The UK Government, through a private infrastructure development group, InfraCo Africa, is investing Ksh. 220 million (US$2.2m) in the development of two solar plants in rural Kenya.
Harriett Baldwin, the UK’s Minister for Africa, announced the commitment by InfraCo Africa to develop two solar plants in Samburu and Transmara, Kenya. This was announced at an event in London. The solar plants will each have a capacity of 10 MWAC, to give more people access to affordable, clean energy.
The UK’s Department for International Development’s Transforming Energy Access programme, has successfully cut 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions and improved the lives of 3.2 million low income people. It has also leveraged $359 million worth of investment in clean energy from the public and private sectors.
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Harriett Baldwin said, ” Transforming Energy Access is using the UK’s expertise in technology and finance to provide power to people across Africa and tackle one of the world’s biggest challenges, ‘climate change’. The UK government’s investment in clean energy and waste reduction for people and businesses will help millions of people across Africa. It’s a win for the developing world and a win for the UK.”
The Samburu and Transmara projects will directly contribute to achieving clean energy in Kenya. In 2018, the Government of Kenya reaffirmed its intention to achieve Universal Electricity Access by 2022 and to continue developing the power sector. Part of its plan included the strategic use of on-grid, off-grid and small-scale solutions. To date, private sector investment in Kenyan solar has focused on either large-scale plants or local mini-grids/solar systems.
The Samburu and Transmara projects will demonstrate the commercial viability of small-scale solar plants (10MWAC and below) and also mobilise greater private sector participation in the energy sector.
They are exploring the potential for one or both of these solar projects to take part in a local currency power purchase agreement (PPA) pilot. If confirmed, the solar project(s) would be amongst the first in sub-Saharan Africa to have negotiated local currency renewable energy PPAs outside of South Africa.