Strathmore University, through its UNESCO Chair on Climate Change Resilience and Sustainability, was honored to host the Solar Energy Research Dialogue Workshop at Kyaka Hotel, Machakos. The event, organized in partnership with the Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), brought together regulators, researchers, innovators, and community stakeholders to discuss how to strengthen Kenya’s solar energy sector.

The discussions revolved around three key themes, including quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and user safety. KEBS outlined strategies for enforcing solar product standards to curb substandard and counterfeit equipment, while EPRA underscored the need for licensing, compliance monitoring, and strengthening the regulatory framework across the entire solar value chain.

Reflecting on the policy journey, Lee Okombe, Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst at EPRA, said, “At the onset, when the current solar regulations were being developed, one of the major challenges in the industry was public perception. Many people believed that solar systems simply didn’t work. This skepticism was largely tied to two factors. One, the quality of installations, and second, the quality of the products themselves.”

Over the last seven years, EPRA has worked to address these issues by creating a platform that promotes innovation within the energy and petroleum space. This has allowed them to strengthen standards while encouraging new ideas that improve the sector.

A highlight of the workshop was the SunSafe App, a digital tool designed to promote safe and transparent solar installations. The app is currently being enhanced to include improved solar PV system sizing algorithms that factor in Kenya’s diverse climatic and environmental conditions. By making solar design more accurate and user-friendly, SunSafe is set to empower both technicians and end-users in achieving safer and more efficient installations.

Newton Nyambati, Software Engineer for the SunSafe App, noted that the team quickly discovered solar sizing was far more complex than expected.

“The biggest technical challenge has been breaking down that complexity into a simple, user-friendly app. Think of it like a calculator. A mathematician may understand the formulas but still relies on a calculator to make the work easier and faster. In the same way, technicians can use the SunSafe App to simplify their tasks while still ensuring high technical standards are maintained, explained Nyambati.

For Anne Wacera Wambugu, Founder of the SunSafe App and Head of Department at the UNESCO Chair for Climate Change Resilience and Sustainability, the innovation is rooted in bridging the gap between research and practice.

“Much of my work focuses on testing solar products and conducting in-depth research in the solar field. What I found striking was how the things I was learning in the lab had significant real-world implications, especially for solar technicians who often don’t have access to this crucial knowledge. For example, understanding how heat and temperature affect batteries in different regions of the country is vital for installations, yet not always widely known,” said Wambugu.

She explained that her intention for the workshop was to create stronger collaboration between academia, regulators, and policy stakeholders.

“My goal was to create a common understanding between academia, regulators such as EPRA, and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). By engaging with policy stakeholders, we can begin mapping out a stronger foundation for the solar sector.”

Looking ahead, Anne shared her vision for SunSafe across several fronts. For technicians, she hopes the app will challenge the continent to rethink what solar installation should look like. On the social front, she is confident it will give more Kenyans access to clear information about what quality installations entail and why solar energy can be transformative. Economically, she envisions SunSafe dispelling the misconception that affordability and quality are mutually exclusive.

“With SunSafe, our goal is to strike a balance between cost and standards, so we can foster a safer and more reliable solar photovoltaic ecosystem overall,” concluded Wambugu.

Through these efforts, Strathmore University continues to play a leading role in shaping Kenya’s renewable energy journey. By combining digital innovation, strong regulation, and community-centered training, the University is pioneering a future where solar energy is not only sustainable but also safe, reliable, and accessible to all. Together with its partners, Strathmore is proving that the future of clean energy (SDG 7) in Kenya is both bright and full of promise.

Article written by Kirsten Dass