Kenya is now home to Africa’s biggest wind power plant. The plant in the Marsabit County is to provide nearly a fifth of the country’s energy needs.
The project is to support the Kenyan government’s commitment to increase electricity generation to 5,000W.
Kenya’s government said the farm is part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 flagship project that covers energy infrastructure.
Called The Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) the project will be harnessing and utilizing efficient, clean and affordable source of wind energy from Loiyangalani area.
The wind farm has a maximum capacity of 310.25 megawatts. It got connected to the national grid last year after a 15-month delay.
The beautiful sights and sounds of Africa’s largest wind energy power plant, generating 310MW at full capacity & contributing 13% of total supply to the national grid. Evacuated by 500km KETRACO line to Suswa #LakeTurkanaWind #GoKDelivers #KenyaMbele pic.twitter.com/uKB4cKbn7j
— Nzioka Waita (@NziokaWaita) July 19, 2019
The project cost over $270 million (Sh28 billion). The government financed 75 percent of the cost and the Spanish government supported with 25 percent of the cost.
Global leader in renewable energy
Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday launched the project hoping it helps to increase electricity supply throughout the East African country.
Provision of quality, reliability and reduction of power cost are at the centre of the project as well.
Kenyatta said “Today, we again raised the bar for the continent as we unveil Africa’s single largest wind farm. Kenya is without doubt on course to be a global leader in renewable energy.”
The Lake Turkana Wind Power operates average at 63-64 percent of its maximum 310.25 megawatts capacity.
There is a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Kenya Power effective 2017 at a cost of $8.5 cents (Sh8.66) per unit.
Fully operational wind farms are already helping countries like Morocco, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
Source: Africafeeds.com
