NAIROBI – Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) commissioned its first battery energy storage system (BESS), marking a major move toward digital and energy self-sufficiency. The system will provide uninterrupted renewable power to its Modular Data Center (MDC) at the company’s Nairobi headquarters.
The new battery system stores 1.16 megawatt-hours of energy, enough to support KenGen’s 52-kilowatt MDC, which houses 356 U-spaces. This setup is tailored to meet the company’s expanding digital infrastructure needs while ensuring consistent power delivery, even during grid fluctuations.
“This commissioning marks a crucial step in our journey toward a low-carbon, digitally resilient future,” said KenGen CEO Peter Njenga during the unveiling ceremony. He added, “By integrating battery storage into our data infrastructure, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also showing how energy utilities can lead in sustainable innovation.”
KenGen’s goal is to scale up to 500 megawatt-hours of battery storage over the next ten years under its Good to Great (G2G) 2034 blueprint. The plan supports Kenya’s broader vision to adopt clean, reliable energy across sectors while reinforcing national grid stability.
The new system is intended to support internal operations but also sets a precedent for how utilities can apply energy storage to meet rising digital and power demands. Battery storage allows energy captured during off-peak periods to be deployed when needed, especially in high-performance, critical-use settings like data centers.
Experts in the field say battery installations like this are increasingly vital as nations shift toward renewables, which can be intermittent. Storage smooths out supply and enables greater use of solar and wind energy.
KenGen’s MDC is part of its digital transformation strategy, serving as a backbone for secure data hosting and real-time operations monitoring. With Kenya pushing for smart cities and tech-driven services, secure and uninterrupted power for data infrastructure has become a national priority.
The move also aligns with Kenya’s 100% renewable energy target by 2030 and strengthens the country’s leadership in sustainable energy development across Africa.
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