Nakuru County hosts Urban Smart Energy (USE) Workshop: A path to sustainable energy solutions
Published: 25 Nov 2024
Climate Finance
Mitigation
Nakuru County recently hosted the Urban Smart Energy Workshop from September 25-26, 2024, in partnership with Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA). The event focused on presenting viable renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions tailored to Nakuru’s energy needs.
Urban Smart Energy (USE) is a standardised product developed by CoM SSA to accompany the County in developing decentralised energy systems and energy efficiency measures on county-owned sites, such as markets, schools, healthcare centres, and city halls. USE enhances access to clean, reliable energy while reducing energy costs and creating new employment opportunities. This comprehensive approach allows counties to achieve lower energy costs, enhance energy resilience, and drive local economic growth. In Nakuru, the workshop focused on 10 county-owned sites that have already been assessed as technically and economically viable for USE implementation.
Day one, aimed at technical stakeholders, was led by Brian Chebor, Energy Advisor at CoM SSA, who presented the benefits of smart meters for real-time energy monitoring. Chebor highlighted the role of decentralised energy systems in optimising efficiency and reducing costs. He also outlined CoM SSA’s support for installation, maintenance, and provided guidance on accessing funding and building partnerships to ensure financial success of the projects.
Climate Change) sharing remarks during the USE workshop
Grace Karanja, the County’s Director for Environment, Energy, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, closed day one by reaffirming Nakuru’s ambitious goal of achieving climate neutrality, stating “Just like Nakuru County is the land of unlimited opportunities, the department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change is also unlimited, with the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.”
The second day focused on engaging county leaders in long-term energy strategies. Mr. Mungai returned to present the Nakuru County Energy Plan, which outlines comprehensive energy solutions for high-consumption facilities like healthcare centers and markets. The discussions included plans for solarising streetlights and boosting youth involvement in energy projects. Ms. Khalinditsa expanded on scalable energy solutions, addressing the adaptability of mini-grids and modular solar PV systems in healthcare facilities. The session concluded with a Q&A session on applying these systems to other high-energy consuming facilities.
The USE Workshop successfully demonstrated the technical and financial feasibility of smart energy solutions for Nakuru. This initiative positions Nakuru County to reduce energy costs, strengthen its resilience, and create local job opportunities, all while advancing toward a sustainable energy future. By embracing USE, Nakuru is setting the foundation for an inclusive and economically viable energy transformation, keeping the county on track to meet its ambitious target of climate neutrality by 2050.
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