Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta says wind farm will help boost electricity supply and access at lower cost.
Kenya has unveiled Africa‘s largest wind power plant, a project aimed at reducing electricity costs and dependence on fossil fuels and moving the nation to meet an ambitious goal of 100 percent green energy next year.
The sprawling wind farm of 365 turbines on the shores of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya was designed to boost the nation’s electricity supply by 13 percent, giving more Kenyans access at a lower cost, President Uhuru Kenyatta said at its launch on Friday.
Kenya has made great strides in renewable energy in recent years and is considered one of the few African nations making progress toward clean power.
About 70 percent of the nation’s electricity comes from renewable sources such as hydropower and geothermal – more than three times the global average.
But one in four Kenyans – mostly in rural areas – does not have access to electricity. Those with power face high costs and frequent blackouts due to unreliable supply.
“Today, we again raised the bar for the continent as we unveil Africa’s single largest wind farm,” said Kenyatta.
“Kenya is without doubt on course to be a global leader in renewable energy.”
Kenyatta, who has announced plans to move the country to 100 percent green energy by 2020, said power from the $775m wind farm would help the government reach its goals of ensuring housing, healthcare, jobs and food security to all citizens.
“Today marks an important milestone in the country’s steady march towards achieving self-sufficiency in power production,” said Mugo Kibati, chairman of the Lake Turkana Wind Power, a private consortium that runs the plant.
It would be helpful to know the wind plant capacity in MW.
The Lake Turkana Wind Power farm consists of 365 turbines with a capacity to dispense 310 megawatts of reliable, low-cost energy to Kenya’s national grid.