Construction work has commenced on Africa’s first hybrid power plant in Kenya. The power plant situated in Meru County in Kenya, called 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 project will be developed under public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The Meru County Government, through the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation (MCIDC), will own part of the project once it is operational, and Windlab will own the other portion of the project.
The deal also includes capacity building and knowledge transfer efforts. Upon completion, the plant is expected to produce a total of 80 MW power. Additionally, the government has already set up a USD 47 million kitty in partnership with the World Bank to fast-track the uptake of viable solar and clean cooking solutions.