This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
Kenya's solar industry is bracing for losses after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) dropped a regulation that required building owners to install water heating systems.
On November 1, 2019, EPRA published its draft Energy (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) regulations 2019, which removed the mandatory water heating requirement introduced in 2012.
The regulation, which was repealed after public pressure, had imposed a Sh1 million fine or one-year jail term for real estate developers and home owners who failed to install solar water heating systems in their buildings.
According to the 2012 ERC regulations, premises with hot water demand exceeding 100 litres per day were required to install solar water heating systems to cater for at least 60 per cent of the demand.
Generic Energy Head of Sales Jimmy Njai expressed concerns that the omission of the regulation will impact their business, as developers will no longer be tied to any regulation on the installation of the system.
"The regulatory body should have consulted us widely on the emission as we are the ones who will be hard hit," Mr Njai said.
"For example, our company has more than 10 million stocks of solar systems that are lying in our warehouses and we fear they may not sell if the situation remains as it is," Mr Njia added.
Agnes Mwangi from Suntech Power Limited also expressed concerns that the gap will lead to the death of the industry.
