Reports show that Kenya is emerging as a world leader in the adoption of solar equipment with statistics from David & Shirtliff showing that high electricity costs, irregular power supplies, and new regulations are driving exponential growth in its sale of solar-powered water heaters. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) estimates the current demand for solar water heaters in Kenya at 65,000 units a year, with independent analysis now citing Kenya as the world leader in the number of solar power systems installed per head.

[Read: More Kenyans are Using Solar Water Heaters]

However, there are several things that the government through the Ministry of Energy wants you to copy as it regards to installation of solar water heating systems. The Energy Regulation Commission has published Energy (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, 2012 which places in order the requirements of Solar Power installation and technicians.

It is a requirement that households or premises with Hot Water usage exceeding a capacity of 100 Litre’s per day MUST install solar water heating systems.

Your panel will be expected to lie at an angle of between 10° and 20° from a horizontal plane and facing the equator. The regulations also provide that your solar collector area shall be increased by 10% for tilt angles of up to 30° and 20% for tilt angles of up to 40°.iciency performance, storage

Your solar collector panels also need to be insulated to improve their thermal efficiency performance,. Storage capacity of a solar water heating system shall not be less than one and a half times the daily hot water demand of the installation. Those who wish to be exempted from these regulations will be expected to apply for exemptions before the submission of building plans to the relevant local authorities.

If you are a Solar Water Heater technician, you will be expected to have a license where you will have to meet a number of qualifications as it is in the table below:-

[caption id="attachment_18696" align="alignnone" width="620"] ERC Techninian Licensing Qualifications[/caption]

 Contravention of this regulations will attract a KES 1 Million fine or a jail term both exceeding 1 year or both.