Case Study of the Wind-Based Rural Electrification Project in Esilanke Primary School,Kenya

Abstract

The ultimate goal of this study was to identify the barriers to the widespread development of wind-based electrification projects in rural Kenya and to contribute to the assessment of their technical suitability, affordability and financial viability. The study is based on the analysis of the electrification of Esilanke primary school. The key conclusions are: 1) the most critical barrier is the concentration of the technical expertise, technology suppliers and sales force in Nairobi area which affects negatively the project cost and sustainability in remote areas; 2) despite high upfront costs, the capacity of SWTs for producing large amounts of energy is a major asset for social development and income generating activities. The study also highlights how much the development of a supply chain for wind technology and services is crucial for structuring small wind energy activity in Kenya as a viable and self-growing business.