New US$78.3m wind power farm to be set up in Embu, Kenya

Home » Uncategorized » New US$78.3m wind power farm to be set up in Embu, Kenya

The County Government of Embu has entered into a US$78.3m partnership deal with US-based 4 Seasons Windpower. The county governor Nyaga Wambora has said that the county government will offer 72 hectares of land for the project, in exchange of 10% ownership of the project.

The signed partnership will see the two put up a wind power farm in Embu, which is expected to generate 36MW of electricity in the first phase of the project. The new wind power farm will be put up in Kianjiru Hill where the county government has set aside 72 hectares of land specifically for this project.

Once the wind power project is complete, the firm will venture into solar energy to increase production. The project is meant to boost supply of energy to the national grid and to the area residents. It will create more job opportunities to the locals, thus improving livelihoods.

Almost half of Kenya’s electricity is produced from hydro sources, and the rest from geothermal. At the moment, the country is able to supply 1,664 MW of electricity, which the government is expecting to be increased to 5000 MW come 2017.

Embu is the home to 3 out of the total 7 hydroelectric dams in the country. These are Kamburu, Kindaruma and Kiambere dams. The new wind power farm is situated strategically in Mbeere South sub-county. The hills in the area will be able to provide the wind needed to run the wind turbines.

Kenya has also initiated other wind power projects that will boost its renewables, among them the upcoming wind power plant in Kajiado announced recently this month and Meru’s upcoming Blue Sea’s wind power project announced a few months ago.