Kenya launches largest wind power plant in Africa

Kenya now has the largest wind power plant in Africa. It is the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant which is capable of generating around 310 megawatts of power to the Kenyan national grid.

According to President Uhuru Kenyatta at the launch of the project on Friday, this will increase the country’s electricity supply by 13%.  The $680-million (600 million euro) expansive facility located in Loyangalani, Marsabit County, has 365 wind turbines with a capacity of 850kW each.

“Today, we again raise the bar for the continent as we unveil the single largest wind farm,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta, after touring the project.

“Kenya is without a doubt on course to become a world leader in renewable energy.”

“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.

Globally, Kenya is celebrated as one of the leading countries in the world with an energy mix dominated with renewable sources especially from geothermal, a technology in which our country has become a continental centre of excellence.

According to the Renewables 2018 Global Status Report, Kenya is 9th in the world for its geothermal power generating capacity of up to 700 megawatts. About 70% of its electricity comes from renewable sources such as hydropower and geothermal – more than three times the global average.