Alten Solar Power Station

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]

Alten Solar Power Station
Official nameKeesses 1 Solar Power Station
CountryKenya
LocationEldoret, Uasin Gishu County
Coordinates00°24′47″N 35°24′04″E
StatusUnder construction
Construction beganDecember 2018
Commission dateMarch 2020 Expected
Owner(s)Alten Africa of France
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Site area100 hectares (247 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity40 megawatts (54,000 hp)

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 would sit on approximately 100 hectares (247 acres) of land,[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 has been selected by the owners to carry out the construction, operation and maintenance service on the plant. The power will be sold to electricity distributor Kenya Power and Lighting Company.[1][5]

Construction timeline

Construction started in December 2018, with commissioning expected in March 2020.[1]

See also

References

  1. Ngugi, Brian (6 January 2019). "French firm to build 40 MW solar plant in Eldoret". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. Globefeed.com (7 January 2018). "Distance between Nairobi, KEN and Eldoret, KEN". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  3. Renewables Now (27 October 2018). "Three investors advance 120 MW solar power projects in Kenya". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  4. Ngugi, Brian (27 May 2018). "French firm inks 50 MW solar electricity purchase deal". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  5. Alten Renewable Energy (2018). "Alten Renewable Energy: Projects in Kenya". Alten Renewable Energy. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
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