Kenya's power grid operator Kenya Power has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems India (TTDI) to implement a pilot project aimed at decreasing distribution losses in the national grid.
Kenya's electricity network is developing rapidly (rapid increase in the number of customer), contributing to technical and commercial losses. In mid-2016, 60% of the Kenya population was connected to the electricity network, up from 27% in 2013. The company plans to connect 1 million customers per year for the next five years, to reach an electrification rate of 70% in 2017 and 100% in 2020.
The pilot project will involve installation of new type of transformers (Amorphous Distribution Transformers) manufactured by TTDI, in the distribution network, with the aim of enhancing efficiency and helping to significantly reduce distribution losses. In the medium-term, Kenya Power aims to halve the system losses from the current 19% to single digit figures.