Kenya to construct first hybrid power plant in Africa

Kenya is set to construct the first hybrid power plant in Africa in Meru County. This is after the signing of a US $145m deal between Investment Authority (KenInvest), the Meru County Government and global renewable energy developers Windlab and Eurus Energy.

First hybrid power plant in Africa

The hybrid project dubbed ‘the Meru County Energy Park’ will be a large-scale facility that combines wind, solar PV and battery storage. The facility will feature up to 20 wind turbines and more than 40,000 solar panels. The power plant is projected to provide up to 80MW of clean, sustainable renewable energy and power to over 200,000 households. Construction is set to commence in 2021.

Also Read:Nigeria commissions first 2.8MW solar hybrid power plant

Public-private partnership

The project is a public-private partnership. The Meru County Government, through the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation (MCIDC) will own part of the project once it is operational. The deal also includes capacity building and knowledge transfer efforts.

Also present at the signing of the MoU was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma. “We are excited to bring world-leading innovation in the renewable energy sector and project development expertise to Meru County, Kenya. The partnership would hasten benefits of the projects to residents,” said Windlab’s Global Chief Executive Roger Price.

“As Kenya moves to implement the medium-term Big Four agenda, promotion of predictable and sustainable renewable energy is key to guarantee successful realization of the manufacturing pillar. the project would help shore up manufacturing in the country,” said KenInvest Managing Director Dr Moses Ikiara.

Dr. Ikiara further added that the Government has already set up a US $47m kitty in partnership with the World Bank to fast-track the uptake of viable solar and clean cooking solutions.