By Caroline Kimathi, Dr. Eng. Fenwicks Musonye & Eng. Mungai Kihara
On 21st November 2025, in a carnival mood at Belem, Brazil, participants from 198 Parties – commonly known as member countries – closed shop at the Conference of Parties (COP) 30 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Even though there were no concrete agreements on phasing out fossil fuels, the five core objectives agreed upon centred on energy access and sustainability. This is something that Kenya has been working on especially in the renewable energy sub sector.
Kenya’s programs towards developing renewable energy are well in sync with the core objective number two of COP 30. The objective aims at tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. Among the various renewable energy resources available, Kenya has achieved notable progress in implementing solar water heating systems to fulfil its thermal energy needs.
Due to its geographical location, striding across the equator, Kenya receives adequate insolation and therefore it has a potential to harness this energy from the sun for production of thermal energy. Solar thermal energy is a form of energy that is tapped from the sun and used for heating purposes. This tapping uses a technology known as solar thermal heat collectors. In Kenya, solar water heating (SWH) presents one of the simplest pathways of harnessing solar for thermal energy. It is often used for heating water for residential and commercial facilities.
Kenya has promoted the use of SWH systems by use of regulations. The first attempt was through the regulations, which were published in 2012. These regulations were however annulled by the National Assembly in 2018. Among the reasons cited for annulment were inadequate public participation during the regulation making process as well as reference to repealed sections of the law. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) undertook a revision of the regulations, and the new SWH regulations were published in July 2025.
These regulations aim to improve the quality and professionalism in the SWH industry by requiring manufacturers, importers, vendors and installers of these systems to be licensed. This will build consumer confidence and encourage wider adoption of SWH systems. Greater uptake will create jobs for installers, expand business opportunities for suppliers and reduce grid electricity reliance, freeing the capacity for other uses. Additionally, the regulations could promote local production of efficient SWH solutions and related components.
On the environmental front, adoption of SWH systems will have an impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, leading to a better carbon footprint for the country. This will contribute to helping Kenya achieve its climate change mitigation goals. The solar panels used for the SWH systems can however be an environmental hazard if not well disposed. This therefore calls for strict adherence to measures that have been put in place for electronic waste disposal.
For these regulations to achieve their maximum benefits, there needs to be close collaboration within different sectors. For example, there is a requirement that all new premises provide for SWH systems in their design. This will mean collaborating with county governments and stakeholders in the construction sector to ensure that the new buildings designs incorporate provisions for SWH systems. Such integration will reduce reliance on electricity from the national grid, thereby enhancing sustainability and affordability for property owners.
Further, enforcing these SWH regulations introduces stronger quality control measures for both imported and locally produced systems by mandating compliance with national standards. This ensures that only certified, high-performing products are available in the market. For users, this translates into better value for money through durable and efficient systems that provide a consistent hot water supply, lower energy costs, and reduced maintenance costs. In the long term, quality assurance protects consumers from financial losses linked to faulty installations or premature system failures. It will also support environmental sustainability by minimising waste from substandard or short-lived products.
Investors in the solar water heating industry also stand to benefit from the regulations, which require all projects to meet local content requirements. This means that developers must prioritise the use of local labour, expertise, and materials over imports. Beyond reducing project costs, this approach stimulates local manufacturing, skills development, and innovation within the renewable energy sector. It strengthens the domestic value chain and creates more employment opportunities, encouraging the growth of a sustainable ecosystem that supports Kenya’s long-term energy transition goals.
One of the challenges that faces the adoption and use of SWH systems is the notion that the initial cost of these systems is high. In this regard, EPRA in 2022 conducted a study on the viability of SWH systems. This study found that installing a SWH system in a residential building increases the cost of piping and plumbing fittings by between 28% and 33%, depending on the size of the building. With the general cost of plumbing being approximately 5% of the cost of a house, the cost of a SWH can therefore be deemed to be low. At the same time, there are savings on electricity usage that accrue from use of SWH systems, leading to financial savings. There is however an opportunity for innovative financing mechanisms for SWH.
Adoption and use of SWH systems in Kenya has the potential to bring positive economic, environmental and social impacts. These regulations therefore present an opportunity for Kenya to reap these benefits.
The writers are Managers in the Directorate of Electricity and Renewable Energy at EPRA
