For many rural Kenyans, it’s too expensive for households to pay to be connected to the national electricity grid. Some communities, who live near the right kinds of rivers are opting for a cheaper, more sustainable option: small scale hydro plants, to power lights, charge mobile phones, and pick up on the airwaves. South Africa-based science writer Leonie Joubert takes a closer look at a thriving model for community development. For the average rural Kenyan, even those living within 600 meters of the nearest state-installed electricity transformer, it will cost them up to about US$ 350 to connect to the grid and electrify their homes. This is simply beyond their means. But if a village is situated close to a natural water course that is feasible for a small hydro plant, and can raise some initial capital, rallying together in order to install a micro-hydro power plant is the answer. And since the first such project was piloted in the early 2000s, similar initiatives are popping up around the country, with varying levels of success. … Continue reading Energy transition – a view from Kenya