Google Inc announced its investment in the Lake Turkana wind project in Kenya. Google has agreed to buy a 12.5 percent stake from Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems. Google will purchase the stake once the project is completed in 2017 for an undisclosed amount.
This investment will bring 310 megawatts of cheap, clean, and renewable energy into Kenya’s grid. It will account for about 15 percent of Kenya’s electricity needs, based on current generation capacity.
And once constructed, it will be the largest wind farm in all of Africa and the single-largest private sector investment in Kenya’s history.
The Lake Turkana Wind Power project – Source Guardian
Kenya aims to generate 2,036 MW of wind power, or 9% of the country’s total capacity, by the year 2030. Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (LTWP), in the medium term, will generate 310 MW of wind energy. It covers 40,000 acres (162 km2) – around 40km from the shores of Lake Turkana. The project will entail the installation of 365 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 850kW and is expected to be fully operational in mid-2017.
The Power produced at the Loiyangalani site will be evacuated through double circuit lines that will connect to the national grid at Suswa. The 430km, 400 KV double circuit line that will be constructed by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
The 310 MW expected capacity is equal to about 20% of the country’s installed electricity generating capacity. The typical wind farm would have 25-35% utilization capacity. Lake Turkana will be 62% utilization capacity. Power from LTWP will cost 8.42 US cents per KWh. It is expected to drive down the cost of electricity in the country.
The Turkana Wind Power Project will be Africa’s largest wind farm connected to Kenya national grid. It is financed majorly by The African Development Bank at the cost of about US$ 800 million.
General Electric Co. of USA and Sinomach of China have agreed to build energy infrastructure projects valued at $2 billion in emerging markets, beginning with Kipeto wind farm project in Kajiado County, Kenya.
They will jointly develop the 100 MW Kipeto wind power unit as the pilot project for the collaboration in clean energy.
The Kipeto project will become the second-biggest wind power project in Kenya after the 300 MW wind farm being set up near Lake Turkana.
The Kipeto wind project will be connected to the national grid once complete. The clean energy projects are under Obama’s Power Africa initiative.
The project was announced during US President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya. It will be financed by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which operates as the US government’s development finance institution.
Kenya's Energy Future 