Renewable energy refers to useful energy collected from nature in a bid to reduce the impact of global warming. As of 2018, the renewable energy investment hit USD 288 billion!
The history of renewable energy predates from the early 1800s to today, ranging from wind to, biofuel and the most common being solar energy. Coincidentally, it’s like the world has gone full circle and reinvented past ways of producing energy.
What’s new? Opibus has got financing of a whooping 834 million in grants and equity to start its new bus hailing service Basi Go in Kenya.
Wind Energy
A look at the earliest modern form of renewable energy after industrialisation is wind energy which is used to produce electricity through kinetic energy created by air in motion. Following the inventions of the electric generator in the 1830s, engineers mastered how to transform this kinetic energy into electric energy by use of wind turbines. The capacity of wind turbines has dramatically improved to 8MW. Meaning it can power up to 5000 houses! Investing in Wind energy produces a return interest of up to 15%.
Solar Energy
This new age is saying goodbye to fossil fuels and hello to green energy. That is why investment companies are investing in trillions as electrical generation is on the rise to adapt to our basic necessities of life. Solar energy has rapidly joined the race against global warming.
It has developed the most innovative ways to convert solar power into renewable energy at a cost lower than oil. Just the other day, Greenlight Planet reported having registered 17 million Kenyans to solar energy. A clear indication that not only is solar a preferred alternative to fossil fuel but a place to start investing your money. Unlike wind, solar can be harvested in small scale domestic consumption such as housing, thus reducing the cost of electricity to ⅓. If you are looking to invest here, you need to look at stock or EFT options.
Photovoltaic solar tech investment skyrocketed in the last 10 years to boast of profits margins of 52% globally.
Biomass
Sustainable technologies, energy development and commercialisation of profits drive growth and investment trends in this sector. Such innovations have led to the production of electric cars, solar-powered TVs, & heating systems that have zero toxic emissions. Biofuel, as an alternative to fossil fuel, has incorporated the use of ethanol & biodiesel to drive cars as well as provide an alternative to cooking gas. Unlike gasoline, biofuel is cleaner and reduces greenhouse emissions by 57-86%
Under biomass fuel, you can renew anything from wood waste, plant waste, solid waste to biodiesel.
Hydropower
Hydro has and is used in factories as a source of energy before, during industrialisation and up to today. However, it doesn’t produce as much energy for domestic use and is heavily utilised by industrial geothermal power plants. For example, Kenya Power & Lighting Co. is known to heavily get its energy from this source. 52.1% of its power is sourced from hydro, 32.5% from fossil fuel, 13.2% geothermal, 1.8% biogas, and 0.4% wind energy. Adding that up makes Kenya’s generation of electricity 70% renewable.
Electric Cars
In the spirit of all things renewable and eco-friendly, electricity also gets a slot to showcase how it can improve sustainability. Just recently in Kenya, a new company under the name BasiGo was launched. They creating the future of clean electric public transportation in Kenya. Nopea ride a taxi-hailing company also runs on electricity 100%. Download it for free from the Google play store or Apple Stores.
Hydropower
Hydro has and is used in factories as a source of energy before, during industrialisation and up to today. However, it doesn’t produce as much energy for domestic use and is heavily utilised by industrial geothermal power plants. For example, Kenya Power & Lighting Co. is known to heavily get its energy from this source. 52.1% of its power is sourced from hydro, 32.5% from fossil fuel, 13.2% geothermal, 1.8% biogas, and 0.4% wind energy. Adding that up makes Kenya’s generation of electricity 70% renewable.
Employment in Renewables
Absolutely worth it! Renewable energy tends to be labour-intensive and promises job opportunities 5 times compared to fossil fuels. 
The good thing about this industry is that it allows for small business entrepreneurship and tremendous investment opportunities. One can sell solar-powered gadgets and make good returns plus those companies pay very well. Therefore Go for it!
Companies in renewable energies to watch out for in Kenya; Greenlight Planet, SunCulture, Biogas, SistemaBio & Strauss.
The modernisation and efficiency of fossil fuel-driven technology are unmatched. On the other hand, sustainable technologies have low carbon footprints as their emission are significantly low. They are thus preferred as ‘green’ and ensure we don’t relive a Pompei end of universe earth shuttering armageddon.
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