Get an EPRA solar water heating licence (installer, contractor or manufacturer)
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Installers apply on the EPRA licensing portal as a solar water heating worker (SHW1 or SHW2), and firms as a contractor, vendor or importer (SHC1, SHC2) or manufacturer (SHM), paying the application fee through e-Citizen. An SHW1 worker licence costs KSh 500 to apply plus KSh 1,000 once granted, and EPRA reviews worker applications within 60 days.
- Fee
- KSh 500Solar water heating worker class SHW1: application feeKSh 1,000Solar water heating worker class SHW1: grant feeKSh 1,000Solar water heating worker class SHW1: annual renewal feeKSh 750Solar water heating worker class SHW2: application feeKSh 1,500Solar water heating worker class SHW2: grant feeKSh 1,500Solar water heating worker class SHW2: annual renewal feeKSh 2,000Solar water heating contractor/vendor/importer class SHC1: application feeKSh 1,500Solar water heating contractor/vendor/importer class SHC1: grant feeKSh 1,500Solar water heating contractor/vendor/importer class SHC1: annual renewal feeKSh 3,000Solar water heating contractor/vendor/importer class SHC2: application feeKSh 2,000Solar water heating contractor/vendor/importer class SHC2: grant feeKSh 2,000Solar water heating contractor/vendor/importer class SHC2: annual renewal feeKSh 3,000Solar water heating manufacturer class SHM: application feeKSh 2,000Solar water heating manufacturer class SHM: grant feeKSh 2,000Solar water heating manufacturer class SHM: annual renewal fee
- How long
- Within 60 days for a worker licence (firm licences: within 30 days)
- Where
- Online on the EPRA licensing portal (portal.epra.go.ke). EPRA head office: Eagle Africa Centre, Longonot Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
What you need
- Worker: completion certificates (or design documents) for solar water heating systems you worked on directly
- Firm: certified CR12 (or BRS CR13) not older than 1 year
- Firm: KRA PIN certificate and valid Tax Compliance Certificate
- Contractor: consent letter with your licensed worker (at least 1 year, attested by a Commissioner for Oaths) and a copy of their licence
- Firm: county business permit and proof of office occupancy
Steps
- On www.epra.go.ke open Electricity & Renewable Energy, then License Application under Renewable Energy, and create an account (individual for workers, business for firms).
- Pick the licence type and class, fill in your details, experience and at least two referees, and upload your documents.
- Click Compute Bill, pay the application fee through e-Citizen, then submit the application.
- Workers then sit a written and an oral interview. If you pass both, pay the grant fee to get the licence.
Watch out
- Paying the application fee is not the end: workers must pass a written and an oral interview before the licence is granted.
- Contractors get a licensing inspection where EPRA checks their instruments and tools.
- Firm licences (SHC1, SHC2, SHM) have a shorter target: EPRA aims to issue them within 30 days.
Who can apply
- Workers must meet the education and experience minimums for their class under the Energy (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, 2025.
- SHW1, for example: KCPE, Mechanical or Electrical Government Trade Test 2 and basic solar water heating training, plus completion certificates for at least two systems you installed.
- Contractors must engage a licensed solar water heating worker for at least one year.
Official sources (5)
- Solar Water Heating Application Guides epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- EPRA Citizens' Service Delivery Charter 2026 epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Renewable Energy Guidelines epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- License Application epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- EPRA Licensing Portal portal.epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026