Lake Turkana Wind Power Project endorsed by the Kenya Vision 2030

Wind power is a cheap and reliable power source for Kenya

The Vision 2030 Delivery Board will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) that will endorse the largest single private investment worth KSh75 billion in the history of Kenya.

This project will produce 300 Megawatts (MW) of dependable, low cost wind power to the national grid, an equivalent of approximately 20% of the current installed electricity generating capacity. The wind power generating site, is spread over 40,000 acres of land and is located in Loyangalani District, west of Marsabit County, in north-eastern Kenya.

The LTWP Chairman Mr. Carlo Van Wageningen said that the wind energy resource at Lake Turkana is exceptional and able to meet the estimates set. He further said that the average wind speed is just about 11 metres per second and that it blows consistently from the South East. 

Given this exceptional wind resource at the project site, the project will be a reliable and cost efficient source of energy for the whole country. Van Wageningen said that in addition to providing a reliable low cost power, the project will also aid in bringing numerous macroeconomic, community and social benefits for the people living within the region.

Experts claim that the projects will take approximately 32 months to complete during which, approximately 2,500 part time jobs will be created and later over 200 full time jobs throughout the period of operations that will mainly target local Kenyans. 

The company will implement a comprehensive training and international skill transfer program to ensure quality skills on site. Furthermore, this will not only help in capacity building for individuals but also intellectually promote in the growth of Kenya as a whole.

The Government’s Least Cost Development Power Plan shows that LTWP wind power will be one of the least cost power generation options available in the country. This project will replace the need for Kenya to spend approximately Sh15.6 billion per year on importing fuel.

This project therefore reduces the need for depending on unreliable hydro and on expensive, unpredictably priced fossil fuel based power generation. It also insulates Kenya’s power costs by providing a slightly low and consistent power price according to the Director General of Vision 2030 Delivery Board Mugo Kibati.