Design of solar energy ecosystem in Mombasa Kenya

How does solar energy work in Kenya?

Solar energy can be extracted at an efficiency rate of approximately 10–17 %, which can then be converted into heat (thermal) or through solar photovoltaic systems to generate electricity. The global horizontal irradiation (GHI) in Kenya is approximately 2400 kWh/m2 /year, indicating substantial potential .

How does electricity generation impact the environment in Kenya?

However, this challenge has an impact on the environment due to the emissions which concluded that it still understudied. Electricity generation in Kenya has been predominantly driven by renewable energy, contributing 80 % of the total supply, with an estimated annual growth of 3.1 % .

Does Kenya benefit from solar energy?

In addition, Kenya benefits from high solar insolation solar energy from 89 % of its land mass which is arid and semi-arid shown in Fig. 1 b . This is particularly true in the northern and northeastern regions, due to their intense solar radiation and large-scale solar farms.

What is the irradiance of solar power in Kenya?

In Kenya, the direct normal irradiance (DNI) ranges between 1454 and 6649 Wh/m2, with the western region having the lowest, while the northeastern region has a higher potential for concentrated solar power (CSP) [93, 94]. The classification of the DNI in Kenya was studied by Ref. using SWERA within a range of 1–10 suitability.