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12 Wind Power Projects That Could Breathe New Life Into Africa’s Energy Economy

12 Wind Power Projects That Could Breathe New Life Into Africa’s Energy Economy

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(Wind Power Projects) Africa has one of the world’s poorest distribution of electricity. About 600 million people lack access to electricity.

As part of the efforts to help the continent’s population get access to energy and drive their economic lives, several projects have been initiated. They mainly include alternative sources such as wind, biomass and solar energy.

Below are 12 wind projects that will help breathe new life into Africa’s energy economy.

Sources; dobiza, SeeNews.RenewablesUpwind Ayitepa Ltd, Daily Nation, NEPAD, power-technology.com, CNN, Lake Turkana Wind Power, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, African Business, Nigeria Electricity, SouthAfrica.info, Clean Technica, FDRE Embassy London, UK

Lake Turkana Wind Power Project  Photo: africanclimate.net
Lake Turkana Wind Power Project
Photo: africanclimate.net

Lake Turkana Wind Power Project

It is located in Loiyangalani District, Marsabit County in Northern Kenya. It is the biggest single wind power farm in Africa, covering 40,000 acres. Once completed in 2017, it will provide 310MW of renewable and clean energy in East Africa’s biggest economy, saving the country more than $177m yearly on fuel imports and benefit at least 2.5 million Kenyans. Lake Turkana Wind Power Project will greatly reduce the nation’s over-reliance on the sole electricity distribution agency, Kenya Power Ltd.

Tarfaya Wind Farm Morocco (Image: cleantechnica.com)
Tarfaya Wind Farm Morocco (Image: cleantechnica.com)

Tarfaya Wind Farm

It is found in Morocco. Its construction started in January 2013. Tarfaya Wind Farm is currently the biggest wind power project in Africa, providing 301MW of energy. It targets to supply 1.5 million households with electricity in the Maghreb nation.

renewable energy
Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, South Africa (Image: jeffreysbaywindfarm.co.za)

Jeffrey’s Bay Wind Farm

It was officially launched in July 2014, in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Globeleq, a British company led its construction. The project was built at a cost of about $200 million and has 60 turbines. It provides 138MW of clean energy to the Southern Africa nation. It target to supply energy to over 100,000 homes yearly in Africa’s second biggest economy.

Chinese investment in renewables
The turbines of the Ashegoda wind farm in Ethiopia. fsgroup.com

Ashegoda Windfarm

It is located in Tigray State, Ethiopia. Ashegoda Wind Farm has a production capacity of 120MW of energy and currently produces 400 GWh yearly. The farm has 84 turbines and targets to provide electricity to over one million people in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. It was built by Lahmeyer International GmbH, a German company alongside Vergnet SA of France.

Wind energy farm in South Africa (Photo: res-sa.com)
Wind energy farm in South Africa (Photo: res-sa.com)

Khalladi Project

It is found Tangier, northern Morocco. Khalladi project will provide 120MW of energy when it is completed by the end of 2017. The cost of construction is $185 million. Its construction is funded by Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE), Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Boulenouar Wind Power Project (Image: windpowermonthly.com)
Boulenouar Wind Power Project (Image: windpowermonthly.com)

Boulenouar Wind Power Project

It is found in Boulenouar, Mauritania. The project will provide 100MW of energy upon completion and be constructed at a cost of $200 million. It is part of the nation’s energy mix diversification programme and will enable Mauritania to export some energy to neighboring Senegal and Morocco. Its construction is yet to start.

Singida Wind Farm (Image: sweetcrudereports.com)
Singida Wind Farm (Image: sweetcrudereports.com)

Singida Wind Farm

It is the first ever wind power project in Tanzania, located in the central region of Singida. Construction is currently ongoing at a cost of $285 million. Singida Wind Farm is owned by Wind East Africa, a consortium comprising Six Telecoms of Tanzania, IFC-Infra Ventures of World Bank Group and Aldwych International Ltd of United Kingdom. Upon completion in December 2017, the farm will provide 100MW of energy. It will greatly reduce lack of access to electricity by about 50 percent of her 46.7 million people.

Ayitepa Wind Farm (Image: renewables.seenews.com)
Ayitepa Wind Farm (Image: renewables.seenews.com)

Ayitepa Wind Farm

It is the first large scale wind farm in Ghana. Its construction will start in 2016. The project is owned by Mainstream Renewable Power, an Ireland-based solar company. Ayitepa Wind Farm will cost $525 million and will provide 225MW of energy to the West African nation.

Image: mena-forum.com
Image: mena-forum.com

Gulf of El Zayt Wind Farm

It will be constructed in the Gulf of El Zayt, Egypt. The farm will be provide 200MW of renewable energy upon completion towards the end of 2017. The Gulf of El Zayt Wind Farm will be one of the biggest in Africa. It will provide electricity to at least half a million people. Its construction will be funded by the European Union, Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.

clevescene.com
clevescene.com

Katsina Wind Farm Power Project

It is the first ever wind project in Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria. The project is located in Katsina State. Katsina Wind Farm Power project cost N 4.4 billion and will generate 10MW of energy upon completion. Construction started in 2010.

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Adama Wind Farm

It is found in Adama, central Ethiopia. The project was done in two phases; Adama 1 Wind Farm was completed in July 2012. It has a production capacity of 51MW. Adam 11 (two) Wind Farm was completed in May 2016. Its generation capacity is 153MW.

Kenya-wind-energy

Meru Wind Project

It will be constructed in Meru County, Kenya from January, 2016. French Development Agency and German Development Bank have provided Sh 13.4 billion (about 127.6 million) for construction of the first phase. It will generate 80MW. Upon completion, it will provide 400MW of clean energy to East Africa’s biggest economy.