Unintended socio-economic transformations associated with large-scale renewable energy projects: the case of Menengai Geothermal Project in Kenya

Abstract The transition to renewable energy solutions is rapidly becoming a necessity in the face of climate change. In Kenya, large-scale renewable energy infrastructures are mainly driven by Kenya Vision 2030 agenda that intends to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country and to achieve universal access to electricity. Subsequently, the Kenyan energy sector has developed very dramatically in recent years with a shift from hydro and diesel to geothermal and wind energy, thereby making the country a renewable energy pioneer in sub-Saharan Africa. Existing literature have documented the direct positive and negative impacts of large-scale renewable energy projects. However, little is known about the unintended consequences of large-scale renewable energy projects. Based on a study of Menengai geothermal project in Kenya, this paper highlights unintended changes linked to large-scale renewable energy projects. Specifically, these are changes related to population dynamics and settlement patterns, land ownership and prices, and additional business and employment which are not directly related to the project. The paper also highlights land use and land cover changes and their (potential) impact on food production and security. The paper argues that although low-carbon energy transitions in sub-Saharan Africa are economically and environmentally motivated, they can be associated with unintended, but profound socio-economic transformations which deserve more attention in both planning and research.