In recent years, photovoltaic (PV) solar electric technology has matured to the point where solar power is now cost competitive with fossil fuel generators for use in remote, low power (< 5 kW) applications. This technology is ideally suited for rural electrification in developing countries due to the high availability of solar insolation and the low power requirements in these regions. Yet PV technology is growing very slowly in Third World nations. This is due to both a lack of awareness of the technology and barriers from several institutions. In this article a case study of Kenya is performed, considering the opportunities for incorporating solar electric power into Kenya's rural electrification programs. The barriers preventing widespread deployment of this technology in Kenya are presented, and ways of overcoming these impediments are suggested.
