Africa’s biggest wind power plant situated in Kenya, a mammoth project in Marsabit County was commissioned recently. It was dedicated to the nation by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The new plant provides for nearly a fifth of Kenya’s energy needs. Named as the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP), plant will harness and utilize efficient, clean and affordable source of wind energy from Loiyangalani area. The capacity of the wind farm is 310.25 megawatts. The plant is connected to the national power power grid.
Before linking to the national grid, the Kenyan government has built transmission lines across 438 kilometre to carry 400 kilovolts from the plant site in Marsabit to Suswa sub-station. Before the plant was commissioned, it had faced a series of setbacks including securing financing for the project, land acquisition and subsequent compensation to the displaced population.
The plant is a part of the Kenyan government’s grand vision to up the generation to 5000 MW by 2030 to ensure uninterrupted quality supply of electricity with a higher degree of reliability. The project cost Sh 28 billion was financed by the government to the extent of 75% and the rest 25% by the Spanish government.
