GE to complete 100 MW Kenya wind farm by 2015

GE will start constructing a 100 MW wind power farm in Kenya early next year which will be completed in18 months, reports Biznews.com.

Kenya plans to expand its power generation capacity by 5,000 MW by 2017 from 1,700 MW now with the help of reduce tariffs, power shortages management, by cutting business costs as well as tapping renewable source like wind energy.

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The project is estimated to cost about $300 million and is located in Kajiado county in the Rift Valley.

The construction would begin immediately after financial details are finalised in 2015, and that the farm would begin supplying power to the grid 12-18 months later, a safe date, said, George Njenga, head, distributed power business, sub-Saharan Africa, GE.

GE wind1

World Bank’s investment arm International Finance Corporation and Kenyan renewable energy company Craftskills Wind Energy are other investors of the project.

In addition, financing from the U.S. government’s Power Africa programme is anticipated.

GE signed the first wind deal in the continent, for the Kinangop Wind Farm last year under the Vision 2030 Kenya Power Memorandum of Understanding in the renewable energy space.

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The project would provide maintenance for the wind farm for about 10 years through a service agreement with the Kinangop Wind Farm. The wind farm project will contribute 60 MW to the national grid.

GE in collaboration with Kenya Power and other stakeholders are committed to increase the number of people who will access electricity, at a cheaper cost, from the current 24 per cent to a higher percentage by 2017.

Sabeena Wahid

[email protected]