The world is continuing its journey toward electrification, with numerous challenges and opportunities arising. This transformation is being seen globally, as nations revamp their methods of energy production and consumption.
Organizations are increasingly focusing on digitalization, decarbonization, and sustainability as they race against time to reduce emissions and achieve sustainable transformation.
Understanding the New Energy Landscape
The new energy landscape is defined by the global transition to renewable energy sources, a vital strategy in the fight against climate change. This landscape is unique to each country, influenced by the specific mix of alternative energy resources available.
Take Kenya, for instance. The country is witnessing the rise of an electric vehicle (EV) market, powered by geothermal and hydropower energy sources. This shift not only introduces new technology but also represents a cultural move towards enhanced productivity driven by alternative energy.
However, embracing EVs necessitates robust energy management practices. Typically, EV owners charge their vehicles at destinations such as offices, homes, or shopping centers, accounting for nearly 80% of charging behavior. This change could significantly increase the energy demand of buildings overnight.
For example, a typical electric car might require about 7KW to charge, while the average household power demand in Kenya is approximately 2KW. Adding an EV to a household could potentially triple or quadruple its energy consumption.
To manage this increased demand and facilitate the broader adoption of EVs, optimized energy management strategies are essential. This involves developing onsite renewable generation like rooftop solar, implementing efficiency measures, and utilizing digitized real-time monitoring to manage and reduce energy use.
Preparing for the Future Energy Workforce
East Africa, particularly Kenya, boasts a youthful population, with over 80% of Kenyans aged 35 and below. This young demographic holds the potential to drive significant change in the future.
Training and preparing young people is crucial for advancing the new energy landscape. Vocational schools can play a pivotal role in equipping the youth with the skills needed for the future, ensuring that East Africa can leverage its demographic advantage without relying on imported skills.
Building a skilled and dynamic workforce also involves fostering entrepreneurship and providing training, highlighting the importance of partnerships between vocational schools and industry stakeholders. This will equip the next generation to excel in the new energy landscape.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are set to become the cornerstone of East Africa’s new energy movement. These businesses will generate jobs and, with support from global companies like Schneider Electric, set benchmarks for the new energy landscape’s establishment.
Schneider Electric envisions a future shaped by countries like Kenya, positioned at the nexus of technology and decarbonization. It is the youth and SMEs, referred to as impact makers, who are driving change and shaping a more resilient, electrified, and net-zero world.
