As the climate crisis intensifies, how we produce and consume energy is under growing scrutiny. The energy sector contributes over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with electricity and heat generation as the largest culprits. According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable electrification of end-use sectors could mitigate at least 20% of emissions by 2050
As the climate crisis intensifies, how we produce and consume energy is under growing scrutiny. The energy sector contributes over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with electricity and heat generation as the largest culprits. According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable electrification of end-use sectors could mitigate at least 20% of emissions by 2050.
Germany, through its ambitious Energiewende (energy transition), offers critical lessons. This is not merely a technical swap from coal to renewables it is a systemic transformation encompassing political, economic, social, and technological shifts. Kenya, which already boasts strong investments in wind, solar, and geothermal, can learn from Germany’s triumphs and challenges as it shapes its clean energy path.
Germany’s coal phase-out was driven by the need to reduce emissions and protect health and ecosystems. Fossil fuels are not only major contributors to global warming but also degrade air, water, and biodiversity. But beyond the environmental case, Germany saw the strategic need for energy independence and resilience. Volatile international fossil fuel markets make clean, homegrown energy an attractive alternative. Decentralizing power systems also improves equity and access, particularly in underserved regions.
However, the transition has not been smooth. Germany faced pushback over job losses in coal regions, fears of rising electricity prices, and concerns about maintaining secure energy supply. In response, it took a participatory approach establishing a 31-member Coal Commission in 2018, with representatives from government, industry, trade unions, science, civil society, and affected communities. The commission’s roadmap led to the 2020 passage of two key laws: the Coal Phase-Out Law and the Regional Transition Law.
These laws outlined a gradual coal exit by 2038 and dedicated €40 billion over 20 years to support economic diversification in mining regions. Displaced workers received early retirement packages, and new investments went into infrastructure and innovation. Some former coalfields are now home to wind farms, like the Königshovener Höhe project built on reclaimed land and co-owned by utility company Rhenish-Westphalian Electricity Company (RWE) and a local municipality. These projects show how existing infrastructure can be repurposed for renewables while retaining community support.
Germany also embraced citizen energy cooperatives and local ownership models. These foster community investment, job creation, and public acceptance. For Kenya, where rural areas often face power unreliability and exclusion from national energy decisions, such decentralization could drive inclusive growth and reduce dependency on central grids.
But can renewables deliver reliable power? Germany shows they can. Even as it phased out nuclear and reduced coal, it maintained one of the world’s most reliable electricity systems. The country’s System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) the index measuring average outage duration per customer is just 12.8 minutes per year. In contrast, Kenya’s SAIDI was over 110 hours per year in 2024 almost 600 times higher. Germany’s stable supply results from smart forecasting, grid digitization, strong operator coordination, and targeted reserves.
To safeguard supply, Germany established grid and capacity reserves, and regulatory frameworks under the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA). Strategic plants were held in stand-by mode for emergencies before being permanently shut in 2024. These measures ensured stability during the transition a model Kenya should study as it expands intermittent sources like wind and solar.
Of course, the German transition wasn’t without cost. Politically, it required long-term consensus; economically, it demanded major public and private investments; socially, it had to mitigate job losses and regional disparities. Technologically, it required smart grids, new storage systems, and adaptive markets.
Kenya faces similar hurdles. The Lake Turkana Wind Power project Africa’s largest demonstrated immense potential but also exposed challenges like transmission delays and lack of community engagement. A just and inclusive transition will require not only more renewable projects, but better planning, fair compensation, and genuine local participation.
To succeed, Kenya must embrace three critical principles: National readiness: A paradigm shift is needed in governance and public attitudes. The transition must be embraced across ministries, counties, and civil society. Context-specific strategy: Kenya’s unique mix of geothermal, wind, and solar should be backed by long-term energy security planning, diversification, and finance and Comprehensive policy mix: From subsidies to regulatory reform and skills development, Kenya will need policies that address the technical, economic, and social dimensions of the transition.
Germany’s experience is proof that clean energy and reliability can go hand in hand. But more importantly, it shows that energy transitions are about power not just in the literal sense, but in terms of who controls it, who benefits, and how communities are empowered.
If Kenya can adopt a participatory, equitable, and forward-looking approach, it has the potential not just to catch up but to leapfrog into a cleaner, fairer energy future.