The authorities in Kenya have started efforts of seeking consultants who will offer guidance on developing a 42.5MW Embu Solar Project. KenGen stated that the holder of the contract will be in charge of the supervision works of managing the Seven Forks project that shall take around 58 months to be completed. The site of the project is located in Embu.
Stated in the tender documents, the consultant who will be chosen for the 42.5MW Embu Solar Project will be handling all the engineering works and come up with designs, adding on to the project and contract management works that they will be accorded.
 Requirements for Bidders
The authorities are currently searching for bidders that have designed and done supervision works to a minimum of 2 PV projects that are grid connected, each with a capacity of 50MW within the past ten years. This tender that has been issued requires experience in overseeing, installation works, and integration of two two battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 5MWh each, accompanied with a track record of supervising two 132 kV substations and even transmission lines. Having an experience in the Sub-Sahara region of Africa will be a plus.
Also read: KenGen Issues Tender for Kamburu Floating Solar Photovoltaic Plant
42.5MW Embu Solar Project Funding
The funding of this 42.5MW Embu Solar Project is made possible by the financial support from Agence Francaise de Developpment. Companies or firms that will be interested in undertaking this project are expected to submit their expressions of interest by February 21, 2024, when KenGen will request a maximum number of six applicants that will be shortlisted to submit their proposals.
This auction comes after a late-2023 call for the application of feasibility study on the proposed 40MW floating PV that is yet to be installed at Kamburu Dam.
At the end of the year 2022, Kenya had installed a total of 307MW solar capacity according to the statistics that were released by the International Renewable Energy Association.
