KENYA – The Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) and the Government signed and deal for the project with global renewable energy developers Windlab and Eurus Energy to build the first hybrid power plant in Africa.
Australian-based energy company Windlab has built other plants including Kennedy Energy Park in Australia, while Eurus Energy is a Japanese firm.
“We are excited to bring world-leading innovation in the renewable energy sector and project development expertise to Meru County, Kenya,” said Windlab’s Global Chief Executive Roger Price.
“Previous TICAD events have resulted in a number of highly successful Japanese-African ventures and we intend to use this opportunity to strengthen our commitment to working with Windlab on world-leading renewable energy projects across East Africa,” said Hideyuki Inazumi from Eurus Energy.
It will be situated at Meru county in central Kenya expected to earn the county revenue and also benefit the local community, The Standard reported
The large-scale facility combines wind, solar PV and battery storage project with construction expected to start in 2021.
The plant will provide up to 80 megawatts (MW) of clean, sustainable renewable energy, consisting of up to 20 wind turbines and more than 40,000 solar panels. It is expected to power over 200,000 households
Capacity building and knowledge transfer efforts is part of the memorandum of understanding between KenInvest, the Government and the investors.
The MCIDC shareholding of the project is expected to earn the county revenue and also benefit the local community.
“Signing the MoU here in Japan is a major milestone for the project. We are looking forward to hosting Africa’s first hybrid renewable energy facility in our county,” said Eng. Odhiambo the MCIDC Acting Managing Director
KenInvest Managing Director Dr Moses Ikiara said, “As Kenya moves to implement the medium-term Big Four agenda, promotion of predictable and sustainable renewable energy is key to guarantee successful realisation of the manufacturing pillar.”
He also added that the project would help shore up manufacturing in the country.
Present at the signing of the MoU was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma.
