GE announced it is powering the Kinangop Wind Farm in Kenya, developed by Aeolus Kenya and constructed by Iberdrola Engineering, by offering 38 GE 1.6-megawatt (MW) wind turbines.
The Kinangop facility will be one of the largest wind power generation projects to be built to date in sub-Saharan Africa. The 61-MW wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 150,000 homes in the country.
GE’s collaboration with Iberdrola spans nearly 100 years, having developed energy projects together in all countries where Iberdrola has a footprint.
In Kenya, Nairobi Ring, a large-scale grid upgrade for the Kenya Electricity Transmission utility also was announced as another collaboration between the companies.
Nairobi Ring is a new electricity distribution system including a high-voltage network, four new substations and the extension of the city’s largest existing substation.
The Kinangop wind farm project strengthens Iberdrola’s presence in Africa and particularly in Kenya. GE’s 1.6-MW wind turbines are a great fit for Kenya’s robust wind conditions and for the advancements in serviceability and grid integration, the company said.
“The development of this large-scale wind park has been a challenging and rewarding process and all our efforts have yielded a positive outcome for Kenya in its ongoing efforts to improve energy security,” said Richard Herbert, chief executive, Aeolus Kenya.
“GE’s 1.6-MW wind turbines will provide reliable, cost-effective and efficient generation of a cleaner source of power over the lifetime of the project,” Herbert added.
GE has entered into a full service agreement (FSA) with Kinangop Wind Park Limited for 10 years. GE also will train local technicians and provide technical advisory support for connecting the wind farm to the grid.
The facility will also benefit from around-the-clock remote monitoring and diagnostics through GE’s global wind monitoring center in Salzbergen, Germany, which monitors wind turbines in Europe, Africa and Asia.