Aconsultant hired by the Ministry of Energy to develop an energy efficiency plan for the country recommended the ban of importation
and sale of instant hot shower heads locally.
If the state adopts the report, Kenyans might have
to get used to cold showers or adopt more costly
options like use of electric boilers and solar water
heaters.
The consultant, Germany’s Lahmeyer International,
noted that the water heaters presented difficulties
for electricity generation and transmission.
Power Loss
Additionally, the company noted that there was a
high level of power losses due to a sudden spike in
power demand that only lasted a short duration.
The reports from Lahmeyer International stated:
“Instantaneous water heaters are noxious for the
generation, transmission and the distribution networks as they concentrate high power demand at the same periods. By doing so, they generate high
losses, voltage drops and call for expensive generation means.”
Lahmeyer International was contracted by the
Ministry in 2013 to draft an Energy Efficiency
Master-plan.
If all Kenyans would switch on their instant hot
showers at the same time there is a strain to the
power generation and distribution systems, the
report noted.
High Cost
Lahmeyer also noted that the high cost of alternatives to instantaneous water heaters would hurt
many Kenyans, whose incomes might not support
the installations of other water heaters.
“The alternative solutions are expensive or inaccessible for the low-income customers, for example,
solar water heaters, geysers, gas heaters,” the report
by the German firm stated.
The firm also recommended that the Government
considers giving incentives to those who import
electric boilers and solar water heaters to make them
affordable for local buyers
