Plans are currently underway to set up a 220MW Meru Wind and Solar Project in Meru County. This project is crucial in that it will help Kenya boost its general transition towards clean energy.
Hewani Energy economic development manager, Victor Mutuerandu revealed that 200MW will be tapped from wind power. The other 20MW will be tapped from solar that will be installed on a 100-acre land.
Project Factsheet
Capacity: 220 MW
Technology mix:
- Wind: 200 MW (approximately 32 wind turbines)
- Solar PV: 20 MW (installed on about 100 acres, with over 40,000 solar panels)
- Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): 10 MWh (5,000 kW / 10,000 kWh capacity)
Location: Kandebene sub-location, Tigania West, Meru County, Kenya (near the Meru County–Isiolo County border). Also, the project site covers approximately 2,000 acres.
Developer: Hewani Energy, a subsidiary of Seriti Green (South Africa – 75% stake) and Eurus Energy (Japan – 25% stake), in partnership with the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation (MCIDC) which holds a 5% stake with the option to increase to 20%.
Cost: $250 million (approximately Ksh40 billion).
Land agreements: Long-term leases (20-30 years) will be established with approximately 2,500 landowners.
Landowner compensation:
- Landowners hosting turbines: Minimum of KES 200,000 per year.
- Other landowners within the project area: KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 per acre per year (depending on the Power Purchase Agreement rates).
- Landowners will also receive 1.5% of the gross revenue.
Community benefits: 0.5% of the gross revenue will go to a community trust.
Significance:
- Electricity access: Expected to power approximately 400,000 homes.
- Job creation: Approximately 500 casual and semi-skilled jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs during operation.
- Clean energy transition: Will significantly boost Kenya’s transition to clean and renewable energy sources, contributing to the national goal of 100% clean energy by 2030.
Revenue sharing: The project is a joint venture with the Meru County Government, which is entitled to dividends.
“We kicked off the project in 2019 and 2020 by entering into a licence and options agreement. The main purpose of this licence was to explore if the area is feasible for the upcoming project,” he stated.
Project Infrastructure Details
The project will utilize some 32 wind turbines, 20 megawatts of solar PV and a 10 MWh battery electric storage system.
“We have just acquired an environmental licence from the National Environment Management Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for the heights of our turbines,” he revealed.
Additionally, Mutuerandu mentioned that they have conducted other studies to assess what can be constructed at the project’s site.
He also stated that there were 2,000 landowners, and they made about 1,800 licence and option agreements.
Also read: Kenyan Company Plans to Develop 195MW Kaptagat Solar Power Plant
Challenges Facing the 220MW Meru Wind and Solar Project
However, he said that the licence and option agreement provided that land ownership be confirmed by a title deed. This was a challenge because the community did not have land ownership documents.
Mutuerandu said they helped the community their acquire land ownership documents Eventually, these documents were issued to them about three weeks ago, when President William Ruto toured Mount Kenya.
He also revealed that with landowners having their ownership documents, the company will enter into a long-term lease with the community for between 20 and 30 years.
“The option to enter into a long-term lease is based on the power purchase agreement we get. We are wholesalers of electricity,” he said.
Lastly, the power generated by the new renewable energy project will generate electricity that would power 400,000 homes.
Also read: KenGen Set to Add 42.5MW Seven Forks Solar Power Plant on Kenya’s Seven Forks Dams
