KenGen eyes 20.4MW from Ngong wind farm
A wind power plant. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- KenGen is currently generating 5.1 megawatts of wind power from the farm that was commissioned in 2008 comprising of six turbines.
- The additional capacity will come from two projects that started in March last year and are expected to be completed by October.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company will increase power output from its Ngong wind farm by 20.4 megawatts following construction of additional turbines financed by the governments of Belgium and Spain.
KenGen is currently generating 5.1 megawatts of wind power from the farm that was commissioned in 2008 comprising of six turbines.
“We’re fast-tracking renewable energy projects, comprising wind and geothermal as part of government’s target of adding 5,000 megawatts to the national grid by September 2016,” said Albert Mugo, KenGen’s managing director during an inspection tour at the Ngong wind farm, on Thursday.
The additional capacity will come from two projects that started in March last year and are expected to be completed by October.
Belgium provided 22 million Euros to the project that is meant to generate 6.8 megawatts of power while Spain has financed addition of 13.6 megawatts to a tune of 20 million Euros.
Of the additional power generating capacity targeted under the government’s plan, KenGen is expected to contribute 844 megawatts.
The Ngong wind farm sits on 80 hectares of land which the company leased from the Kenya Forest Service.
