Decarbonization of urban road infrastructure using solar street lighting in Kenya: assessing implementation and impact
Date
2025
Authors
Mabonga, P. S.
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Decarbonizing urban road infrastructure using solar street lighting is a very promising perspective for the sustainable development of Kenya. This dissertation deals with a comprehensive study investigating the implementation and impacts of solar-powered lighting system adoption in urban areas, taking Mombasa City’s southern bypass highway as a case study. The fact that warrants the transition is that the benefits are manifold, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased energy efficiency, better public safety, and economic savings in running and maintaining lighting systems. However, the potential of solar street lighting has several limitations and assumptions that require empirical research to evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness. The dissertation design is based on a comprehensive literature review to consolidate the current knowledge on solar street lighting, followed by a detailed methodology based on data collection, model development, and data analysis. The Mombasa Southern Bypass case study has helped us understand the local context, considering regulatory frameworks, technological requirements, and socioeconomic factors. The research, by running a qualitative and quantitative investigation about the main technical, economic, and regulatory issues arising from the implementation of solar street lighting, aimed to estimate the impacts that the sustainable infrastructure solution has on urban planning, energy consumption, and environmental quality to orient the definition of the potential advantages and disadvantages for policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders in implementing such solutions. The way forward is to gather findings from the outcomes of this research, which aided in developing evidence-based mechanisms to achieve decarbonization and sustainable urban development in Kenya and beyond. The study found that while street lighting infrastructure in Mombasa City is functional, significant improvements are needed, with a predominant reliance on conventional lighting technologies like incandescent and fluorescent lamps. In addition, the study found that solar street lighting is viable in Mombasa, and the irradiation level is sufficient to maintain reliable operation. The study identified several barriers to adopting solar street lighting in Kenya, including high initial costs, insufficient technical expertise, inadequate infrastructure, limited local solar technology availability, and logistical challenges. It also highlights the lack of government incentives, public resistance, and financing issues as significant obstacles to widespread adoption. Further, the study revealed that adopting solar street lighting in urban areas, including Mombasa City, is expected to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The study recommends transitioning to solar-powered lighting technologies in Mombasa City and the rest of the country to reduce energy consumption and emissions. It suggests integrating sustainable lighting into urban planning, investing in local solar technology adoption, and developing financing mechanisms to overcome financial barriers. Additionally, it emphasizes strengthening local capacity through training, streamlining approval processes, and increasing awareness campaigns to address public resistance and ensure the successful implementation of solar street lighting projects.
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Full - text thesis
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Citation
Mabonga, P. S. (2025). Decarbonization of urban road infrastructure using solar street lighting in Kenya: Assessing implementation and impact [Strathmore Univerisity]. http://hdl.handle.net/11071/15971