Kenya’s KenGen plans building 1-GW wind farm - report

October 2 (Renewables Now) - Kenyan utility Kenya Electricity Generating Company Plc (KenGen) plans to build what will be Africa’s largest wind farm, a facility with a capacity of 1 GW and located in the northwestern region of Kenya, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

The proposed complex will be installed in the county of Marsabit, in proximity to the 310-MW Lake Turkana wind farm that was switched on in 2019 and is currently supplying about 20% of Kenya’s electricity. The new capacity is set to be built in stages and should become operational in 2028.

According to the report, KenGen will seek to obtain debt funding to cover 75% of the required investment and will finance the remaining portion with equity. The estimated cost of the project was kept under wraps as the company plans to announce it after securing authorisation and confirming the capacity for each phase, it has told Bloomberg.

Kenya has committed to achieving a 100% renewables share by 2030. The country is already sourcing around 92% of its total power from renewable energy capacity.