Rural Electrification Authority & Renewable Energy Corporation 1411 views

On 12th March, 2019 the Energy Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 50 of 2017) received Presidential assent and became an Act of Parliament that is, the Energy Act, 2019. The commencement date of the Act was 28th March, 2019. Consequently, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) was established as the successor of the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). Under the new dispensation, REREC has an expanded mandate of spearheading Kenya’s renewable energy drive, in addition to implementing rural electrification projects. Under section 44(1) of the Energy Act 2019, REREC is mandated to undertake the following functions:

• Oversee the implementation of the Rural Electrification Programme;
• Manage the Rural Electrification Programme Fund established under section 143;
• Source additional funds for the Rural Electrification Programme and renewable energy;
• Develop and update the rural electrification master plans in consultation with County Governments;
• Develop and update the renewable energy master plan taking into account county specific needs and the principle of equity in the development of renewable energy resources;
• Support the establishment of energy centres in the counties;
• Establish framework for collaboration with County Governments in the discharge of its mandate;
• Undertake on-farm and on station demonstration of wood-fuel species, seedling production and management;
• Undertake feasibility studies and maintain data with a view to availing the same to developers of renewable energy resources;
• Develop, promote and manage in collaboration with other agencies, the use of renewable energy and technologies, including but not limited to biomass (biodiesel, bio-ethanol, charcoal, fuel-wood, bio-gas) municipal waste, solar, wind, tidal waves, small hydropower and co-generation but excluding geothermal;
• Formulate, in conjunction with the Agency, a national strategy for coordinating research in renewable energy;
• Undertake, in conjunction with the Agency, research, development and dissemination of appropriate renewable energy technologies;
• Provide an enabling framework for the efficient and sustainable production, conversion, distribution, marketing and utilization of biomass, solar, wind, small hydros, and municipal waste;
• Promote, in conjunction with the agency responsible for forests, the use of fast maturing trees for energy production including bio-fuels and the establishment of commercial woodlots including peri-urban plantations;
• Promote, in collaboration with other agencies, the development of appropriate local capacity for the manufacture, installation, maintenance and operation of renewable technologies such as bio-digesters, solar systems, turbines and other renewable energy technologies;
• Promote international co-operation programmes focusing on renewable energy sources;
• Harness opportunities offered under clean development mechanism and other mechanisms including, but not limited to, carbon credit trading to promote the development and exploitation of renewable energy sources;
• Promote the development of electricity generation through co-generation by sugar millers;
• Provide technical and other capacity building support to County Governments in the discharge of the function of electricity reticulation and energy regulation; and
• Undertake any other duty or perform such other function as may be necessary for the execution of its mandate under this Act.