Regulation is increasingly emerging as the decisive lever in unlocking Kenya’s largely untapped solar water heating (SWH) potential, offering the country a practical pathway to lower electricity costs, create jobs and accelerate its clean energy transition.
Momentum for renewable energy gathered fresh global attention on 21 November 2025, when delegates from 198 countries concluded the Conference of Parties (COP30) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belém, Brazil. Although the summit stopped short of firm commitments to phase out fossil fuels, participating nations rallied around five core objectives, including expanding energy access and sustainability. Central to this agenda is the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 — an ambition Kenya has already been steadily pursuing.
Among the country’s most promising but underexploited renewable solutions is solar water heating. Thanks to its equatorial location, Kenya receives abundant year-round sunshine, making solar thermal energy both viable and cost-effective. Solar water heating systems, which use solar collectors to heat water for homes, hotels, hospitals and industries, represent one of the simplest ways to harness this resource.
Kenya’s journey toward mainstreaming SWH has, however, not been linear. Initial regulations introduced in 2012 were annulled by the National Assembly in 2018 after concerns over inadequate public participation and references to repealed legal provisions. The setback slowed sector momentum but also paved the way for a more robust framework.
In July 2025, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) published revised Solar Water Heating Regulations, marking a significant reset for the industry. The new rules seek to professionalize the sector by requiring manufacturers, importers, vendors and installers to obtain licences — a move expected to improve product quality, enhance consumer confidence and stimulate wider adoption.
The potential economic ripple effects are considerable. Increased uptake of solar water heating systems could reduce demand on the national electricity grid, freeing capacity for productive uses while lowering energy bills for households and businesses. At the same time, the regulations are poised to create new employment opportunities for technicians and installers, expand markets for suppliers and encourage local manufacturing of solar thermal technologies.
Environmental gains are equally compelling. Greater reliance on solar water heating would reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity consumption, helping Kenya move closer to its climate commitments. However, stakeholders caution that proper disposal of solar components — particularly electronic waste — must keep pace to prevent new environmental risks.
A notable provision in the updated regulations requires new buildings to incorporate solar water heating systems at the design stage. This requirement places county governments, architects, engineers and developers at the centre of implementation. Early integration of SWH infrastructure in building plans is expected to cut retrofit costs and embed energy efficiency in Kenya’s rapidly expanding urban developments.
The regulations also strengthen quality control by mandating compliance with national standards for both imported and locally manufactured systems. For consumers, this translates into more durable products, reliable hot water supply, lower maintenance costs and better long-term value for money. By filtering out substandard equipment, the framework also reduces waste associated with premature system failures.
Despite these advantages, perceptions about high upfront costs have continued to slow adoption. Yet findings from a 2022 EPRA study suggest the concern may be overstated. The study showed that installing solar water heating increases plumbing and piping costs in residential buildings by between 28 and 33 percent. Given that plumbing typically accounts for about five percent of total construction costs, the overall impact on house prices remains relatively modest. Over time, savings on electricity bills help households recover the initial investment.
Even so, analysts see room for innovative financing — including green loans and pay-as-you-save models — to accelerate market penetration, particularly among middle- and lower-income households.
With the new regulatory framework now in place, Kenya has a clear opportunity to scale solar water heating as a cornerstone of its clean energy mix. Success will depend on effective enforcement, sustained public awareness and close collaboration across the energy, construction and county government sectors.
If these pieces fall into place, solar water heating could quietly become one of Kenya’s most impactful — and affordable — tools in building a resilient, low-carbon energy future.
— The writers are Managers in the Directorate of Electricity and Renewable Energy at EPRA
