub-county. The SUN-ESDS provided both technical and financial assistance for the construction of more than 40 km of low and medium voltage power distribution lines in Kenya's Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement which hosts approximately 47,000 refugees. Additionally, the project provided technical assistance to enable the existing solar mini-grid operator – Renewvia Energy Kenya limited, attract financing from IFC through the Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund programme towards expansion of its solar mini-grid system from 60kWp to 541kWp with a 1.1 MWh of lithium-ion battery storage capacity and 150 KVA backup generator. As a result, 2711 new connections (2272 households, 404 businesses, and 36 social institutions) are now served by the expanded mini-grid. These new connections translate to a catchment area of approximately 10,000 beneficiaries.
On 23 October 2022, UN High Commissioner, Mr. Filippo Grandi, visited the newly expanded 541kWp Kalobeyei Settlement solar mini-grid. The mini-grid, which is owned and operated by a private-sector company Renewvia Energy, serves as a classic example of how the humanitarian-development-peace nexus can be operationalized to provide sustainable solutions to both refugees and host communities. Mr. Grandi emphasised:
SUN-ESDS Contributes to High Tier Electricity Supply in Kalobeyei:
This was done in parallel with the private mini-grid developer/operator - Renewvia Energy Limited’s expansion of the existing 60kWp solar mini-grid generation infrastructure. Prior to expansion, the ESDS project had provided technical and financial support in 2020 towards electrification of 10 institutions in the refugee and host community that were earmarked to offer health and isolation services. Previously electrified institutions as part of COVID-19 response in 2020, Expanding mini-grids during Covid-19 – Experiences from Kalobeyei : 3 health facilities, 4 schools, 2 Accommodation facilities, 1 WFP greenhouse.
The SUN-ESDS Kenya has also provided feasibility studies to support potential mini-grid developers. Increased energy access through the mini-grid systems presents the opportunity for the host community and refugee residents, businesses, and institutions in Kalobeyei to expand their electricity usage to livelihood and income generation activities; so-called Promoting Productive Use of Electricity in Displacement settings . This report presents the state of PUE in Kalobeyei, the design and campaign activities and, lastly, identifies the recommendations for replication in displacement settings.
