Vestas Receives Big Order for Kenyan Wind Power Project
The order for 365 V52-850 kW turbines was placed by Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd. The project is expected to be Africa's largest wind power plant when completed in 2017.
Vestas announced it has received a firm, unconditional order for 365 V52-850 kW turbines for the 310 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power project in northwestern Kenya. This is the largest order in the Danish company's history, in terms of the number of wind turbines in a single project, according to its Dec. 11 announcement.
The order was placed by Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd. When finished in 2017, the 40,000-acre project is expected to be Africa's largest wind power plant and to save Kenya approximately €150 million in fuel imports every year. The order includes the supply, installation, and commissioning of the wind turbines and a 15-year Active Output Management (AOM 4000) service agreement.
"We are very pleased to continue this great journey with Vestas as we progress toward our aim of reducing Kenya’s need for hydro and expensive fossil fuel-based power generation. We want to ensure that Kenya has access to low and consistent power prices, and with the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, we can do that," said Mugo Kibati, chairman of Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd.
"Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd. has made a historic commitment to a clean energy future for Kenya, and we are very proud to play an active role in bringing to life Africa's largest wind power plant," said Christoph Vogel, president of Vestas Central Europe. "Eastern and southern Africa are key markets for Vestas, and the Lake Turkana project will establish Kenya among the continent's wind energy leaders."
Vestas' announcement said the project will generate more than 1,400 GWh of power per year, equivalent to approximately 15 percent of the country's current electricity consumption. It is located about 745 miles from the Kenyan port of Mombasa and will require construction of 260 miles of transmission lines to reach the Kenyan national electricity grid. "The project site was selected for its world-class wind resources as well as its sparse population," according to Vestas.