Business
GE Energy bets big on Kenya’s promising wind power sector
Wind energy takes up about 20 per cent of the 1699 MW power Kenya hopes to inject into the national grid, over the next five years. Photo/FILE
Posted Monday, June 21 2010 at 00:00
The high cost of initial capital goes into preliminary studies, installations and regular maintenance of the wind power plants.
In order to gauge possible energy yields, measurements of wind speeds, turbulence and humidity levels are collected over periods of up to three years, at heights of over 40 metres.
The General Electric Energy boss said that while the Meteorological Department collects data on the wind, it is not sufficient to assess the potential and make an investment decision since it is confined to the low heights of its masts between 10 and 20 metres, hence the need for further studies.
Other considerations that are made before setting up wind plants are proximity to settlements — since the noise levels could disturb people if situated near residential areas — and its impact on migratory birds, which could be killed by the blades of the wind mills.
Among the government strategies in place to encourage investment in the sector are reviewing feed in tariffs defined in stable currencies such as the US dollar, and establishing transmission lines.
Mr Ndegwa said this will attract international investors since risks are minimised.
Apart from South Africa, only Kenya has a feed in tariffs for the various forms of renewable energy projects.
The reviewed tariffs offer 12 US cents for every unit of electricity from windmills of up to 50 Megawatts.
The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd has also announced plans to construct a transmission line stretching from Marsabit through Lake Turkana, Suswa to Isinya.
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