Kenya's main power generator plans to add 20.4 megawatts of wind energy to its national grid by 2013 to stabilize its energy supply amid increased demand.
Kenya's electricity generating company, KenGen plans to add 20.4 megawatts of electricity from wind turbines at a single site in a move to add renewable power sources to help stabilise supplies by 2013, its energy minister said on Wednesday (September 08).
Ranked as east Africa's largest economy, Kenya has a low power generation capaci Read more

Kenya's main power generator plans to add 20.4 megawatts of wind energy to its national grid by 2013 to stabilize its energy supply amid increased demand.
Kenya's electricity generating company, KenGen plans to add 20.4 megawatts of electricity from wind turbines at a single site in a move to add renewable power sources to help stabilise supplies by 2013, its energy minister said on Wednesday (September 08).
Ranked as east Africa's largest economy, Kenya has a low power generation capacity and is heavily dependent on good rainfall to fill its dams.
"We need a lot of electricity in this country to launch this country on the path of industrialization. By the year 2013 which is only a few years from now, we plan to generate 3000 Megawatts. Our current installed capacity is only 1350 Megawatts and we want to double this capacity," Energy Minister, Kiraitu Murungi said.
He said that the 3000 megawatt focus would include an extra 500 megawatts from renewable sources.
Kitaitu was speaking at the commissioning of a 5.1 megawatt wind power project on the Ngong Hills, at the edge of the capital.
Owned KenGen, the main power producer, the wind farm is the first and currently the largest commercially viable wind project in the country, funded by Belgium.
Danish wind firm Vestas was the main contractor, supplying turbines and installing them and grid connection facilities.
"The development of wind energy resources will reduce carbon dioxide and other green house gasses while providing cushion against high electricity prices induced by escalation in the prices of petroleum fuels and drought induced power rations that we have seen in the past," added Kiraitu KenGen on its part said the expansion of the wind farm -- to be funded by both Belgium and Spain -- would allow it to explore the possibility of selling carbon credits from the project.
Managing Director, Eddie Njoroge said the company is looking for contractors for the expansion of the project, which will be built through two separate contracts of 6.8 megawatts and 13.6 megawatts.
Around 80 percent of Kenyans are not linked to the electricity grid. Kenyans use up 1,050 MW of electricity at peak hours, just 50 MW shy of the country's maximum capacity, and demand is growing 8 percent annually.
Blackouts across the country are frequent with business firms suffering huge losses due to power disruptions and outages.
"We have embarked on an ambitious program with a view to meeting Kenya's electricity demand which has been growing at annual rate fuelled by a population increase and the recent economic gains," said Njoroge.
He said that KenGen had signed an agreement with HydroChina International to carry out a feasibility study for a 50 megawatt wind farm, also on the wind-swept Ngong Hills.
Kenya is also tapping its immense geothermal resources in the Rift Valley. It expects to increase power generated from geothermal steam in underground wells by 280 megawatts over the next three years.
Another wind farm, known as Lake Turkana wind project in northern Kenya, is in the process of being set up by private investors. It will be the largest in Africa when completed in July 2013, generating 300 megawatts. Close