Assessing transition pathways to low-carbon electricity generation in Kenya: A hybrid approach using backcasting, socio-technical scenarios and energy system modelling

Abstract

This paper establishes a bottom-up LEAP-Kenya-Centralized-Electricity model to simulate the mitigation potential of chief atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2010-2040 under different scenarios: Business as Usual (BAU), Vision 2030+Least Cost Power Development Plan (VLCPDP), and four low-carbon scenarios spanning Full Renewables (FRE), UN Agenda 2030 SDGS (SDGs) and AU Agenda 2063 (AU). A comparative analysis of the alternative generation scenarios is presented and assesses multiple indicators including electricity demand, technology stocks, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, marginal abatement costs, and air pollution health impacts. Total electricity demand is projected to reach 57.4 thousand gigawatts-hours by 2040 under VLCPDP and the low-carbon scenarios; 11.8% greater than the BAU scenario. Total GHG emissions under SDGs and AU will be 99.7% and 97.6% lower than VLCPDP whose GHG emissions will be 14.7% greater than BAU. PM2.5 concentration in both BAU and VLCPDP will increase by 0.54µg/m3 by 2040. Besides, renewable energies will account for 99% of total electricity generation capacity under SDGs 2 in 2040; 26.7% and 20.9% higher than BAU and VLCPDP respectively. Importantly, FRE and SDGs 2 emerged as the most promising scenarios for achieving the highest greenhouse gas abatement potential and least impacts on human health at least costs.