Alten Solar Power Station
| Alten Solar Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Keesses 1 Solar Power Station |
| Country | Kenya |
| Location | Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County |
| Coordinates | 00°24′47″N 35°24′04″E / 0.41306°N 35.40111°ECoordinates: 00°24′47″N 35°24′04″E / 0.41306°N 35.40111°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | December 2018 |
| Commission date | March 2020 Expected |
| Owner(s) | Alten Africa of France |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Site area | 100 hectares (247 acres) |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 40 megawatts (54,000 hp) |
Alten Solar Power Station, also Keesses 1 Solar Power Station, is a 40 megawatts (54,000 hp) solar power plant under construction in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community.[1]
Location[]
The power station is located outside the city of Eldoret, in Uasin Gishu County, approximately 315 kilometres (196 mi), by road, north-west of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya.[2] The solar farm will sit on approximately 100 hectares (247 acres) of former farmland,[1] approximately 12 kilometres (7 mi), south-east of Eldoret and about one kilometer east of Eldosol Solar Power Station and Radiant Solar Power Station.[3]
Overview[]
Kenya has ambitions to electrify 100 percent of the country's population, up from 70 percent in 2017. This development and the 50 megawatts Kopere Solar Power Station, together with the 55 megawatts Garissa Solar Power Station, owned by Kenya Rural Electrification Authority, are aimed to diversify Kenya electricity sources, given the unpredictability of hydro-power in this East African country.[4] This power station is expected to supply 124.6 GWh of energy annually, enough to meet the energy needs of over 824,000 on-grid customers.[1]
Developers[]
The power station is owned by Alten Energías Renovables (Alten Renewable Energy), a European independent power producer with two other solar project developments in Kenya, Kesses 2 and Kopere.[1][5]
Alten has notified Kenyan authorities that the French company Voltalia was selected by the owners to carry out the construction as the (EPC), as well as the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Contractor for the plant. The power will be sold to electricity distributor Kenya Power and Lighting Company via a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).[1][5]
Construction timeline[]
Construction started in January 2020, with commissioning expected in late 2021 or early 2022.[1]
See also[]
- List of power stations in Kenya
- Malindi Solar Power Station
- Eldosol Solar Power Station
- Radiant Solar Power Station
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f Ngugi, Brian (6 January 2019). "French firm to build 40 MW solar plant in Eldoret". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Globefeed.com (7 January 2018). "Distance between Nairobi, KEN and Eldoret, KEN". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Renewables Now (27 October 2018). "Three investors advance 120 MW solar power projects in Kenya". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ Ngugi, Brian (27 May 2018). "French firm inks 50 MW solar electricity purchase deal". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ a b Alten Renewable Energy (2018). "Alten Renewable Energy: Projects in Kenya". Alten Renewable Energy. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
External links[]
- Voltalia signs power sale contract for 50 MW solar power plant in Kenya As of 30 May 2018.
- Solar power stations in Kenya
- Uasin Gishu County
- Proposed solar power stations in Kenya