3.3.4. Policy Experience from Africa

The African continent has a rich source of solar energy and in the recent years, PV has been becoming a viable alternative source of electricity for both small and large-scale application in Africa [42]. Like Kenya, solar PV deployment in most other countries in Africa has mainly been driven by rural (off-grid) electrification. As opposed to most of the African nations, Morocco saw the need for spurring PV on a larger scale for electricity generation at an early stage. In fact, a Moroccan integrated solar project was launched that comprised of solar and wind technologies that complement each other [46]. In addition, the Moroccan government commissioned a 500 MWp PV plant in 2018 [46].

In 2015, Rwanda was at an early stage of solar power integration according to [1]. At the time, there were at most eight companies which were mainly donor-driven and whose scope was to install solar systems in government hospitals and schools. According to the authors, there was a growing market for solar PV mainly among the private households.

Despite this, Rwanda possesses the highest grid connection in East Africa ahead of Kenya and Tanzania [1]. Nonetheless, there has been a tremendous growth in PV for off-grid Rwandan rural electrification since 2009 [28]. Further development of the technology was due to a strong focus on the Rwandan vision 2020 [47], which puts emphasis on renewable energy technology.

Besides, the Monetary Growth and Poverty reduction policy in Rwanda states that the government in collaboration with the private sector should facilitate the distribution and the sale of solar PV systems and further provide a regulatory environment that is conducive for the rapid integration of PV [47]. Experience from Rwanda and Morocco could be used to inspire policies in Kenya to help foster increased integration of solar PV in the country.
