Lamu Wind Power Station

Lamu Wind Power Station
Location of Lamu Wind Power Station in Kenya
Country	Kenya
Location	Mpeketoni, Lamu County
Coordinates	02°24′59″S 40°44′32″E
Status	Planned
Commission date	2020 (Expected)
Owner	Kenwind Holdings
Wind farm
Type	Onshore
Power generation
Nameplate capacity	90 MW (120,000 hp)

Lamu Wind Power Station, also Lamu Wind Farm, is a planned 90 MW (120,000 hp) wind-powered power station in Kenya.^[1]

Location

The power station would be located in Baharini Village, near the town of Mpeketoni, in Lamu County, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of the location of Port Lamu.^[2] This is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi), by road, east of the town of Garsen, which is located on the Mombasa–Garissa Road (B8 Road Kenya).^[3]

The plan involves the construction of 38 turbines on a piece of real estate measuring 3,206 acres (5.009 sq mi). The project is expected to displace over 600 families, who will be compensated to relocate.^[4]

Overview

As part of efforts to diversify the energy sources in Kenya, Kenwinds Holdings, a private company, plans to establish a 90 MW wind farm in Mpeketoni Division at the Kenyan coast in Lamu County.^[1] The planned wind station will sit on 3,200 acres (5.0 sq mi) of land and consist of 38 wind turbines.^[5] The power generated will be evacuated via a new 323 kilometres (201 mi), 220 kV power line from Lamu to Rabai, where it will be integrated into the national grid.^[1]

Development partners

The power station will be owned and operated by Kenwind Holdings Limited, a Kenyan corporation. Kenwind Holdings is a subsidiary of Electrawinds, a Belgian energy company, which is collaborating on the project.^[5] The International Finance Corporation, a branch of the World Bank is providing a portion of the budgeted US$235 million financing.^[2]

Land dispute

In March 2017, Cordisons International Limited, an American wind-energy developer, went to court to challenge Kenwind Holdings Limited's right to the 11,000 acres (17 sq mi) piece of property on which the development will sit.^[6] In May 2018, Kenwind Holdings Limited, the Belgian company, prevailed in court and retained the rights to develop this power station.^[7]

Recent developments

In February 2020, the developers of this power station signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Kenya Power and Lighting Company, the country's electricity transmission and distribution monopoly. The electricity is expected to cost US$0.07 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).^[4] 

See also

• List of power stations in Kenya
• Wind power in Kenya

References

1. Mwaniki, Chales (17 March 2013). "Nema seeks public views on 90MW Lamu wind power project". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
2. Business Daily (2012). "Lamu wind farm gets IFC backing". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 4 October 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
3. "Road Distance Between Garsen, Kenya And Baharini, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
4. Kazungu Kalume (6 February 2020). "Kenya Power, Lamu farm sign 20-year wind electricity deal". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
5. Kazungu, Kalume (26 April 2016). "Farmers in Mpeketoni support Lamu wind power project". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
6. Charles Lwanga (20 March 2017). "NLC, county entangled in foreign firms' dispute over Sh21 billion Lamu wind power". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
7. Lwanga, Charles (25 May 2018). "Court gives Belgian firm nod for Sh21 billion Lamu wind plant". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

External links

• KenGen
• Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (Kenya)
• Energy Regulation Commission (Kenya)
• Kenya Power