# StimaPulse - Institutional Energy Decision Platform (Full Knowledge Base) > Comprehensive technical documentation, mathematical models, Kenyan tariff schedules, solar resource datasets, engineering guides and full article library for Large Language Models and AI search agents. > Canonical URL: https://stimapulse.com > Condensed index: https://stimapulse.com/llms.txt ## Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary & Capabilities 2. Commercial Plans & Pricing 3. Engineering Methodology & Mathematical Models 4. Kenya Electricity Tariffs Architecture (KPLC & EPRA) 5. 47 Kenyan Counties Solar Resource Dataset 6. Technical Planning Guides & FAQs 7. Complete Articles & Knowledge Library 8. Regulatory, Engineering & Safety Disclaimers ## 1. Executive Summary & Capabilities StimaPulse is an institutional and commercial decision platform for solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Kenya and East Africa. The platform transforms raw utility electricity bills (Kenya Power / KPLC) or metered 15-to-60-minute interval data into defensible, energy-conserving engineering designs. It calculates lifecycle cost, upfront capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating expenditure (OPEX), net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and enables procurement teams to evaluate supplier bids on an identical baseline. Core platform pillars: - Deterministic Hourly Simulation: 8,760-hour annual energy dispatch modeling solar generation, customer load, battery state of charge (SOC), generator backup, and grid interaction. - Governed Data: Reviewed EPRA electricity tariff schedules, EPRA monthly pump fuel price gazettes, and NASA POWER satellite meteorological irradiance. - Inverter and String Compatibility: Direct verification of array open-circuit voltage Voc(Tmin), MPPT operating voltage window, maximum operating current Imp, and short-circuit current Isc. - Battery Autonomy: Usable depth of discharge (DoD) modeling, charge and discharge C-rate power limits, and seasonal solar recharge screening. - Solar Water Pumping: Borehole hydraulic sizing using total dynamic head (TDH), Hazen-Williams pipe friction, water tank storage economics, and diesel displacement metrics. - Fleet EV Charging: Workplace, commercial depot, and public charging demand profiles with time-of-use tariff optimization and maximum demand peak shaving. - Tenancy Isolation: Strict organization-scoped access control with verifiable audit trails. ## 2. Commercial Plans & Pricing StimaPulse provides clear, transparent pricing designed for institutional buyers, commercial enterprises, schools, hospitals, and engineering consultants. - Free Plan (KES 0): - Access to the interactive public solar, storage, and EV calculator without sign-up. - Workspace with saved project locations and preliminary options. - Web report views, equipment specifications, and CSV data exports. - Pro Plan (KES 250 per month per organization, testing price): - Full institutional workspace access for all team members. - Production of fully branded, printable, numbered engineering reports. - Export of real Microsoft Word (.docx) proposals with editable Office Open XML tables and figures. - Export of fixed, byte-identical PDF proposals with embedded vector charts. - Custom electricity tariff modeling and time-of-use rate schedule customization. - Supplier procurement exchange: generate cryptographic, single-use RFQ bid submission links for suppliers. - Side-by-side supplier quotation comparison on an identical engineering baseline. - Financial cash flow modeling: full lifecycle financing (cash, loan, PPA), tax depreciation, and debt service coverage. - Payment is handled securely via M-Pesa at https://tihada.com/stimapulse/stimapulse-pro-plan-1-month on a non-renewing monthly invoice basis. ## 3. Engineering Methodology & Mathematical Models ### 3.1 Solar PV Array Sizing The required solar PV array capacity in peak kilowatts (kWp) is determined from the target daylight energy demand and the site-specific solar resource: P_pv (kWp) = E_target (kWh/day) / (PSH (hours/day) * PR) Where: - E_target: Daily energy to be generated by solar, matching daytime electrical consumption plus required battery charging energy. - PSH: Peak Sun Hours (equivalent hours per day at 1,000 W/m2 irradiance) from NASA POWER for the exact geographic coordinates. - PR: System Performance Ratio (typically 0.76 to 0.82), which accounts for: - Inverter efficiency: typically 96.5% to 98.2%. - DC and AC cabling ohmic losses: typically 1.5% to 2.5%. - Temperature derating: silicon PV cell efficiency drops by approximately 0.35% per degree Celsius above 25 deg C standard test conditions (STC). In Kenya's hot zones (e.g. Turkana, Garissa, Mombasa), cell temperatures reach 55-65 deg C, causing 10-14% thermal losses. - Dust and soiling derate: 2% to 6% depending on regional rainfall and cleaning frequency. - Module mismatch and manufacturing tolerance: 1% to 2%. ### 3.2 Battery Energy Storage Sizing The required battery bank nameplate capacity is calculated from required backup energy and battery chemistry limits: E_nameplate (kWh) = E_backup (kWh) / (DoD_max * eta_roundtrip) Where: - E_backup: Essential electrical energy required during grid outage hours or evening dispatch windows. - DoD_max: Maximum allowable Depth of Discharge to preserve manufacturer warranty and cycle life: - Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 / LFP): 90% usable DoD, yielding 6,000+ cycles. - Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC): 80% usable DoD, yielding 2,500-4,000 cycles. - Deep-cycle Lead-Acid (AGM/Gel): 50% usable DoD, yielding 1,200-1,500 cycles. Sizing lead-acid on nameplate kWh leads to premature failure. - eta_roundtrip: Round-trip AC-to-AC or DC-to-DC conversion efficiency (92-95% for lithium, 80-85% for lead-acid). - Power Check: Continuous inverter discharge rating (kW) must exceed the maximum concurrent load, and battery maximum continuous discharge current must not be exceeded. - Recharge Screening: Daily surplus solar generation must be verified against battery charging acceptance limits to guarantee replenishment within seasonal daylight windows. ### 3.3 Solar Water Pumping & Borehole Hydrogeology The hydraulic energy required to lift water from a borehole to an elevated surface storage tank or irrigation distribution network is: E_hydraulic (kWh/day) = (rho * g * V * TDH) / (3.6 * 10^6) Where: - rho: Density of water (1,000 kg/m3). - g: Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2). - V: Daily required water volume in cubic metres (m3/day). - TDH: Total Dynamic Head in metres (m), calculated as: TDH = H_static + H_drawdown + H_elevation + H_friction + H_pressure - H_static: Static water level (depth from surface to resting water level in metres). - H_drawdown: Water level decline during pumping at sustained yield. - H_elevation: Height from borehole wellhead to highest discharge point / tank inlet. - H_friction: Head loss in delivery piping calculated via the Hazen-Williams formula based on pipe internal diameter, length, and C-factor. - H_pressure: Residual discharge pressure required at the outlet (e.g., for drip or sprinkler irrigation). - Wire-to-Water Efficiency: Combined pump, motor, and controller efficiency (typically 45% to 65% for solar submersible pumps). - Storage Economics: Elevated storage tanks provide hydraulic energy storage at 3x to 5x lower lifecycle cost per cubic metre than battery storage. ### 3.4 Commercial Demand Charge Peak Shaving Under KPLC Commercial & Industrial (CI) tariffs, customers are billed for peak apparent power (kVA) recorded during 30-minute demand integration intervals: Demand_savings = (kVA_baseline - kVA_shaved) * Rate_kVA Batteries or dispatchable generators are scheduled to inject power during load spikes above an agreed threshold, protecting facilities from ratchet charges and high monthly capacity fees. ## 4. Kenya Electricity Tariffs Architecture (KPLC & EPRA) Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) tariffs are regulated and reviewed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). StimaPulse models all customer classifications and pass-through surcharges. ### 4.1 Customer Classifications 1. Domestic Ordinary 1 (DC-1 / Lifeline): - Consumption: 0 to 30 kWh per month. - Designed for low-income households. Base energy rate is subsidized. 2. Domestic Ordinary 2 (DC-2): - Consumption: Above 30 kWh per month. - Standard residential single-phase or three-phase connections. 3. Small Commercial (SC): - Consumption: Up to 15,000 kWh per month, metered at low voltage (240V single-phase or 415V three-phase). - Applicable to retail stores, small workshops, clinics, restaurants, and schools. No demand charge; billed on energy consumption plus monthly fixed service charge. 4. Commercial & Industrial 1 (CI1): - Consumption: Greater than 15,000 kWh per month at 415V low voltage. - Includes monthly kVA maximum demand charge and two-part energy rates. 5. Commercial & Industrial 2 to 5 (CI2 - CI5): - Medium and high voltage connections: - CI2: 11,000 Volts (11 kV) - CI3: 33,000 Volts (33 kV) - CI4: 66,000 Volts (66 kV) - CI5: 132,000 Volts or 220,000 Volts transmission level. - High demand charges (KES per kVA per month) with lower energy rates. 6. E-Mobility Tariff (EM): - Dedicated special tariff established under EPRA gazette for public charging stations and electric vehicle fleet depots. - Features discounted off-peak energy rates to encourage overnight fleet charging. ### 4.2 Approved Pass-Through Adjustments and Levies Every electricity bill in Kenya includes statutory adjustments published monthly in the Kenya Gazette: - Fuel Energy Cost (FEC / FCC): Floating charge per kWh reflecting diesel and heavy fuel oil (HFO) thermal generation dispatched to the national grid. - Foreign Exchange Rate Fluctuation Adjustment (FERFA): Floating charge per kWh reflecting currency shifts on hard-currency power purchase agreements (PPAs) and loans. - Inflation Adjustment (INFA): Semi-annual adjustment reflecting domestic and international consumer price indices. - Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA) Levy: Statutory levy per kWh generated by hydropower plants. - EPRA Regulatory Levy: 0.08 KES per kWh supporting regulator operations. - Rural Electrification Programme (REP) Levy: 5% on the sum of base energy charges. - Value Added Tax (VAT): 16% applied across energy and eligible surcharge components. ## 5. 47 Kenyan Counties Solar Resource Dataset Kenya is located across the equator (latitudes -4.7 deg S to 5.0 deg N) and enjoys consistent year-round solar insolation. However, altitude, terrain, and local weather patterns create distinct regional microclimates. NASA POWER meteorological satellite models for county headquarters towns: - Mombasa County (Mombasa, Lat: -4.04, Lng: 39.67): Zone: coast. Key considerations: Strong insolation (5.2-6.2 PSH); marine humidity and salt spray require corrosion-resistant hardware. - Kwale County (Kwale, Lat: -4.17, Lng: 39.45): Zone: coast. Key considerations: Strong insolation (5.2-6.2 PSH); marine humidity and salt spray require corrosion-resistant hardware. - Kilifi County (Kilifi, Lat: -3.63, Lng: 39.85): Zone: coast. Key considerations: Strong insolation (5.2-6.2 PSH); marine humidity and salt spray require corrosion-resistant hardware. - Tana River County (Hola, Lat: -1.5, Lng: 40.03): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Lamu County (Lamu, Lat: -2.27, Lng: 40.9): Zone: coast. Key considerations: Strong insolation (5.2-6.2 PSH); marine humidity and salt spray require corrosion-resistant hardware. - Taita-Taveta County (Wundanyi, Lat: -3.4, Lng: 38.36): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Garissa County (Garissa, Lat: -0.45, Lng: 39.65): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Wajir County (Wajir, Lat: 1.75, Lng: 40.06): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Mandera County (Mandera, Lat: 3.94, Lng: 41.86): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Marsabit County (Marsabit, Lat: 2.33, Lng: 37.99): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Isiolo County (Isiolo, Lat: 0.35, Lng: 37.58): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Meru County (Meru, Lat: 0.05, Lng: 37.65): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Tharaka-Nithi County (Chuka, Lat: -0.33, Lng: 37.65): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Embu County (Embu, Lat: -0.54, Lng: 37.46): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Kitui County (Kitui, Lat: -1.37, Lng: 38.01): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Machakos County (Machakos, Lat: -1.52, Lng: 37.26): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Makueni County (Wote, Lat: -1.78, Lng: 37.63): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Nyandarua County (Ol Kalou, Lat: -0.27, Lng: 36.38): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Nyeri County (Nyeri, Lat: -0.42, Lng: 36.95): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Kirinyaga County (Kerugoya, Lat: -0.5, Lng: 37.28): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Murang'a County (Murang'a, Lat: -0.72, Lng: 37.15): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Kiambu County (Kiambu, Lat: -1.17, Lng: 36.83): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Turkana County (Lodwar, Lat: 3.12, Lng: 35.6): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - West Pokot County (Kapenguria, Lat: 1.24, Lng: 35.11): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Samburu County (Maralal, Lat: 1.1, Lng: 36.7): Zone: arid. Key considerations: High direct sun (6.0-7.2 PSH); high cell heat derate; dust cleaning schedules critical. - Trans Nzoia County (Kitale, Lat: 1.02, Lng: 35): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Uasin Gishu County (Eldoret, Lat: 0.51, Lng: 35.27): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Elgeyo-Marakwet County (Iten, Lat: 0.67, Lng: 35.51): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Nandi County (Kapsabet, Lat: 0.2, Lng: 35.1): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Baringo County (Kabarnet, Lat: 0.49, Lng: 35.74): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Laikipia County (Rumuruti, Lat: 0.27, Lng: 36.54): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Nakuru County (Nakuru, Lat: -0.3, Lng: 36.07): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Narok County (Narok, Lat: -1.08, Lng: 35.87): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Kajiado County (Kajiado, Lat: -1.85, Lng: 36.79): Zone: semi-arid. Key considerations: High solar resource (5.8-6.8 PSH); seasonal dry spells; excellent borehole pumping economics. - Kericho County (Kericho, Lat: -0.37, Lng: 35.29): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Bomet County (Bomet, Lat: -0.78, Lng: 35.34): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Kakamega County (Kakamega, Lat: 0.28, Lng: 34.75): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Vihiga County (Mbale, Lat: 0.08, Lng: 34.72): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Bungoma County (Bungoma, Lat: 0.56, Lng: 34.56): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Busia County (Busia, Lat: 0.46, Lng: 34.11): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Siaya County (Siaya, Lat: 0.06, Lng: 34.29): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Kisumu County (Kisumu, Lat: -0.09, Lng: 34.77): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Homa Bay County (Homa Bay, Lat: -0.53, Lng: 34.46): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Migori County (Migori, Lat: -1.06, Lng: 34.47): Zone: lake-western. Key considerations: Consistent insolation (5.0-6.4 PSH); strong mornings with late afternoon rain patterns. - Kisii County (Kisii, Lat: -0.68, Lng: 34.77): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Nyamira County (Nyamira, Lat: -0.57, Lng: 34.94): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. - Nairobi County (Nairobi, Lat: -1.29, Lng: 36.82): Zone: highland. Key considerations: Moderate insolation (4.5-5.8 PSH); June-August cloud cover requires seasonal recharge screening. ### Climatic Zone Guidance: - Arid & Semi-Arid (Northern & Eastern Counties): Highest insolation in Kenya (6.0 - 7.2 PSH). Extremely strong direct solar resource. High ambient temperatures require strict panel temperature derate analysis and dust-resistant mounting frames. - Coastal Zone (Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu): Strong solar resource (5.2 - 6.2 PSH). High relative humidity and marine salinity demand C4/C5 corrosion-resistant mounting structures and IP65/IP66 sealed inverters. - Central Highlands (Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri, Muranga, Meru): Moderate to high insolation (4.5 - 5.8 PSH). Features a marked overcast cold season between June and August. Sizing must account for winter-month solar dips rather than relying on annual averages. - Lake Victoria & Western: Consistent solar resource (5.0 - 6.4 PSH) characterized by strong morning sunshine and frequent late-afternoon convective cloud cover and rainfall. West-facing arrays or steep tilt angles optimize afternoon capture. ## 6. Technical Planning Guides & FAQs ### Guide: Solar and EV calculator (/tools/solar-calculator) Summary: Estimate panels, inverter, battery, EV charging energy and savings from your KPLC bill. ### Guide: Solar by county (/solar) Summary: Monthly solar resource, system output and design points for each of Kenya's 47 counties. ### Guide: Solar PV and battery sizing (/solar-sizing) Summary: Size panels, inverters and batteries from your real load and site solar data. ### Guide: Battery backup and storage (/battery-storage) Summary: Plan backup hours for outages, choose usable capacity and avoid undersized banks. ### Guide: EV charging infrastructure (/ev-charging) Summary: Plan depot, workplace and public charging for electric fleets, buses and motorcycles. ### Guide: Commercial and industrial solar (/commercial-solar) Summary: Cut demand charges and daytime costs for factories, offices, hotels and hospitals. ### Guide: Solar water pumping (/solar-water-pumping) Summary: Size borehole pumps, PV arrays and storage tanks from head and daily demand. ### Guide: Kenya electricity tariffs (/kenya-electricity-tariffs) Summary: Reviewed KPLC domestic, commercial, industrial and e-mobility tariff rates. ## 7. Complete Articles & Knowledge Library --- ### Article: Solar for businesses and institutions in Kenya: sizing, savings and payback by sector - Slug: /articles/solar-for-businesses-and-institutions-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-17 - Tags: Commercial solar, Solar sizing, Institutions, Small business, Kenya - Executive Description: Shops, hotels, clinics, schools, places of worship, apartment blocks and factories all use power differently. One method sizes solar for each, with worked examples, savings and the main pitfall per sector. A barbershop, a boarding school and a factory use power at very different times, and that timing, more than the bill, decides how much solar can save. This guide explains the method once, compares seven common types of building, and then gives each one only what is specific to it: its load pattern, a worked example and the mistake that most often spoils the case. ## The method, explained once 1. **Find the daytime load.** Solar only saves money when its output is used, stored or credited. Start from twelve months of bills, then estimate the share used in daylight. A bill is an average that hides busy and empty days, so opening hours and timetables matter more than the monthly total. 2. **Know your tariff.** The value of each solar unit is the rate it replaces. Small commercial customers on SC3 pay about **KES 28.82 per kWh** all-in in the daytime and KES 17.32 at night. Commercial and industrial customers on CI1 pay about **KES 22.09** in the daytime and KES 13.96 at night, plus a monthly demand charge. Off-grid sites running a generator pay far more: at the EPRA Nairobi diesel price of KES 227.76 per litre and about 0.45 litres per kWh, fuel alone costs about KES 100 per kWh. See [what a KPLC unit really costs](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) and [how to read your KPLC bill](/articles/how-to-read-kplc-bill). 3. **Size for the load that is always there.** On Kenya's average sun, each kW of panels produces about **3.83 kWh a day**, falling to about 2.70 in July. Divide the daytime load you can count on by 3.83 for a first array size, then by 620 W for the panel count. Where reliability matters more than savings, size for July instead. 4. **Check payback on the savings per kW.** Payback is the installed price divided by the yearly saving, after maintenance. The key test is the **savings per kW installed**: each extra panel is worth less than the one before once its output starts to go unused. Our [solar payback](/articles/solar-payback-period-kenya) article covers panel ageing and inverter replacement, and [comparing solar quotes](/articles/compare-solar-quotes-kenya) shows how to check prices. ## The seven sectors compared | Sector | Example load | Typical system | Saving per year (per month) | Payback in the sources | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Shop or salon (SC3) | 150 to 600 kWh a month | 2 to 5 panels, 1.2 to 3.1 kW | KES 43,000 to 110,000 (about 3,600 to 9,200) | 2 to 4 years | | Hotel or lodge (CI1) | 9,000 kWh a month | Solar water heating plus 17.4 kW | about KES 1.07 million (about 89,000) | Compare quotes | | Health clinic (off-grid) | about 7.2 kWh a day | 3.1 kW, 5.6 kWh battery | Reliability first, not savings | Compare quotes | | Day school (SC3) | 1,500 kWh a month | 6.8 kW, 11 panels | about KES 190,000 (about 16,000) | Compare quotes | | Church or mosque (SC3) | about 86 kWh daytime a week | 1.9 kW, 3 panels | about KES 65,000 (about 5,400) | Compare quotes | | Apartment common meter (SC3) | 1,500 kWh a month | 6.2 to 8.1 kW | KES 223,000 to 295,000 (about 18,600 to 24,600) | Compare quotes | | Factory (CI1) | 60,000 kWh a month | 250 kW, about 400 panels | about KES 7.5 million (about 625,000) | about 3 years at KES 75,000 per kW | Installed prices vary widely, so payback for most sectors depends on your quotes. The factory case shows the full calculation. ## Sector by sector ### Shops, salons and barbershops **Load profile.** Open from about eight to seven, so most use falls in daylight. A barbershop or salon uses about 85% of its power while the sun is up; a minimart with fridges only about 55%, because the cold chain runs all night. | | Barbershop | Salon | Minimart with fridges | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly use | 150 kWh | 300 kWh | 600 kWh | | Monthly bill (about) | KES 4,300 | KES 8,600 | KES 17,300 | | Panels (620 W) | 2 | 4 | 5 | | Savings per year | about KES 43,000 | about KES 86,000 | about KES 110,000 | **Main pitfall: an inverter too small for the dryers.** Hair dryers, flat irons and steamers draw 1 to 2 kW each, so the inverter must run two or three at once, typically **3 to 5 kW**, even when the array is small. For outages, about 3.3 kWh of lithium battery keeps a 1 kW essential load (lights, clippers, router, till and one dryer) running for 3 hours. If you rent, get the landlord's written permission first. ### Hotels and lodges **Load profile.** Energy around the clock, and busy and quiet seasons. A 30-room lodge on CI1 uses about 9,000 kWh a month in high season, about 296 kWh a day, of which hot water is about 35%. **Worked example.** Take hot water off the bill first: a solar water heating system covering 75% of the 104 kWh a day of water heating avoids about 28,000 kWh a year, worth about **KES 550,000 a year** at the CI1 average of about KES 19.40 per kWh. Then size the panels for low season: | | Sized for high season | Sized for low season | | --- | --- | --- | | Array | 27.9 kW (45 panels) | 17.4 kW (28 panels) | | Share of output used | 80% | 97% | | Savings per year | about KES 684,000 | about KES 520,000 | | Savings per kW installed | about KES 24,500 | about KES 30,000 | **Main pitfall: sizing for the busiest month.** The bigger array saves more in total, but each extra kW earns less because its output has nowhere to go in low season. Start near the low-season size, shift laundry and pool pumps into sunny hours, and consider a battery for the 18:00 to 22:00 dining peak, which on CI1 is still charged at the daytime rate. See [time-of-use load shifting](/articles/kplc-time-of-use-load-shifting). Off-grid camps on diesel have a far stronger case; see [diesel generator vs solar hybrid](/articles/diesel-generator-vs-solar-hybrid). ### Health clinics **Load profile.** Here power is about reliability first: a vaccine fridge that must never warm up, an oxygen concentrator and light for a delivery at 2 a.m. A typical rural dispensary uses about **7.2 kWh a day**, about 2.4 kWh of it at night. **Worked example.** Allowing one cloudy day of the vaccine fridge, security lighting and two hours of the oxygen concentrator on top of the night load gives about 5 kWh of usable storage, or **5.6 kWh of lithium** at 90% depth of discharge. With about 8% storage losses the panels must supply about 7.4 kWh a day. Sized for July at 2.70 kWh per kW, that is about 2.7 kW, so **five 620 W panels (3.1 kW)**, producing about 8.4 kWh a day in July and 11.9 kWh in a typical month. A **3 kW inverter with a good surge rating** starts the water pump. **Main pitfall: sizing for the average day.** A clinic that only works in an average month fails when it matters. Put the vaccine fridge, concentrator, delivery room lights and security lights on an essential circuit and agree a maintenance contract with response times. Where available, a WHO-prequalified solar direct drive vaccine fridge takes the most critical load off the battery entirely. The [battery backup and storage guide](/battery-storage) covers autonomy in more depth, and the [solar water pumping guide](/solar-water-pumping) covers the borehole. ### Schools **Load profile.** Full term days, quiet weekends and holidays. A day school using 1,500 kWh a month, 80% in daylight, averages 40 kWh of daytime use a day on paper, but in practice uses about 70 kWh on about 190 busy days and only 10 kWh on the rest. **Worked example.** A 10.5 kW array (17 panels) sized from the bill average produces about 14,700 kWh a year. The bill average says 92% of that is used, saving about KES 390,000 a year. Following the timetable, only 64% is used, saving about **KES 271,000**: the plain calculation overstates savings by more than 40%. A smaller 6.8 kW array of 11 panels uses about 70% of its output and saves about KES 28,000 a year per kW, against about KES 26,000 for the larger one. **Main pitfall: trusting the monthly average.** Move flexible loads, such as pumping the borehole and running freezers, into weekends and holidays, and size any battery for evening prep, not for holidays. Boarding schools differ: with half their use in daylight, a 4,000 kWh a month boarding school might need a 21 kW array plus about 13 kWh of battery. StimaPulse prepares a [school decision pack](/solutions/schools) for boards and bursars. ### Churches and mosques **Load profile.** One busy day a week. The example uses about 50 kWh of daytime power on the main day and about 6 kWh on each other day, about 86 kWh a week. | | Sized for the weekly average | Sized for the weekdays | | --- | --- | --- | | Panels (620 W) | 6 | 3 | | Share of output used | 50% | 87% | | Savings per year | about KES 75,000 | about KES 65,000 | | Savings per panel | about KES 12,500 | about KES 21,500 | **Main pitfall: sizing for the main service.** Doubling the panels adds only about KES 10,000 a year, and a battery cannot store a week of surplus for one day. Move pumping and laundry to weekdays, share the panels with a school, clinic or offices on the same compound, and size any battery for the length of the service as backup. ### Apartment blocks (common areas) **Load profile.** The common meter runs booster and borehole pumps, a lift, corridor and security lights, the gate and CCTV. A 24-unit block on SC3 uses about 1,500 kWh a month, only about 45% of it in daylight as most blocks run today. **Worked example.** As the block runs today, about 22 kWh of daytime use supports 10 panels (6.2 kW), saving about **KES 223,000 a year**, about KES 770 per unit each month. Pumping water to the roof tanks during the day raises daytime use to about 30 kWh, supporting 13 panels (8.1 kW) and saving about **KES 295,000**, about KES 1,020 per unit. That free change alone adds about KES 70,000 a year. **Main pitfall: trying to solar the night lighting.** Lighting is about 35% of the load and mostly at night. Fit LEDs and motion sensors first, which costs far less than a battery. Keep the lift on the grid and back up pumps, security lights, gate and CCTV on an essential circuit; see [on-grid, off-grid or hybrid inverters](/articles/on-grid-off-grid-hybrid-inverter-kenya). ### Factories: the full worked case Factories have the largest cases and the easiest to get wrong: the bill has three parts, energy, demand and power factor. | | | | --- | --- | | Tariff | Commercial CI1, 415 V | | Energy use | about 60,000 kWh a month, about 70% in daylight | | Operating days | six days a week | | Maximum demand | 250 kVA at a power factor of 0.85 | | Demand charge | KES 1,100 per kVA each month | **Step 1: fix the power factor.** A 250 kVA peak at 0.85 is about 212 kW of real power. A capacitor bank lifting the power factor to 0.95 brings it to about 224 kVA, saving about 26 kVA x KES 1,100 = about **KES 29,000 a month**, or KES 347,000 a year. This is usually the cheapest kVA a factory can buy, so it comes before solar. See [KPLC demand charges](/articles/kplc-demand-charges-ci-customers). **Step 2: size solar for the daytime base load.** About 1,380 kWh a day falls in daylight. A **250 kW array** (about 400 panels) sits below that and produces about 349,000 kWh a year. On the rest day most output has nowhere to go without export, so plan on using six days in seven: about 299,000 kWh, worth about **KES 6.6 million a year** at the CI1 day rate. **Step 3: trim the peaks solar misses.** The monthly peak often comes at shift start or on a cloudy afternoon, so solar rarely lowers demand on its own. A battery supplying about 40 kW at peak moments cuts about 40 kVA, saving KES 44,000 a month or about KES 528,000 a year, provided its controller catches every peak. Staggering large motor starts achieves part of this for free. **Step 4: shift what solar cannot cover.** Batch mixing, pumping to storage or pre-cooling can move into the 22:00 to 06:00 window, where energy costs about KES 8 less per kWh. | Measure | Yearly saving (about) | | --- | --- | | Power factor correction | KES 347,000 | | 250 kW solar array | KES 6,600,000 | | Battery peak trimming | KES 528,000 | | **Total** | **about KES 7.5 million** | At an example installed price of KES 75,000 per kW (KES 18.75 million) and 1% a year for maintenance, the solar alone pays back in about **three years**. Before committing, log the load for at least two weeks and check the roof can take roughly 1,100 m² of panels. > All figures here are planning estimates using reviewed KPLC rates, Kenya's average solar resource and example load patterns. Your hours, equipment, roof and tariff terms decide the result, and a licensed engineer must design and verify any system before installation. ## Next steps - Start with the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator), using your bill and a realistic daytime share. - Compare ways to pay, including cash, loans and power purchase agreements, in [paying for solar](/articles/solar-financing-cash-loan-ppa-kenya). - Choose storage with [lithium vs lead-acid battery cost](/articles/lithium-vs-lead-acid-battery-cost-kenya) and the [battery backup guide](/articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages). - For farms and agribusiness, see [solar for farms in Kenya](/articles/solar-for-farms-kenya). - The [commercial and industrial solar guide](/commercial-solar) explains how StimaPulse models energy, demand and seasonal use together, and our [solutions](/solutions) page covers decision packs for institutions. - With your bills and load data, [request an assessment](/contact) for a business case your board or finance team can check. --- ### Article: Solar for farms in Kenya: pumping, irrigation, milk cooling, cold rooms and poultry - Slug: /articles/solar-for-farms-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-17 - Tags: Agriculture, Solar water pumping, Cold storage, Diesel, Kenya - Executive Description: Store water and cold instead of electricity, compare against diesel at the EPRA price, and size for July. Here is how solar works for borehole pumping, irrigation, milk cooling, cold rooms and poultry on Kenyan farms. Most farm power goes into pumping water or removing heat, often where the grid is weak and the alternative is a diesel generator or petrol pump. Solar fits most of these jobs well, if each is designed around when the energy is needed and what it would otherwise cost. This guide explains the method once, then gives the numbers specific to each use. ## The shared method ### Store water and cold, not electricity The cheapest way through the night is usually not a battery. Pumps run while the sun shines and fill a **tank**; coolers run hard at midday and freeze an **ice bank**, so the cold is there at dawn and dusk. Tanks and ice banks have no chemical wear and last for decades. Keep batteries for small loads that must never stop, such as incubators, controls and lights. ### Compare against diesel at the EPRA price A small diesel generator burns roughly **0.45 litres of fuel for every kWh** it produces, and more when it runs lightly loaded, as farm generators often do. At EPRA's maximum Nairobi pump price of **KES 227.76 a litre** for diesel (15 October to 14 November 2026), that is about **KES 100 per kWh in fuel alone**. Super petrol, used in small irrigation pumps, is KES 226.96 a litre. Prices change on the 15th of every month and differ by town, so use your local figure, and add servicing, transport and theft risk. On the grid, compare against your KPLC all-in rate instead: about KES 28.30 per kWh on domestic DC2, or KES 22.09 by day on commercial CI1. Our [KPLC cost per kWh guide](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) shows how those rates are built. ### Size by season, with July as the low Across Kenya, each kW of panels produces about **3.83 kWh a day on average** (allowing a performance ratio of 0.78), but only about **2.70 kWh a day in July**, the weakest month in the overcast June to August period. Divide the daily load by 3.83 for an average-day array and by 2.70 for a July array. Size for July when the load runs all year with no backup; size for the average when the grid or a generator can top up, or when the load peaks in the dry months, as irrigation does. [Solar by county](/solar) shows the monthly sun where you farm, which in the highlands can differ a lot from the national average. ## Summary across farm uses | Use | Typical example | Energy per day | Solar (620 W panels) | Storage | Main alternative | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Borehole pumping | School, 20 m³ at 84 m head | 7.3 kWh | 1.9 kW | 30 m³ water tank | Diesel, about KES 271,000 a year | | Irrigation from a river or shallow well | One acre on drip | 2.1 kWh | about 0.55 kW, one panel | Raised water tank | Petrol, about KES 136,000 a season | | Milk cooling | Collection centre, 3,000 litres | about 68 kWh | about 25 kW for July, 41 panels | Ice bank | Diesel, about KES 2.5 million a year | | Cold room | One tonne of produce a day | about 13 kWh | about 4.9 kW, eight panels | About 50 kg of ice overnight | Diesel, about KES 490,000 a year | | Poultry | Incubator, LED lighting, pump | 3.6 kWh for the incubator | 2 to 3 kW for a small farm | 5 to 10 kWh battery | Grid with outages | These are planning estimates using typical efficiencies and equipment ratings; the sections below explain each row. ## Each use in detail ### Borehole pumping vs diesel The comparison that matters is **cost per cubic metre of water**. **Total head.** Add the static water level, the drawdown while pumping (from your borehole test report), the discharge height to the tank, pipe friction (often under 2 m; StimaPulse uses the Hazen-Williams method) and any outlet pressure (zero for an open tank, around 10 m for drip). **Energy and sizing.** With about 70% pump and 90% motor and drive efficiency, three typical boreholes work out as below. A direct solar pump moves the day's water in the peak sun hours, about 4.9 a day across Kenya, with the array about 25% above motor power for losses and a tank holding about a day and a half of water. | Borehole | Daily water | Total head | Energy per m³ | Energy per day | Pump motor | Solar array | Tank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Home or kiosk | 5 m³ | 46 m | 0.20 kWh | 1.0 kWh | 0.2 kW | 0.3 kW | 8 m³ | | School or community | 20 m³ | 84 m | 0.36 kWh | 7.3 kWh | 1.5 kW | 1.9 kW | 30 m³ | | Farm drip irrigation | 50 m³ | 66 m | 0.29 kWh | 14.3 kWh | 2.9 kW | 3.7 kW | 75 m³ | The examples assume a 30 m water level with 10 m drawdown and a 6 m tank stand for the home, a 60 m level with 15 m drawdown and an 8 m tank stand for the school, and a 40 m level with 10 m drawdown, 5 m lift and 10 m drip pressure for the farm. **Diesel avoided.** At 0.45 litres per kWh and KES 227.76 a litre, solar avoids at least: | Borehole | Diesel per m³ | Diesel per year | Fuel cost per year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Home or kiosk | 0.09 litres | 164 litres | about KES 37,000 | | School or community | 0.16 litres | 1,191 litres | about KES 271,000 | | Farm drip irrigation | 0.13 litres | 2,349 litres | about KES 535,000 | **Worked example: cost per cubic metre.** Solar has almost no running cost, so its cost per cubic metre is the upfront price spread over the water it delivers: > Cost per cubic metre = (installed price + maintenance over the system life) ÷ (cubic metres a day × 365 × years) If a supplier quoted KES 600,000 for the school system, with maintenance at 2% of that a year over 20 years, the water would cost about **KES 5.75 per cubic metre**. Diesel fuel alone for the same borehole is about **KES 37 per cubic metre** before servicing. Put each quote into the same formula to compare suppliers like for like. **Pitfalls.** A pump bigger than the borehole's safe yield will run it dry. Check the pump curve delivers your design flow at your total head, and keep the generator as backup where supply is critical, such as for livestock. The [solar water pumping guide](/solar-water-pumping) has the full method. ### Irrigation from a river, dam or shallow well Most smallholder irrigation lifts surface water a short way, so it needs far less solar than a borehole. A growing crop uses about 5 mm of water on a hot, dry day, roughly 20 m³ an acre. | Per acre | Drip at 22 m head | Furrow at 12 m head | | --- | --- | --- | | Water reaching the crop | about 90% | about 60% | | Water pumped per day | about 22 m³ | about 34 m³ | | Energy per day | about 2.1 kWh | about 1.8 kWh | | Pump motor | about 0.45 kW | about 0.4 kW | | Solar array | about 0.55 kW, one panel | about 0.5 kW, one panel | Drip's 22 m includes about 10 m of drip pressure; furrows fed from a raised tank need about 12 m. Because demand peaks in the dry, sunny months, average-day sizing usually copes; add a second panel per acre if you also irrigate from June to August. A small petrol pump running about four hours a day burns around 4 litres, about KES 900 a day, or about **KES 136,000 over a 150-day season**. Keep suction within the pump's limit, usually a few metres, or use a floating or submersible pump, and filter river and dam water before drip lines. Abstraction can require a permit from the Water Resources Authority; leave enough water for people downstream in the dry season. ### Milk cooling Milk leaves the cow at about 35°C and must be cooled to around 4°C, which takes about **0.023 kWh of electricity per litre**. The difficulty is timing: cows are milked around 06:00 and 18:00, when solar is weakest. The answer is an ice bank charged at midday; cooling a litre of milk takes about **0.38 kg of ice**, so a collection centre's 1,500 litres of evening milk needs about 560 kg, roughly half a cubic metre. | | Small farm | Collection centre | | --- | --- | --- | | Milk per day | 100 litres | 3,000 litres | | Cooling energy per day | about 2.3 kWh | about 68 kWh | | Solar for an average day | about 0.6 kW | about 17.7 kW | | Solar for July | about 0.8 kW | about 25 kW | - **Small farm, off-grid:** two 620 W panels run a small DC compressor building an ice bank, with margin even in July. Saving 10 litres a day of evening milk at KES 50 is worth about KES 180,000 a year. - **Collection centre on CI1:** about 18 kW (29 panels) sized for the average day saves up to about **KES 548,000 a year**, with the grid topping up in cloudy months. - **Collection centre off-grid:** the same cooling on diesel takes about 30 litres a day, about **KES 2.5 million a year**. Sizing for July (about 25 kW, 41 panels) with the generator as backup is almost always worth it. Ask suppliers how fast the cooler brings each milking to 4°C and how many hours the ice bank holds without sun. ### Cold rooms for fresh produce A walk-in room about 3 m x 2.5 m x 2.5 m inside, with 100 mm insulated panel, held at about 8°C and taking in one tonne of produce a day, must remove about 33 kWh of heat a day. With a cooling unit moving roughly 2.5 units of heat per unit of electricity, that is about **13 kWh of electricity a day**. Most of it, about 18.4 kWh of the heat, goes into cooling the day's new produce, so pre-cooling in the shade and loading in the cool of the morning both help. Thirteen kWh needs about 3.5 kW on an average day and about 4.9 kW in July; eight panels produce about 13 kWh in July and about 19 kWh in a typical month. The produce is cooled by day, so at night the room only has to hold temperature, which takes only about 50 kg of ice in this example. Good insulation, a tight door and strip curtains cut the night load further. The value is in produce saved: cutting losses by 10% on a tonne a day saves 100 kg, about **KES 5,000 a day** at an example KES 50 a kilogram. Compared with diesel at about KES 100 per kWh, solar also avoids roughly KES 490,000 a year of fuel. Agree crops and temperatures first: leafy greens near 1 to 4°C, avocados around 5 to 7°C, tomatoes and mangoes around 10 to 13°C. ### Poultry Poultry is the one farm use where a battery is the right storage, because the critical load is the **incubator**. A 500-egg unit uses about 150 W, around 3.6 kWh a day, and a long cut at the wrong time can ruin a hatch. Twelve hours of backup needs about 1.8 kWh usable, about 2 kWh of lithium battery, with an inverter that changes over fast enough that the controller does not reset, and an SMS temperature alarm. Layers are often given about 16 hours of light; switch to LED poultry lights before sizing, and a small battery covers them easily. **Brooding heat** is the poor fit: four 250 W lamps running day and night use about 24 kWh a day, about KES 680 a day at the DC2 rate, and would need about ten panels plus a large night battery for a load used only part of each cycle. Insulate the brooder and use electric heating plates instead of lamps, or gas, biomass or charcoal brooders where safe and ventilated. A small commercial farm with one incubator, LED lighting for a few thousand birds, a water pump filling a header tank and an office might need about 2 to 3 kW of panels and 5 to 10 kWh of battery, with brooding handled separately. > All figures are planning estimates using typical efficiencies, equipment ratings, produce and milk properties, and Kenya's average solar resource. Have a licensed water engineer, refrigeration engineer or installer confirm the design, and follow veterinary, extension and processor guidance. ## Next steps - Estimate panels, battery and inverter for any daily load with the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator). - For a generator you want to run less, read [diesel generator vs solar hybrid](/articles/diesel-generator-vs-solar-hybrid). - Size incubator and essential-load backup with the [battery backup guide](/articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages), and choose chemistry with [lithium vs lead-acid](/articles/lithium-vs-lead-acid-battery-cost-kenya). - Check the return with the [solar payback guide](/articles/solar-payback-period-kenya), then [compare quotes](/articles/compare-solar-quotes-kenya) and [financing options](/articles/solar-financing-cash-loan-ppa-kenya). - For a cooperative, collection centre or borehole, [request an assessment](/contact) with your test report, fuel use and bills. --- ### Article: How to read your KPLC bill or token receipt, and what to take from it for solar - Slug: /articles/how-to-read-kplc-bill - Published Date: 2026-10-16 - Tags: KPLC tariffs, Solar sizing, Kenya - Executive Description: Your KPLC bill or token receipt shows more than the amount due. The units, tariff class and the charges added to each kWh are what you need to size solar and compare quotes. Here is what each line means. Before anyone can size a solar system, compare quotes or work out savings honestly, they need three things from your electricity bill: **how many units you use, your tariff class, and what each unit really costs you**. All three are on your KPLC bill or token receipts, if you know where to look. ## Postpaid bill or prepaid tokens? - **Postpaid** customers receive a monthly bill with meter readings, the units used and the charges. - **Prepaid** customers buy tokens; each token receipt shows the units bought and how the payment was split between energy, charges and taxes. The layout differs between bills, token receipts and the KPLC app or USSD service, but the same items appear. ## The items that matter | Item | What it tells you | Why it matters for solar | | --- | --- | --- | | Account or meter number | Identifies your connection | Needed for any application to Kenya Power | | Tariff or customer class | Domestic (DC), small commercial (SC), commercial and industrial (CI) or e-mobility | Sets the rate each solar unit saves | | Units (kWh) | Energy used in the period, or bought with the token | The starting point for sizing | | Energy charge | Units multiplied by the base rate | Only part of the real price | | Fuel cost charge | Per kWh, changes monthly | Saved by every solar unit you use | | Forex and inflation adjustments | Per kWh, change monthly | Saved too | | Levies (ERC, REP, Water Resources Authority) | Small per kWh or percentage charges | Saved too | | VAT | Tax on energy and fuel cost charges | Saved too | | Maximum demand (CI bills) | Highest kVA recorded in the month | Sets the demand charge, which solar alone rarely reduces | ## Working out what a unit really costs you Divide the total paid for energy by the units: > All-in rate = total energy-related charges ÷ kWh For a home on the DC2 tariff using 500 kWh, the reviewed rates give roughly: | Line | KES | | --- | --- | | Energy charge (500 kWh at KES 18.57) | 9,285 | | Fuel cost charge | 1,755 | | Forex adjustment | 590 | | Inflation adjustment | 240 | | ERC and Water Resources Authority levies | about 48 | | Rural Electrification Programme levy | 465 | | VAT | 1,765 | | **Total** | **about 14,150** | That is about **KES 28.30 per kWh**, half as much again as the base rate alone. Every kWh of solar you use on site saves this all-in figure. Our [KPLC unit cost](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) article lists the all-in rates for every class. ## What to collect before asking for quotes 1. **Twelve months of bills or token receipts.** Use averages over the year, since rainy months, holidays and school terms change use. 2. **Your tariff class**, exactly as printed. 3. **For businesses:** maximum demand and, where shown, power factor for each month. 4. **When you use power.** Bills show monthly totals, not the time of day. A smart meter, the KPLC time-of-use breakdown if you have one, or a simple log of your main appliances tells you how much falls in daylight, which decides how much solar you can use. 5. **Outage history**, if you need backup. ## Common surprises - **Token units vary from month to month**, because the fuel cost charge and forex adjustment change monthly, so the same shillings buy different units. - **Using less can move you between tariff bands.** Domestic customers using more or less than 100 kWh a month are priced differently. - **Bills estimated rather than read** can be wrong; check the meter reading type and ask for an actual reading if needed. > These are general notes using reviewed KPLC rates. Bill and token layouts change, and the surcharges change monthly, so check your own latest bill and the current EPRA schedule. ## Use your numbers - Enter your units and tariff class in the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator). - See [Kenya electricity tariffs](/kenya-electricity-tariffs) for the reviewed rates and demand charges by class. - Then read [how many solar panels a house needs](/articles/how-many-solar-panels-for-my-house-kenya) or, for businesses, [KPLC demand charges](/articles/kplc-demand-charges-ci-customers). --- ### Article: Battery backup for KPLC outages: how big a battery do you need? - Slug: /articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages - Published Date: 2026-10-15 - Tags: Battery storage, Power outages, Kenya - Executive Description: Size a backup battery from the loads you keep on and the hours you need. Keeping lights, a fridge, Wi-Fi and a TV running for 4 hours takes about 1.8 kWh of lithium battery; 8 hours about 3.6 kWh. When the power goes off, a battery only has to carry what you choose to keep running, for as long as the outage usually lasts. Sizing it comes down to two numbers: the **load you keep on** (in kW) and the **hours of backup** you want. Everything else follows from those. ## Step 1: list what must stay on Decide which loads are essential during an outage. For a typical home, that list might look like this: | Load | Typical power | | --- | --- | | LED lights, 8 x 9 W | 72 W | | Fridge (average draw while cycling) | 100 W | | Wi-Fi router | 15 W | | TV | 80 W | | Phone and laptop charging | 60 W | | Security lights or CCTV | 40 W | | **Total** | **about 370 W, call it 0.4 kW** | Use the wattage on your own appliances where you can. Leave out heavy loads such as electric showers, kettles, irons and cookers; backing those up multiplies the battery size for very little benefit. ## Step 2: multiply by the hours you need Energy the battery must deliver is load multiplied by hours. That is the **usable** capacity. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are normally run to about 90% depth of discharge, so the battery you buy (the **nominal** capacity on the label) is usable capacity divided by 0.9. | What stays on | Load | 4 hours: usable / nominal | 8 hours: usable / nominal | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Home basics (list above) | 0.4 kW | 1.6 / 1.8 kWh | 3.2 / 3.6 kWh | | Home with water pump and more | 1.0 kW | 4.0 / 4.4 kWh | 8.0 / 8.9 kWh | | Small office or shop | 1.5 kW | 6.0 / 6.7 kWh | 12.0 / 13.3 kWh | | Clinic or school block | 3.0 kW | 12.0 / 13.3 kWh | 24.0 / 26.7 kWh | Lead-acid batteries should only be discharged to about 50% if you want them to last, so they need roughly double the nominal capacity: the 3.2 kWh home example would need about 6.4 kWh of lead-acid. ## Step 3: check the inverter, not just the battery The battery sets how **long** you can run; the inverter sets how **much** you can run at once. Size the inverter at least 25% above your essential load, so a 1.5 kW office needs an inverter of about 2 kW or more. Motors are the trap. Fridges, freezers and water pumps draw several times their running power for a moment when they start. If the inverter cannot supply that surge, it trips even though the battery is full. Check the inverter's surge rating against your largest motor. ## Step 4: make sure the battery can recharge A battery that is not refilled before the next outage is only half a solution. On the grid, it recharges from KPLC when power returns. To recharge from solar instead, the array needs spare output beyond the daytime load. In Kenya, each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 3.8 kWh a day on average. Allowing for about 8% lost charging and discharging the battery, refilling the 3.2 kWh home battery needs about 0.9 kW of extra solar, and the 12 kWh office battery about 3.4 kW. In the cloudy months output drops, so a battery sized right in February may not fully refill in July. The monthly values for your area are on the [solar by county](/solar) pages. ## How many hours should you plan for? Look at your own outage history rather than a national average: how long your typical outages last and how often they happen. A few practical rules: - **Size for your common outage, not the worst one.** Doubling backup hours doubles the battery, and the rare all-day outage is often cheaper to cover with a generator. - **Separate essential circuits.** Wiring essentials to their own board stops someone from accidentally running the kettle off the battery. - **Plan for battery life.** Lithium batteries last thousands of cycles, but heat shortens their life. Keep them in a cool, ventilated space, out of direct sun. > These are planning estimates using typical appliance ratings. Your real loads, the exact battery and inverter models and your outage pattern decide the final size, and a licensed electrician must install and protect the system. ## Size it for your site - The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) takes your essential load and backup hours, sizes the battery and inverter, and adds the solar needed to recharge it. - The [battery backup and storage guide](/battery-storage) covers usable versus nameplate capacity, charge limits and generator integration in more depth. - On a time-of-use tariff, see [what a KPLC unit really costs](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) before deciding whether to charge the battery from the grid at night. --- ### Article: How to compare solar quotes in Kenya: price per kW is not the whole story - Slug: /articles/compare-solar-quotes-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-15 (Updated: 2026-10-17) - Tags: Solar quotes, Procurement, Solar sizing, Kenya - Executive Description: Three quotes for the same roof can look KES 140,000 apart and turn out to be much closer. Here is how to compare them on cost per kWh, exact equipment, exclusions, warranties, surge protection and maintenance. Most people compare solar quotes on the total price, or at best the price per kW. Both can mislead. Two quotes for the same need can differ in system size, equipment quality, what is included and what happens when something fails. The fair comparison is what each system costs **per kWh it will deliver**, for equipment you know, with nothing missing from the price. ## A worked example Suppose a home or small office uses about 19 kWh a day in daylight and asks three suppliers to quote: | | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Array | 5.0 kW | 6.2 kW (10 x 620 W) | 5.0 kW | | Quoted price | KES 520,000 | KES 560,000 | KES 420,000 | | Price per kW | KES 104,000 | KES 90,300 | KES 84,000 | | Exclusions | None | None | Mounting, DC cabling and protection (about KES 75,000) | | Real price | KES 520,000 | KES 560,000 | about KES 495,000 | Quote C looks cheapest by KES 100,000, but once the excluded items are added it is only KES 25,000 below Quote A. Quote B looks dearest but has the lowest price per kW. ## Step 1: put every quote on cost per kWh Across Kenya, each kW of panels produces about 1,400 kWh a year. Allowing for panels losing about 0.5% of their output each year, a kW produces roughly 33,000 kWh over 25 years. | | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C (real price) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Output in the first year | about 7,000 kWh | about 8,700 kWh | about 7,000 kWh | | Output over 25 years | about 165,000 kWh | about 204,000 kWh | about 165,000 kWh | | Cost per kWh produced | KES 3.16 | KES 2.74 | KES 3.01 | | Including one inverter replacement (example KES 100,000) | KES 3.77 | KES 3.23 | KES 3.62 | All three are far below the KES 28.30 a domestic DC2 unit costs from KPLC, which is why solar pays. But the figures only hold if you **use** the output. Quote B produces about 24 kWh a day against a 19 kWh daytime need. Unless you add daytime loads or a battery, the extra panels mostly produce energy you cannot use, and the real cost per useful kWh is higher than the table shows. Size first, then compare. ## Step 2: insist on exact models A quote that says "5 kW inverter, 620 W panels, lithium battery" cannot be checked. Ask for: - The **manufacturer and model number** of the panels, inverter and battery, with datasheets. - The **battery's usable capacity** in kWh, not just the nominal figure, and its rated cycle life. - The **inverter's continuous and surge ratings**, so it can start your pumps and fridges. - The **mounting system**, cable sizes and protection devices (DC isolators, surge protection, earthing). With exact models you can compare like for like and check that the parts work together. ## Step 3: read the exclusions Common items left out of cheaper quotes include mounting structures, cabling, trenching, the changeover or distribution board work, transport to site, commissioning and the first service. Ask each supplier to price the same complete scope, or add the missing items yourself before comparing. ## Step 4: compare warranties and support | What to ask | Why it matters | | --- | --- | | Panel product and performance warranty | Product warranty covers defects; performance warranty covers output loss over 25 years or more. | | Inverter warranty, and who handles claims | The inverter is the part most likely to fail; a claim through an overseas maker can take months. | | Battery warranty in years and cycles or throughput | Both limits matter; the battery may hit its cycle limit before its years. | | Workmanship warranty | Covers the installation itself: roof leaks, loose connections, poor earthing. | | Response time for faults | A dead system for three weeks loses a month of savings. | ## Step 5: check the installer Solar PV installers in Kenya must hold a licence from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Ask for the licence number and check it, ask for two or three recent installations you can visit, and get the design (array layout, string sizing and single-line diagram) in writing before you pay a deposit. ## Surge and lightning protection to look for Lightning is one of the most common causes of solar equipment failure in Kenya. The Lake Victoria basin, including much of western Kenya, has some of the most frequent thunderstorms in the world, and storms are common across the highlands in the rainy seasons. A strike does not have to hit the building: a nearby strike can send a surge through long cables into the inverter, charge controller or battery management system. Surge protection devices (SPDs) and good earthing are a small part of the price, while the inverter is one of the most expensive parts and may take weeks to replace. A quote that leaves them out to look cheaper is a false saving. Check that the quote includes: - **Earthing** that bonds panel frames, mounting rails and the inverter enclosure to a good earth electrode, with the **earth resistance measurement** handed over for your records. Dry, rocky or sandy ground may need extra rods. - **SPDs in more than one place:** on the DC side between panels and inverter, rated for the array's DC voltage; on the AC side at the inverter output and main distribution board; and on data or monitoring cables, which are easily overlooked. - **A full lightning protection system** where needed: tall or exposed buildings, hilltop sites, schools, hospitals and telecom sites in high-lightning areas, with the array placed inside its zone of protection. - **Good wiring:** short cable runs, positive and negative DC cables run close together, DC cables kept away from lightning conductors, and proper enclosures and glands. SPDs wear out as they absorb surges, so ask how to read their status windows after storms. Check that your insurance covers lightning damage to the solar equipment, and keep the installation and earthing records the insurer may ask for. Earthing and lightning protection must be designed by a licensed electrician or engineer to the applicable Kenyan standards. ## Maintenance and cleaning the quote should cover Solar panels need little maintenance, but they must stay clean. In the dry seasons, typically January to March and July to October, dust from murram roads, construction, farms and cement works builds up between the rains. Panels near a quarry or busy road can lose well over 10% in a few dry weeks; panels in a clean, rainy area only a few percent. | System | Yearly output | Value at its tariff | Value of each 5% lost | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5 kW home, DC2 at KES 28.30 | about 7,000 kWh | about KES 198,000 | about KES 9,900 a year | | 100 kW business, CI1 day rate KES 22.09 | about 140,000 kWh | about KES 3.1 million | about KES 154,000 a year | For a business or institution, ask for cleaning and inspection in the maintenance contract, with a schedule and a simple output report. Our [solar payback](/articles/solar-payback-period-kenya) article allows about 1% of the installed price a year for maintenance, which covers regular cleaning on most sites. The method should be: - Clean early or late in the day, when the glass is cool; cold water on hot glass can crack it. - Soft, clean water and a soft brush or squeegee; no abrasive cleaners, scourers or high-pressure jets, which damage the coating and can void the warranty. Do not spray junction boxes or connectors. - Proper roof access and fall protection; nobody stands on panels. - Each visit also checks for new shade, damaged cables or glass, frame corrosion and blocked inverter and battery vents, and removes bird droppings promptly. Between visits, watch the inverter app: if output on a clear day falls noticeably below a similar day after the last clean, it is time. > The yields here use Kenya's average solar resource and a typical performance ratio, without financing costs. Your roof, location, shading and the exact equipment change the figures, and a licensed engineer should review the final design. ## Make the comparison easier - Size the system for your needs first with the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator), so every supplier quotes against the same target. - [Solar by county](/solar) gives the monthly sun hours for your area, which change the output per kW. - StimaPulse records structured requirements and supplier responses side by side; see [how sizing works](/solar-sizing) or [request an assessment](/contact). Our article on [solar payback](/articles/solar-payback-period-kenya) shows how to turn the winning quote into an honest payback figure. --- ### Article: Diesel generator vs solar hybrid for an off-grid business in Kenya - Slug: /articles/diesel-generator-vs-solar-hybrid - Published Date: 2026-10-15 (Updated: 2026-10-17) - Tags: Diesel, Off-grid solar, Battery storage, Kenya - Executive Description: A generator's fuel alone costs about KES 100 per kWh at current Nairobi diesel prices. For an off-grid business using 40 kWh a day, a solar and battery hybrid can cut fuel by around 90%. Here is how the numbers work. Lodges, shops, workshops, farms and camps beyond the grid often run on a diesel generator for most of the day. It works, but it is one of the most expensive ways to make electricity. A solar and battery hybrid, with the generator kept for backup, usually cuts the fuel bill by far more than it costs to install. ## What a generator unit really costs A small diesel generator burns roughly **0.45 litres of fuel for every kWh** it produces, and more when it runs lightly loaded, as off-grid generators often do overnight. At KES 227.76 a litre, EPRA's maximum Nairobi pump price for 15 October to 14 November 2026: > Fuel cost = 0.45 litres x KES 227.76 = about **KES 102.50 per kWh** That is more than three and a half times the KES 28.30 a domestic KPLC customer pays all-in, before counting servicing, oil, filters, transport of fuel to site, theft and the generator's own replacement. ## The example business An off-grid lodge or workshop uses about **40 kWh a day**: 24 kWh during daylight (kitchen, workshop tools, pumping, office) and 16 kWh in the evening and overnight (lighting, refrigeration, security, guest rooms). Running everything on the generator takes about 6,600 litres of diesel a year, about **KES 1.5 million in fuel** at that price. ## Option 1: solar for the daytime only Eleven 620 W panels (6.8 kW) with a suitable inverter cover most of the daytime load directly. The generator still runs every evening and on cloudy days. ## Option 2: a full hybrid Eighteen 620 W panels (11.2 kW) produce enough to run the daytime load and charge a battery for the evening. With about **16 kWh of usable battery** (about 17.8 kWh nominal for lithium), the generator is needed only when the sun falls short, mostly in the cloudy months. | | Generator only | Solar for the daytime | Full hybrid | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Solar array | none | 6.8 kW | 11.2 kW | | Battery (usable) | none | none | 16 kWh | | Energy from the generator | 100% | about 42% | about 5 to 10% | | Diesel per year | about 6,600 litres | about 2,800 litres | about 350 to 660 litres | | Fuel cost per year | about KES 1.5 million | about KES 634,000 | about KES 79,000 to 150,000 | The hybrid's range reflects the weather. Using Kenya's average month, the generator would supply about 5% of the energy, almost all of it between May and August. Real weather comes in runs of cloudy days, so plan for closer to 10%. ## Month by month On Kenya's average solar resource, the 11.2 kW hybrid needs no generator from September to April. In July, the weakest month, the array produces about 30 kWh a day against the 41 kWh needed after battery losses, so the generator fills a gap of about 10 kWh a day. Your county may be sunnier or cloudier in those months; check the [solar by county](/solar) pages. ## What it pays back Prices vary widely by site and equipment, so take these only as an example. If the full hybrid cost KES 1.7 million installed and saved about KES 1.35 million of fuel a year (planning for 10% from the generator), it would pay back in about 15 months from fuel alone. Diesel prices change every month, so rerun the figures with the latest EPRA price. The generator also runs far fewer hours, so servicing costs fall and its life is extended. Because diesel is so expensive, the case for solar is usually stronger off-grid than on the grid. The bigger risk is undersizing: a battery too small for the evening load, or an array that leaves the generator running every afternoon in July. ## Getting the hybrid right - **Measure the evening load carefully.** It sets the battery size, and refrigeration and lighting add up. - **Use an inverter that can start the generator automatically** when the battery runs low, and charge the battery from it efficiently. - **Keep the generator properly sized and serviced.** It now runs less often, but it must start when needed. - **Move flexible loads into the day:** pumping, laundry, workshop machines and charging. - **Plan for the dry and cloudy seasons separately**, since water and power demand can peak at different times. > These are planning estimates using Kenya's average monthly solar resource, typical efficiencies and an example fuel price. Your loads, site, fuel price and equipment change the figures, and a licensed engineer must design and install the system. ## Size it for your site - The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) sizes panels, battery and inverter from your load and backup hours. - The [battery backup and storage guide](/battery-storage) covers usable capacity and generator integration, and our [solar for farms guide](/articles/solar-for-farms-kenya) does the same comparison for borehole pumping. - For a full hybrid design with monthly simulation and supplier comparison, [request an assessment](/contact). --- ### Article: How many solar panels do I need for my house in Kenya? - Slug: /articles/how-many-solar-panels-for-my-house-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-15 (Updated: 2026-10-17) - Tags: Solar sizing, Homes, Kenya - Executive Description: A home using 300 kWh a month needs about three 620 W panels to cover its daytime use, and 500 kWh about four. Here is a table by monthly use, how a battery and your roof change it, and why to cut water heating first. The honest answer is: enough to cover the electricity you use **while the sun is up**, plus whatever a battery will carry into the evening. Panels sized to your whole monthly bill will produce more than you can use during the day, and without a battery or an export arrangement that extra output is wasted. ## The rule of thumb Across Kenya, each kW of panels produces about **3.8 kWh a day** on average, after losses from heat, dust, wiring and the inverter. A modern 620 W panel therefore produces about 2.4 kWh a day. > Panels needed = daytime use per day (kWh) ÷ 2.4, rounded up Your monthly use in kWh is printed on your KPLC bill or token receipts. Divide by 30 for a daily figure, then estimate how much of it happens in daylight. ## Panels by monthly use This table assumes half of the home's use happens between morning and late afternoon, which is typical for a family with someone at home during the day. It uses Kenya's average monthly sun and the all-in domestic rate. | Monthly use | Monthly bill (about) | Panels (620 W) | Array | Roof area | Savings per year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 100 kWh | KES 2,600 | 1 | 0.6 kW | about 3 m² | about KES 15,000 | | 200 kWh | KES 5,700 | 2 | 1.2 kW | about 6 m² | about KES 34,000 | | 300 kWh | KES 8,500 | 3 | 1.9 kW | about 8 m² | about KES 51,000 | | 500 kWh | KES 14,200 | 4 | 2.5 kW | about 11 m² | about KES 83,000 | | 800 kWh | KES 22,600 | 6 | 3.7 kW | about 17 m² | about KES 130,000 | | 1,500 kWh | KES 42,500 | 11 | 6.8 kW | about 31 m² | about KES 243,000 | Bills are at the all-in DC2 rate of KES 28.30 per kWh, or KES 25.79 for the 100 kWh home on DC1. Roof area allows for spacing around each panel. Most homes start with a 3 kW inverter or larger, even for one or two panels, so they can add panels later. ## If you want the evening covered too Solar alone covers only daytime use. To use solar after dark, add a battery and more panels to fill it. For the 500 kWh home, adding a battery that carries 5 kWh into the evening raises the array to six panels (3.7 kW) and the savings to about **KES 130,000 a year**. The battery also keeps essentials running during outages; our [battery backup guide](/articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages) shows how to size it. ## Three things that change the answer - **When you use power.** If the house is empty all day, fewer panels make sense, or a battery becomes essential. If you can run the washing machine, water pump and ironing in the middle of the day, the same panels save more. - **Where you live.** Northern and eastern counties get noticeably more sun than the national average, and some highland areas less, especially from June to August. The [solar by county](/solar) pages give the monthly figures for your area. - **Your tariff band.** If solar takes your grid use below 100 kWh a month, you may move to the cheaper DC1 rate, which slightly reduces the value of each unit saved. ## Cut the water heating load first In many Kenyan homes the electric shower is the biggest single load, ahead of the fridge and the TV. A five-minute shower uses about 40 litres; warming it from about 18°C to 40°C takes about **1 kWh**. | | Per shower | Family of five, per month | | --- | --- | --- | | Energy | about 1 kWh | about 153 kWh | | Cost at the DC2 all-in rate of KES 28.30 | about KES 29 | about KES 4,300 | In cooler highland towns the figures rise, and showers alone can push a household above 100 kWh a month, into the higher DC2 band. Moving that load before sizing panels keeps the array smaller. There are three ways to do it: - **A solar water heater** warms water directly in a roof collector and stores it in an insulated tank, with no panels or inverter losses. If it supplies 75% of the family's hot water over a year, it saves about **KES 39,000 a year**; at an example installed price of KES 120,000 it pays back in about three years. Size the tank at roughly 40 to 50 litres per person per day; evacuated tubes cope better with cool, cloudy weather, flat plates are robust and simple; ask about an indirect system or scale filter for hard borehole water; and set the backup element to heat only in the evening if the sun has not done the job. - **Panels and a hot water tank.** If you are installing panels anyway, a diverter can heat a tank from surplus solar. The family's 5 kWh a day of hot water takes about **1.3 kW of extra panels**, about three 620 W panels. It is simpler than roof plumbing but less efficient than a solar water heater. - **A heat pump water heater** delivers roughly three units of heat per unit of electricity, cutting the same family's hot water to about **KES 1,450 a month**. It costs more upfront and works best in warmer areas. For hotels, boarding schools, hostels and clinics, where hot water use is large and steady, a solar water heater is often the first energy project worth doing. These figures use typical water temperatures and shower lengths, and a qualified plumber or installer should design the system. ## A note on the cloudy months July is Kenya's weakest solar month on average, with about 30% less output than the yearly average. A system sized for the average will cover less of the daytime load in June to August. That is usually fine for a grid-connected home, which simply buys more from KPLC in those months; an off-grid home needs to size for July instead. > These are planning estimates using Kenya's average solar resource, a 78% performance ratio and reviewed KPLC rates. Your roof direction, shading, location and habits change the result, and a licensed installer should confirm the design. ## Work out your own number - Enter your bill in the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) to get panels, inverter, battery and savings for your home. - Before you buy, read [how to compare solar quotes](/articles/compare-solar-quotes-kenya) and [how to calculate payback honestly](/articles/solar-payback-period-kenya). --- ### Article: KPLC demand charges: what CI customers pay and how to cut them - Slug: /articles/kplc-demand-charges-ci-customers - Published Date: 2026-10-15 - Tags: Demand charges, Commercial solar, Battery storage, Kenya - Executive Description: On a CI1 connection, every kVA of maximum demand costs KES 1,100 a month. Here is why demand charges can be a fifth of a factory's bill, why solar alone rarely cuts them, and what does. Commercial and industrial (CI) customers of Kenya Power pay for electricity in two ways: for the **energy** they use, in kWh, and for their **maximum demand**, in kVA, the highest load their meter records during the month. The second charge is easy to overlook, and it behaves very differently from the first. Solar panels are excellent at cutting the energy charge but often leave the demand charge untouched. ## What the demand charge costs These are the reviewed demand charges StimaPulse uses, per kVA of maximum demand per month, before VAT: | Customer class | Demand charge per kVA per month | | --- | --- | | CI1 (415 V) | KES 1,100 | | CI2 (11 kV) | KES 700 | | CI3 (33 kV) | KES 370 | Domestic, small commercial and e-mobility connections do not pay a demand charge. ## How big a share of the bill it is Take a CI1 factory that uses 30,000 kWh a month, 80% of it during the day, with a maximum demand of 150 kVA: | Bill item | Calculation | KES per month | | --- | --- | --- | | Daytime energy | 24,000 kWh at KES 22.09 all-in | 530,160 | | Night energy | 6,000 kWh at KES 13.96 all-in | 83,760 | | Demand charge | 150 kVA at KES 1,100 | 165,000 | The demand charge is about **21% of the bill**, and it is set by the single highest moment of the month. If two compressors, a kiln and the borehole pump all start together for a few minutes once in thirty days, that moment sets the charge for the whole month. ## Why solar alone rarely reduces it A 100 kW solar array on that factory would produce about 140,000 kWh a year, worth about KES 3.1 million a year at the daytime rate if all of it is used on site. That is a strong energy case. But the demand charge only falls if the array is producing strongly at the exact moment of the month's peak, every month. Peaks often happen at shift start around 07:30, when solar is weak, or on a cloudy afternoon. One peak without sun and the month's demand charge is unchanged. There is a second subtlety: KPLC bills demand in **kVA**, not kW. Solar inverters normally supply real power (kW) only, so the grid still supplies the reactive power that motors need. Solar can lower the kW drawn from the grid without lowering the kVA as much as expected. ## Four ways to cut the demand charge - **Correct the power factor.** kVA is kW divided by power factor. At a power factor of 0.80, a 120 kW load draws 150 kVA. Raise it to 0.95 with a capacitor bank and the same load draws about 126 kVA, saving about 24 kVA, or roughly **KES 26,000 a month** at the CI1 rate, before touching anything else. Your bill or a power quality logger shows your current power factor. - **Stagger large motor starts.** Start compressors, pumps and mills a few minutes apart, and move non-urgent loads away from the busiest hour. Timers and simple interlocks often cost far less than any equipment. - **Shave peaks with a battery.** A battery that supplies 30 kW for up to an hour during the factory's peaks could cut maximum demand from 150 to 120 kVA, saving **KES 33,000 a month**, about KES 396,000 a year. That needs about 30 kWh of usable storage (about 33 kWh nominal) and, critically, a controller that catches every peak: one missed peak sets the charge for that month. - **Schedule flexible loads.** Pumping to a tank, pre-cooling cold rooms and charging forklifts can move to hours when the rest of the plant is quiet. ## Before you invest 1. Get twelve months of bills and note the maximum demand and power factor each month. 2. Ask Kenya Power or an electrician for interval meter data, or log the load for at least two weeks, to see when peaks happen and what causes them. 3. Fix power factor and motor scheduling first; they are usually the cheapest kVA. 4. Then size solar for the daytime energy, and a battery for the remaining peaks only if the savings justify it. > These are planning estimates using reviewed KPLC rates. Demand charge rules, measurement intervals and VAT treatment should be confirmed against your own bill and the current EPRA tariff schedule, and a licensed electrician should design any capacitor bank or battery connection. ## Model your own bill - [Kenya electricity tariffs](/kenya-electricity-tariffs) lists the reviewed energy and demand rates for every class. - The [commercial and industrial solar guide](/commercial-solar) shows how StimaPulse separates energy, demand and levy savings so finance teams can check them. - See the [battery backup and storage guide](/battery-storage) for usable capacity and inverter sizing, and [what a KPLC unit really costs](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) for the all-in energy rates used here. --- ### Article: KPLC time-of-use tariffs: which loads to move to night, and when solar flips the advice - Slug: /articles/kplc-time-of-use-load-shifting - Published Date: 2026-10-15 - Tags: Time of use, KPLC tariffs, Energy efficiency, Kenya - Executive Description: On KPLC time-of-use tariffs, night energy costs KES 8 to 11.50 less per kWh. Here is which loads a business can move into the 22:00 to 06:00 window, what it saves, and why solar changes the answer. Some Kenya Power customer classes can be billed on a time-of-use basis, with energy between **22:00 and 06:00** charged at half the daytime base rate. After levies and VAT, the gap between day and night is large enough that simply moving flexible loads into the night can cut a bill noticeably, with no new equipment at all. ## How big the gap is All-in rates per kWh, including the fuel cost charge, levies and VAT, from StimaPulse's reviewed tariffs: | Customer class | Day (06:00 to 22:00) | Night (22:00 to 06:00) | Saving per kWh moved | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Small commercial SC3 | KES 28.82 | KES 17.32 | KES 11.50 | | Commercial CI1 (415 V) | KES 22.09 | KES 13.96 | KES 8.13 | | E-mobility (EV charging) | KES 25.19 | KES 15.51 | KES 9.68 | Time-of-use billing applies on application and subject to Kenya Power's conditions for your connection, so confirm your eligibility and meter before planning around it. ## Loads that move easily - **Water pumping:** fill tanks at night and supply by gravity during the day. A bigger tank is cheap compared with the energy saved. - **Water heating:** heat a well-insulated storage cylinder overnight for morning and daytime use in hotels, hostels and kitchens. - **Cold rooms and freezers:** pull the temperature a few degrees lower at night and let it drift up during the day, within food safety limits. - **EV and forklift charging:** charge fleets overnight at the depot. - **Batch processes:** milling, grinding, washing and other work that does not need daytime staff. - **Ice making:** make ice at night for cooling during the day. ## What it can save | Example | Energy moved | Monthly saving | | --- | --- | --- | | Hotel on SC3: water heating and pumping | 40 kWh a day, 30 days | about KES 13,800 | | Factory on CI1: milling and cold store pre-cooling | 300 kWh a day, 26 days | about KES 63,400 | | Delivery fleet on e-mobility: ten vans charged overnight | 244 kWh a day, 26 days | about KES 61,400 | The factory example adds up to about KES 760,000 a year from scheduling alone. ## Watch the demand charge CI customers also pay a monthly charge on maximum demand. If moving loads stacks them on top of each other, for example starting all the pumps and the mill at 22:00, you can set a new maximum and lose part of the saving. Stagger the starts. Our article on [KPLC demand charges](/articles/kplc-demand-charges-ci-customers) explains how they work. ## When solar flips the advice Once a site has solar, the cheapest energy is no longer at night. It is at midday, when the panels are producing and every kWh used on site is almost free. The best schedule then becomes: 1. **Move flexible loads into the solar hours** (roughly 09:00 to 16:00) first: pumping, water heating, pre-cooling and daytime fleet charging. 2. **Use the time-of-use night rate** for what cannot run in the sun, such as overnight vehicle charging. 3. **Leave the expensive evening hours** (from sunset to 22:00) as empty as possible. This is also why a battery is often a weaker investment for a business on a time-of-use tariff: storing midday solar for the night only replaces cheap night energy. Storing it for the evening, before 22:00, is worth more. > These are planning estimates using reviewed KPLC rates. Time-of-use windows, eligibility and surcharges should be confirmed against your bill and the current EPRA tariff schedule. ## Plan your schedule - [Kenya electricity tariffs](/kenya-electricity-tariffs) lists the reviewed time-of-use rates and windows for each class. - The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) shows how much of your use falls in solar hours. - For fleets, see [EV charging infrastructure](/ev-charging); for pumping, the [solar water pumping guide](/solar-water-pumping). --- ### Article: Lithium vs lead-acid solar batteries: the real cost per kWh in Kenya - Slug: /articles/lithium-vs-lead-acid-battery-cost-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-15 - Tags: Battery storage, Solar sizing, Kenya - Executive Description: Lead-acid batteries look cheaper per kWh on the label, but cycled daily they can cost more per kWh delivered than KPLC power. Here is how to compare battery cost per kWh over its life. Battery quotes usually compare the price per kWh on the label. That figure leaves out three things that decide the real cost: how much of the battery you can use, how many times you can cycle it, and how much energy is lost getting in and out. The fair measure is the **cost per kWh delivered** over the battery's life. ## The formula > Cost per kWh delivered = battery price ÷ (usable kWh per cycle x number of cycles) - **Usable kWh** is the nominal capacity multiplied by the depth of discharge you run it to. - **Cycles** is the rated cycle life at that depth of discharge, from the datasheet. - If the battery cycles once a day, its **calendar life** may run out before its cycles do, so use whichever comes first. ## A worked example The prices here are examples only; use your own quotes and the datasheet figures for the exact models. | | Lead-acid (deep cycle) | Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) | | --- | --- | --- | | Example battery | 12 V 200 Ah, 2.4 kWh nominal | 5 kWh nominal | | Example price | KES 30,000 | KES 175,000 | | Price per nominal kWh | KES 12,500 | KES 35,000 | | Depth of discharge | 50% | 90% | | Usable per cycle | 1.2 kWh | 4.5 kWh | | Rated cycles at that depth | about 800 | about 6,000 | | Round trip efficiency | about 80% | about 92% | | **Cost per kWh delivered** | **about KES 31** | **about KES 6.50** | On the label, lead-acid looks almost three times cheaper. Cycled every day, it costs nearly **five times more per kWh delivered**, and at about KES 31 per kWh it is dearer than buying the same energy from KPLC at the domestic all-in rate of KES 28.30. It also needs replacing after a little over two years of daily use. The lithium battery's 6,000 cycles would take more than 16 years of daily use. If its calendar life is 12 years, it delivers about 4,400 cycles in practice, and the cost rises to about **KES 8.90 per kWh**: still far cheaper. ## Efficiency costs panels too Every kWh stored in a lead-acid battery needs about 1.25 kWh of solar to put it there, against about 1.09 kWh for lithium. For a battery cycled daily, that means more panels for the same evening energy. ## When lead-acid still makes sense - **Backup that is rarely used.** A battery that only covers occasional outages cycles a few times a month, so cycle life matters less and a lower upfront price can win. Calendar life and how it is kept charged matter more. - **Very tight budgets for small loads,** such as lights and phone charging, where the battery is small anyway. Even then, keep lead-acid batteries cool and fully charged, never run them below about 50%, and top up flooded types with distilled water. ## What to check on a lithium quote - **Chemistry:** lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is the safe, long-life standard for stationary storage. - **Usable capacity** and the depth of discharge the warranty allows. - **Warranty** in years and in cycles or total energy throughput. - **Battery management system** and communication with your inverter, so the inverter charges it correctly. - **Operating temperature:** keep any battery out of direct sun, in a ventilated space. > These are planning estimates using example prices and typical ratings. Battery prices, cycle ratings and warranties vary widely between models, so compare the datasheets of the exact batteries you are quoted. ## Size your battery - Our [battery backup guide](/articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages) sizes a battery from the loads you keep on and the hours you need. - The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) adds the battery and the solar needed to recharge it. - The [battery backup and storage guide](/battery-storage) covers usable capacity and charge limits in more depth. --- ### Article: On-grid, off-grid or hybrid solar: which inverter does a Kenyan site need? - Slug: /articles/on-grid-off-grid-hybrid-inverter-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-15 (Updated: 2026-10-17) - Tags: Inverters, Solar sizing, Battery storage, Kenya - Executive Description: An on-grid solar system switches off during a KPLC outage. Off-grid systems run without the grid, and hybrids do both. Here is how each works, who it suits, how to size the inverter, and a full off-grid home example. The inverter is the heart of a solar system. It turns the panels' direct current into the alternating current your sockets use, and its type decides what happens when the grid goes off. Choosing the wrong type is one of the most common and costly mistakes in Kenyan solar. ## On-grid (grid-tie) inverters An on-grid inverter runs alongside the KPLC supply. Solar power is used first, and the grid supplies the rest. - **No battery,** so it is the cheapest way to cut a daytime bill. - **It switches off during a KPLC outage.** This is a safety requirement: an inverter must not feed power into lines that technicians may be working on. Many buyers are surprised to find their new solar system dark during a blackout. - **Best for** offices, shops, factories and schools where most use is in daylight and outages are rare or covered by a generator. ## Off-grid inverters An off-grid system has no grid connection. Panels charge a battery, and the inverter supplies the site from the battery and the panels. - **Works anywhere,** including sites far from KPLC lines. - **Needs a battery sized for the night** and an array sized for the cloudy months, often with a generator for backup. - **Best for** rural homes, farms, lodges, clinics and telecom sites without a grid connection. See our [diesel generator vs solar hybrid](/articles/diesel-generator-vs-solar-hybrid) article for an off-grid business example. ## Hybrid inverters A hybrid inverter combines both: it uses solar first, stores surplus in a battery, draws on the grid when needed, and keeps essential circuits running during an outage. - **Backup during outages,** switching over automatically, usually within a fraction of a second. - **Flexible:** it can start with a small battery and add more later, and can charge the battery from the grid at cheaper night rates if that ever makes sense. - **Best for** homes and businesses with frequent outages, or that want to use solar in the evening. ## Side by side | | On-grid | Off-grid | Hybrid | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Needs a KPLC connection | Yes | No | Optional, usually yes | | Battery | None | Essential | Optional to large | | Works during a KPLC outage | No | Not affected | Yes, on backed-up circuits | | Relative cost | Lowest | Highest per kWh | Middle to high | | Typical use | Daytime bill savings | Sites without grid | Savings plus backup | ## Sizing the inverter Three checks decide the size: 1. **The array.** Inverters are usually paired with an array up to about 25% larger than their rating, because panels rarely produce their full rating in real conditions. A 5 kW inverter suits up to about 6.2 kW of panels (ten 620 W panels). 2. **The load it must run.** For a hybrid or off-grid inverter, the continuous rating should be at least 25% above the essential load it carries during an outage or at night. 3. **Starting surges.** Fridges, freezers and pumps draw several times their running power for a moment at start-up. Check the inverter's surge rating against the largest motor. Common sizes are 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 kW for homes and small businesses, and 15 kW and above, often three-phase, for larger sites. ## Sizing a fully off-grid rural home An off-grid system must be sized for what the home actually uses, for the nights, and for the cloudiest month, not for a sunny average day. Take a rural home with LED lights, an efficient fridge, TV, Wi-Fi, phone and laptop charging, a small 750 W water pump and security lights: | Load | Energy per day | | --- | --- | | LED lights, 8 x 9 W for 6 hours | 0.43 kWh | | Efficient fridge | 1.00 kWh | | TV, 80 W for 5 hours | 0.40 kWh | | Wi-Fi router, 15 W all day | 0.36 kWh | | Phone and laptop charging | 0.18 kWh | | Water pump, 750 W for 30 minutes | 0.38 kWh | | Security lights, 40 W for 12 hours | 0.48 kWh | | **Total** | **about 3.2 kWh** | **Leave out heat loads.** Cookers, kettles, irons, electric showers and heaters each draw 1.5 to 3 kW and would multiply the system size; cook on LPG or an efficient stove and heat water with a solar water heater. 1. **Battery.** About 2 kWh falls after dark, and the essentials (fridge, some lights, security lights, Wi-Fi) need about 2.3 kWh to get through a cloudy day: about 4.3 kWh usable. A LiFePO4 battery used to 90% needs about 4.7 kWh nominal, so a **5 kWh battery** fits. See [lithium vs lead-acid](/articles/lithium-vs-lead-acid-battery-cost-kenya) for why lithium suits daily cycling. 2. **Panels.** Allowing about 8% battery losses, the home needs about 3.4 kWh a day from its panels. Each kW gives about 3.8 kWh a day on average but only about 2.7 kWh in July, so sizing for July gives about 1.3 kW. **Three 620 W panels (1.9 kW)** cover that with margin, producing about 5 kWh a day in July and 7 kWh in a typical month. Check your area on the [solar by county](/solar) pages. 3. **Inverter.** Loads peak at about 1.2 kW, but the pump and fridge surge at start-up, so a **3 kW off-grid or hybrid inverter** with a good surge rating covers it and leaves room to grow. The same 3.4 kWh a day from a small generator would cost about KES 127,000 a year in fuel alone at current EPRA prices. Install a battery monitor, and put essential circuits on their own board so a visitor's kettle cannot drain the battery overnight. ## Questions to ask the installer - What happens to each circuit when KPLC power goes off? - Is the inverter set so it does not export power to the grid, unless an export arrangement with Kenya Power is in place? - Can I add batteries or panels later, and up to what size? - Who handles warranty claims, and how long does a replacement take? > These are general planning notes. The right inverter depends on your loads, connection, outage pattern and budget, and a licensed installer must design, configure and commission the system. ## Choose with your numbers - The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) suggests an inverter size from your array and essential load. - [Battery backup for KPLC outages](/articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages) and [lithium vs lead-acid batteries](/articles/lithium-vs-lead-acid-battery-cost-kenya) cover the battery side. - See [how sizing works](/solar-sizing) for how StimaPulse checks inverter, panel and battery compatibility. --- ### Article: Paying for solar in Kenya: cash, a loan or a power purchase agreement? - Slug: /articles/solar-financing-cash-loan-ppa-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-15 - Tags: Solar financing, Solar payback, Kenya - Executive Description: Cash gives the biggest saving, a loan spreads the cost, and a power purchase agreement needs no upfront payment. Here is how the monthly numbers compare for a 5 kW system, and the questions to ask before signing. The upfront price is often the biggest barrier to solar. There are three common ways to pay for it, and each changes who carries the cost, the risk and the savings. The example below uses the 5 kW home system from our [solar payback](/articles/solar-payback-period-kenya) article: KES 520,000 installed, saving about **KES 133,000 in the first year**, or about KES 11,100 a month. ## Option 1: pay cash You pay the full price and keep all the savings. - **Monthly saving:** about KES 11,100 from the first month. - **Payback:** about 4 years on honest assumptions. - **Best for** homes and businesses with savings or cash flow to spare. Over the system's life it gives the largest total saving. ## Option 2: take a loan Banks, SACCOs and some suppliers offer solar or asset finance. The interest rate and term decide whether the monthly repayment is above or below the monthly saving. With an example rate of 16% a year: | | 3-year loan | 5-year loan | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly repayment | about KES 18,300 | about KES 12,600 | | Monthly saving (first year) | about KES 11,100 | about KES 11,100 | | Net cost per month during the loan | about KES 7,200 | about KES 1,500 | | Total repaid | about KES 658,000 | about KES 759,000 | A longer loan brings the repayment close to the saving, so the system almost pays for itself from the first month, but the interest adds to the total cost. After the loan ends, the full saving is yours for the rest of the system's 20 to 25 years. ## Option 3: a power purchase agreement (PPA) or lease A solar company installs and owns the system on your roof, and you pay for the energy it delivers at an agreed rate per kWh, usually below the KPLC rate. You pay nothing upfront. For example, if the home used 4,900 kWh of solar a year at a PPA price of KES 18 per kWh instead of KPLC's KES 28.30, it would save about **KES 50,000 a year**, about KES 4,200 a month, with no investment and no maintenance responsibility. PPAs are more common for businesses, schools and institutions with larger, steady daytime loads. ## Comparing them | | Cash | Loan | PPA or lease | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Upfront payment | Full price | Deposit, sometimes none | None | | Saving in the early years | Highest | Low or negative | Moderate | | Saving over 20 years | Highest | High | Lowest | | Maintenance responsibility | Yours | Yours | Usually the provider's | | Main risk | Equipment failure | Interest rate, repayments | Contract terms, price escalation | ## Questions to ask before signing - **Loans:** the real annual interest rate including fees, whether the rate is fixed, the penalty for early repayment, and whether the system is the only security. - **PPAs and leases:** the price per kWh and how it rises each year, the contract length, the minimum purchase, what happens if you move or sell the building, who insures the equipment and the buyout price. - **For all:** the exact equipment and warranties, as in [how to compare solar quotes](/articles/compare-solar-quotes-kenya). > These are planning estimates using example prices, an example interest rate and an example PPA price. Actual loan terms and PPA offers vary widely; compare written offers and read the full contract before committing. ## Work out your numbers - Get a first estimate of size and savings from your bill in the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator). - For businesses and institutions comparing ownership with a PPA, StimaPulse sets the options side by side with every assumption visible; [request an assessment](/contact). --- ### Article: Solar payback in Kenya: how to calculate it honestly - Slug: /articles/solar-payback-period-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-15 - Tags: Solar payback, Solar savings, Kenya - Executive Description: A 5 kW system can look like it pays back in under three years. Allow for unused output, maintenance, an inverter replacement and your real tariff, and the honest figure is closer to four. Here is the method. Payback is the number most people ask about first: how many years until the solar system has paid for itself? The simple formula is installed price divided by yearly savings. The difficulty is that most quotes use the best-case savings figure. Here is how to get a figure you can rely on. ## The simple calculation Take a 5 kW system quoted at KES 520,000 for a home on the domestic DC2 tariff. In Kenya each kW of panels produces about 1,400 kWh a year, so the system produces about 7,000 kWh a year. If every unit replaces a KPLC unit at the all-in rate of KES 28.30, it saves about KES 198,000 a year: > Payback = KES 520,000 ÷ KES 198,000 a year = about 2.6 years That is the figure many sales sheets show. It assumes everything goes right. ## Adjustment 1: how much of the output you actually use Solar saves money only when it replaces energy you would otherwise buy. If nobody is home during the day, or the system is larger than the daytime load, some output goes unused. Without an export arrangement, unused output is worth nothing. | Share of output used on site | Yearly savings | Payback | | --- | --- | --- | | 100% | about KES 198,000 | 2.6 years | | 70% | about KES 138,000 | 3.8 years | Most homes and many businesses use between 50% and 90% of a well-sized system's output. Estimate yours from when you use power, not from the monthly total. ## Adjustment 2: your tariff class Savings depend on the rate each solar unit replaces. The same fully used system saves less for a business on the CI1 commercial tariff, whose daytime all-in rate is KES 22.09, than for a home on DC2 at KES 28.30: | Tariff | Rate replaced | Yearly savings (all output used) | Payback | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Domestic DC2 | KES 28.30 | about KES 198,000 | 2.6 years | | Commercial CI1, daytime | KES 22.09 | about KES 154,000 | 3.4 years | See [what a KPLC unit really costs](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) for every class. ## Adjustment 3: the costs that come later - **Maintenance:** panel cleaning, inspections and the odd replacement part. Allow about 1% of the installed price a year. - **Inverter replacement:** inverters often last 10 to 15 years, against 25 years or more for panels. Budget for one replacement. - **Panel ageing:** output falls by about 0.5% a year. - **Battery replacement**, if you have one, depending on its cycle life and how hard it works. ## Putting it together For the same 5 kW home system, using 70% of the output, with 1% maintenance a year, 0.5% yearly panel ageing and an example KES 100,000 inverter replacement in year 12: | | Simple estimate | Honest estimate | | --- | --- | --- | | Savings in the first year | KES 198,000 | about KES 133,000 | | Payback | 2.6 years | about 4 years | | Net savings over 25 years | not shown | about KES 2.5 million | The system is still an excellent investment. The honest figure simply sets the right expectation, and it is the one a bank, board or finance officer will check. ## What about a battery? A battery lets you use solar output that would otherwise be wasted, but it has its own payback. In the example, the 30% unused output is about 2,100 kWh a year. A battery that stores it and returns it in the evening, losing about 8% on the way, saves about KES 55,000 a year. If that battery costs KES 350,000, it pays back in about 6.4 years on its own, and the whole system in about 4.6 years. If you buy a battery for outage backup, count the value of avoided downtime too, which this calculation leaves out. Our [battery backup guide](/articles/battery-backup-kplc-outages) covers sizing. ## Tariff changes cut both ways The fuel cost charge and forex adjustment change every month. If they rise, solar saves more; if they fall, it saves less. Run the payback at today's rate and at a lower rate to see how sensitive it is. > These are planning estimates using reviewed KPLC rates and Kenya's average solar resource, with example prices and no financing costs. Your quote, usage pattern and tariff decide the real figure. ## Work out your own payback - Get a first estimate of size and savings from your bill with the free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator). - Read [how to compare solar quotes](/articles/compare-solar-quotes-kenya) before choosing a supplier. - For businesses, the [commercial and industrial solar guide](/commercial-solar) explains how StimaPulse shows payback with every assumption visible. --- ### Article: What a KPLC unit really costs: the all-in price per kWh in October 2026 - Slug: /articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026 - Published Date: 2026-10-14 - Tags: KPLC tariffs, Electricity prices, Kenya - Executive Description: A domestic KPLC unit costs about KES 28.30 once the fuel cost charge, levies and VAT are added to the KES 18.57 base rate. Here is the breakdown for every customer class. The price printed in a Kenya Power tariff schedule is only the base energy rate. Every kWh on your bill also carries a fuel cost charge, several levies and VAT. For a typical household on the DC2 tariff, those additions take a KES 18.57 base rate to about **KES 28.30 per kWh**, roughly 52% more. That all-in figure is what matters when you compare a solar quote, size a battery or price EV charging, because it is what each kWh of solar actually saves you. ## The breakdown for a domestic (DC2) unit These are the reviewed values StimaPulse uses in its calculations, last checked on 7 October 2026. | Item | KES per kWh | How it is charged | | --- | --- | --- | | Base energy rate (DC2) | 18.57 | Tariff schedule | | Fuel cost charge (FCC) | 3.51 | Per kWh, changes monthly | | Forex adjustment (FERFA) | 1.18 | Per kWh, changes monthly | | Inflation adjustment (INFA) | 0.48 | Per kWh | | ERC levy | 0.08 | Per kWh | | Water Resources Authority levy | 0.015 | Per kWh | | Rural Electrification Programme levy | 0.93 | 5% of the base rate | | VAT | 3.53 | 16% of the base rate plus fuel cost charge | | **All-in price** | **28.30** | | On a 500 kWh month that is about KES 14,150 in energy charges, against KES 9,285 if you only counted the base rate. ## All-in prices for every customer class Time-of-use classes pay a lower rate overnight. The table shows the daytime (peak) rate and the overnight rate where they differ. | Customer class | Base rate (KES/kWh) | All-in rate (KES/kWh) | | --- | --- | --- | | Domestic lifeline, up to 30 kWh | 12.14 | 20.52 | | Domestic DC1, 31 to 100 kWh | 16.50 | 25.79 | | Domestic DC2, over 100 kWh | 18.57 | 28.30 | | Small commercial SC1, up to 30 kWh | 12.28 | 20.69 | | Small commercial SC2, 31 to 100 kWh | 16.30 | 25.55 | | Small commercial SC3, day / night | 19.00 / 9.50 | 28.82 / 17.32 | | Commercial CI1 (415 V), day / night | 13.44 / 6.72 | 22.09 / 13.96 | | Commercial CI2 (11 kV), day / night | 12.16 / 6.08 | 20.54 / 13.18 | | Commercial CI3 (33 kV), day / night | 11.68 / 5.84 | 19.96 / 12.89 | | E-mobility, day / night | 16.00 / 8.00 | 25.19 / 15.51 | Commercial CI customers also pay a monthly demand charge per kVA of maximum demand, which solar alone does not reduce. See [Kenya electricity tariffs](/kenya-electricity-tariffs) for demand charges, time-of-use hours and sources. ## What this means for solar - **Every kWh of solar you use on site saves the all-in price**, not the base rate. At KES 28.30, a 5 kW system that produces around 7,000 kWh a year and is fully used on site avoids roughly KES 197,000 of energy charges. - **Daytime use matters most.** Solar saves money only when it replaces energy you would otherwise buy. Homes that are empty during the day need a battery, or a smaller system, to get the same value. - **Night rates change the battery case for businesses.** On time-of-use tariffs, overnight energy is much cheaper, so storing solar for night use is worth less than using it during the day. > These figures are planning estimates. The fuel cost charge and forex adjustment change every month, so always check your latest bill or the current EPRA gazette before making a financial commitment. ## Run the numbers for your bill The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) uses these all-in rates for your tariff class to estimate panel size, battery backup and monthly savings from your KPLC bill. --- ### Article: Solar and EV charging in Kenya: cars, boda bodas, vans and bus depots - Slug: /articles/solar-for-ev-charging-kenya - Published Date: 2026-10-14 (Updated: 2026-10-17) - Tags: EV charging, Solar sizing, Electric motorcycles, Electric buses, Fleets, Kenya - Executive Description: An electric car driven 50 km a day needs about 2.3 kW of solar, a boda boda 1.4 kW and a van 6.4 kW. What each kilometre costs against petrol and diesel, and how to plan a fleet or bus depot. Electric cars, boda bodas, delivery vans and buses are arriving fast in Kenya, and charging them from solar is an obvious idea in a country with strong sun all year. This guide sizes the solar for each vehicle, compares the cost per kilometre with petrol and diesel, and then covers what changes when you charge a whole fleet at a depot. ## The method, once Every vehicle below is sized the same way: 1. **Daily charging energy** = distance per day x consumption, plus about 10% lost in the charger and battery. 2. **Solar output**: Kenya receives about 4.9 peak sun hours a day on average. After losses from heat, dust, wiring and the inverter (a performance ratio of 0.78), each kilowatt of panels produces about **3.83 kWh a day**, falling to about 2.70 in July, the weakest month. 3. **Solar needed** = daily charging energy ÷ 3.83, rounded up to whole 620 W panels. 4. **Grid cost avoided** = daily charging energy x 30 days x the all-in rate you would otherwise pay. All-in rates include the fuel cost charge, levies and VAT; our breakdown of [what a KPLC unit really costs](/articles/kplc-bill-cost-per-kwh-october-2026) shows where they come from. Real consumption depends on the model, load, speed and terrain, so use your vehicle's figure if you have it. | Vehicle | Typical use | Consumption | Charging energy per day | Solar needed | Panels (620 W) | Grid cost avoided per month | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Electric car | 50 km a day | 16 kWh per 100 km | 8.9 kWh | 2.3 kW | 4 | about KES 7,500 at DC2 | | Electric boda boda | 120 km a day | 4 kWh per 100 km | 5.3 kWh | 1.4 kW | 3 | about KES 4,500 at DC2 | | Electric delivery van | 100 km a day | 22 kWh per 100 km | 24.4 kWh | 6.4 kW | 11 | about KES 18,500 at the e-mobility day rate | The rates used are KES 28.30 per kWh for a domestic DC2 connection and KES 25.19 for the KPLC e-mobility daytime rate. The e-mobility night rate (22:00 to 06:00) is about KES 15.51 per kWh. ## The catch: the sun has to be up when the vehicle is plugged in Solar charging works best when vehicles charge during the day: at a depot between shifts, at the workplace, or at a boda stage or swap station. A vehicle that only charges overnight cannot use solar directly. It needs a battery to store the daytime energy, which adds cost and losses, and storing solar for overnight charging is often dearer than simply buying grid power at the KES 15.51 night rate. Daytime solar replacing the KES 25.19 to 28.30 daytime rate is where the savings are largest. If you are weighing storage anyway, see [lithium vs lead-acid battery costs](/articles/lithium-vs-lead-acid-battery-cost-kenya). ## Electric cars A car is the vehicle most often charged at home overnight, which is the worst fit for solar. The 2.3 kW system works when the car sits at home or at a workplace with panels during the day, for example a car used for school runs and short trips, or one charged at the office. Plan for the cloudy months. In July the four-panel system produces about 6.7 kWh a day, short of the 8.9 kWh needed. Either add a panel or two, or accept some grid charging in June to August and the long rains. If the car is part of a wider home system, [how many solar panels your house needs](/articles/how-many-solar-panels-for-my-house-kenya) shows how to add the load. ## Electric boda bodas: cost per km against petrol Boda bodas move a large share of Kenya's people and parcels, and fuel is the biggest daily cost for most riders. The fair comparison is **cost per kilometre**, because that is how a rider earns, and it has to include the battery, which wears out with use. **Petrol.** A typical 125 to 150 cc boda covers about 40 km on a litre. At KES 226.96 a litre, EPRA's maximum Nairobi super petrol price for 15 October to 14 November 2026, that is about **KES 5.70 per km**, or about KES 680 a day for a rider doing 120 km. **Electricity.** At 4 kWh per 100 km plus 10% losses, an electric motorcycle needs about **0.044 kWh from the socket per km**: | Where it is charged | All-in rate per kWh | Energy cost per km | Energy cost for 120 km | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Home socket, domestic DC2 | KES 28.30 | KES 1.25 | KES 149 | | E-mobility tariff, daytime | KES 25.19 | KES 1.11 | KES 133 | | E-mobility tariff, night | KES 15.51 | KES 0.68 | KES 82 | | Solar at the stage or depot | about KES 3.50 over its life | about KES 0.15 | about KES 18 | **The battery.** Spread the battery's price over the kilometres it will deliver: battery price ÷ (cycle life x km per full charge). A KES 150,000 battery rated for 2,000 cycles and giving 80 km per charge delivers about 160,000 km, which adds about **KES 0.94 per km**. Use the real price, cycle rating and range from the seller; this is where cheap and good batteries differ most. | | Petrol | Electric, home charging | Electric, e-mobility night | Electric, solar | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Energy per km | KES 5.70 | KES 1.25 | KES 0.68 | KES 0.15 | | Battery wear per km (example) | none | KES 0.94 | KES 0.94 | KES 0.94 | | Total per km | KES 5.70 | about KES 2.20 | about KES 1.60 | about KES 1.10 | | Daily cost at 120 km | about KES 680 | about KES 260 | about KES 195 | about KES 130 | Even after the battery, an electric boda costs less than half as much per kilometre as petrol on home charging, and about a fifth on solar. Over 26 working days a month, the home-charging rider keeps about KES 10,900 more than on petrol, and there are no oil changes, spark plugs or clutch plates to pay for. **Swapping or charging?** Battery swapping avoids waiting, and the rider never owns the battery, so its wear is built into the swap price. Owning and charging is usually cheaper per km, but takes several hours and leaves the rider with the replacement cost. Turn a swap subscription into a cost per km (monthly price ÷ km ridden) and set it against the "total per km" row. Station operators can buy power on a flat KPLC e-mobility station rate, about KES 26.40 per kWh all-in, but riders pay the operator's own price, which adds the station cost and a margin. Solar suits bodas well because a swap station can charge spare batteries while riders are on the road. Three panels cover one rider's 120 km day; a station serving many riders scales with the number of batteries charged during daylight. ## Electric delivery vans Vans usually return to a yard between rounds, which makes them a good daytime solar load. The 6.4 kW, 11-panel system replaces about KES 18,500 a month at the e-mobility day rate per van. Several vans quickly need a commercial-scale array, and once you are charging a fleet the questions change from panels to power supply, covered next. For the business case of a larger roof system, see [solar for businesses and institutions](/articles/solar-for-businesses-and-institutions-kenya). ## Fleet and bus depot charging Electric buses and matatus are moving from pilots to fleets. The same energy method applies, but at a scale where the tariff, the timing and the connection matter more than the panels. **Energy per bus.** A full-size electric bus uses roughly 1.1 kWh per km. With 10% charging losses, a bus covering 200 km a day needs about **244 kWh** from the depot, or 1.22 kWh per km. Smaller electric matatus use less in proportion; use the manufacturer's figure for your route and load. | | Diesel bus | Electric bus, night charging | Electric bus, day charging | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Energy per km | 0.35 litres (example) | 1.22 kWh | 1.22 kWh | | Price | KES 227.76 a litre | KES 15.51 per kWh | KES 25.19 per kWh | | Energy cost per km | about KES 80 | about KES 19 | about KES 31 | | Energy cost per day at 200 km | about KES 15,900 | about KES 3,800 | about KES 6,200 | Diesel is at EPRA's maximum Nairobi price for the same period. With night charging, one bus saves about **KES 12,000 a day** in energy, about KES 3.8 million a year over 312 working days. Battery leasing, maintenance and financing change the full picture, but energy is usually the largest running cost. ### Use the e-mobility tariff and avoid demand charges The KPLC e-mobility tariff charges about 40% less between 22:00 and 06:00, and a dedicated e-mobility connection carries no demand charge on the reviewed tariff. That matters: if the chargers instead share the depot's commercial or industrial connection, unmanaged charging sets the month's maximum demand. On CI1, every kVA of maximum demand costs KES 1,100 a month before VAT, so each extra 100 kVA of charging peak adds about KES 110,000 a month. Our guide to [KPLC demand charges](/articles/kplc-demand-charges-ci-customers) explains how that charge is set, and [time-of-use load shifting](/articles/kplc-time-of-use-load-shifting) covers moving load into the cheap night hours. ### Size the depot supply - **244 kWh over 8 night hours** averages about 31 kW per bus. - A depot of 10 buses therefore needs roughly **300 to 400 kW** of charging and supply capacity, depending on how charging is scheduled. - **Smart charging** that staggers start times keeps the peak down, and the connection and transformer size with it. - Daytime top-up between peak runs costs more per kWh, but can reduce the battery size a route needs. A depot of several hundred kW usually needs a dedicated transformer and connection from Kenya Power. Apply early: the connection, its capacity and any upgrade works often take longer than buying the buses. Leave space in the layout for growth. ### Where solar fits at a depot Buses charge mostly at night, so depot solar usually serves the daytime loads (workshop, offices, wash bay), daytime top-up charging and any vans or bodas charged during the day. Covering one bus's 244 kWh from solar would take about 64 kW of panels, and that energy arrives while the bus is on the road; storing it in batteries for overnight charging rarely beats the night rate. > These are planning estimates using typical consumption, an example diesel consumption and battery price, current EPRA prices and reviewed KPLC rates. Vehicle models, routes, loads and the final connection design change the figures; an engineer and Kenya Power must confirm any depot supply. ## Check your own numbers - The free [solar calculator](/tools/solar-calculator) adds EV charging to a home, stage or depot load, for cars, boda bodas, vans and buses, and shows the panel count and savings. - [Solar by county](/solar) gives the monthly sun hours for your area, which can be noticeably higher in the north and east than the national average. - [EV charging infrastructure](/ev-charging) covers charger types, depot and swap station design, scheduling and the e-mobility tariff. - For a fleet transition plan with charging schedules and supply sizing, [request an assessment](/contact). ## 8. Regulatory, Engineering & Safety Disclaimers 1. Planning Boundary: StimaPulse is engineering analysis and commercial decision software. Outputs are pre-feasibility planning models based on user inputs, reviewed utility tariff schedules, and satellite solar datasets. 2. Field Verification: Physical installations require on-site structural surveys, soil resistivity testing, electrical load audits, single-line protection designs, and statutory filings. 3. Licensure in Kenya: Under the Energy Act 2019, solar PV installations in Kenya must be designed, installed, and commissioned by contractors licensed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA Class V1, V2, C1, or C2). 4. Safety Standards: Electrical systems must comply with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) KS EAS 148, KS IEC 62109, and KS IEC 61724 monitoring standards.