Kenya's mature solar PV market
Kenya has one of the most mature and diversified photovoltaic (PV) markets in sub-Saharan Africa, combining a large off-grid sector with rapidly growing commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop PV.
Around 10 million people use off-grid solar, while C&I capacity has reached an estimated 400 MW.
Although most large PV systems are still in operation, the first significant wave of end-of-life (EoL) modules is expected from 2030-2035. Meanwhile, short-lived off-grid products are already generating PV-related e-waste, with most failed devices stored in households rather than recycled.
Kenya's National E-Waste Management Strategy (2019) provides a framework for e-waste management but does not include PV-specific provisions. Similarly, the Draft National Energy Policy (2025-2034) supports solar deployment but does not address PV end-of-life management or circularity.
Current PV EoL practices
Kenya has no dedicated system for managing end-of-life (EoL) PV. Most damaged panels are stored or disposed of through general waste streams, while failed off-grid solar products are commonly kept in households. Existing e-waste collection centres do not provide PV-specific recycling.
Although several agencies oversee waste and energy, there is no clear framework or coordinated approach for managing PV waste.
Kenya relies on imported PV equipment and has no domestic solar panel recycling industry, highlighting the need for local collection and pre-processing capacity.
PV waste is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Without dedicated EoL systems, growing waste volumes could increase environmental risks, particularly in urban areas.
Explore Kenya's current PV EoL practices in full
Market strengths
- Collection centres: Existing WEEE collection centres provide a foundation for future PV aggregation.
- Academic support: Strong technical and academic capacity, notably at Strathmore University, supporting PV system design, training and policy advice.
- Private-sector networks: Active private-sector service networks (installers, PAYG agents, call centres) that could be leveraged for EoL collection and incentives.
- Growing awareness: Increased awareness within government and industry and PV EoL will become a significant issue in the next decade.
- Initiatives: Donor-funded initiatives supporting waste infrastructure and CEE research.
Market challenges
- Technical: No local PV panel recycling facilities, no standardised testing infrastructure to assess second-life PV module suitability and limited data on installed PV capacity by age and location.
- Economic: High costs associated with collection, transport and export of bulky PV modules, weak economic incentives for private actors to manage PV waste proactively.
- Regulatory and institutional: Absence of PV-specific EoL regulations. Fragmented institutional responsibilities across NEMA, EPRA, KEBS and countries. Policy focus skewed toward batteries rather than full PV systems.
- Social: Risk of future environmental injustice if PV waste enters informal waste streams and limited consumer awareness of PV disposal responsibilities.
Opportunities for improvement
Immediate (0–2 years)
- Integrate PV panels explicitly into existing e-waste regulations and guidelines.
- Pilot PV collection at WEEE centres, starting in Nairobi and other urban hubs.
- Develop awareness programmes for C&I system owners on future EoL responsibilities.
Medium term (2-5 years)
- Establish PV module testing and certification protocols to enable safe reuse or repurposing (e.g. panels operating at -80% capacity)
- Support local preprocessing facilities (dismantling, sorting, testing) as a first step toward circularity.
- Improve national data systems linking EPRA installation records to future EoL planning.
Long term (5+ years)
- Design a Kenya-appropriate EPR model for PV systems, phased in as waste volumes increase.
- Explore regional recycling partnerships where full domestic recycling is not viable.
- Embed PV EoL planning into broader energy-transition and CEE strategies.
Priority actions
- Clarify institutional responsibility for PV EoL management.
- Incorporate PV panels into national e-waste implementation frameworks.
- Pilot urban PV collection and aggregation schemes.
- Develop engineering-led testing and reuse standards for second-life PV.
- Strengthen PV deployment and asset-tracking data to support forecasting.
- Engage C&I system owners early to plan for future EoL obligations.
- Support capacity building for county governments and WEEE centres.