Page 21 - Energize July 2021

NEWS

Massive wind power project completed in Kenya

an-African developer BTE Renewables and Kenyan-owned renewable developer Craftskills
has announced that Kipeto Energy has completed the Kipeto wind farm located in Kajiado
Pcounty south of Nariobi.
All of the project’s 60 wind turbines are now producing power to the national grid, making
Kipeto Kenya’s second largest wind power project providing power to the equivalent of
approximately 250 000 households.
Kipeto is BTE Renewables’ fifth project to reach commercial operations in the last year, now
having 384 MW in operations in Kenya and South Africa.
Dr Kenneth Namunje, the chairman and director of Kipeto Energy, and the director of
Craftskills, says, “This is a proud day for Kipeto and the local community of Kajiado as we enter
into commercial operation after a 12-year journey. I am very grateful for the ongoing support
of the community of Kajiado, which has been paramount for our success. Now we are providing
clean and sustainable energy for the people of Kenya with the support of KPLC and Ketraco.”
Robert Skjodt, CEO of BTE Renewables said that the completion of Kipeto is a testament
to the strong and spirited resilience of the Kipeto team, and the support and dedication of its Dr Kenneth Namunje
engineering and construction partners Worley, China Machinery and Engineering Company and
GE. Furthermore, the completion during these challenging times required support from KPLC, finance institution. African Trade Insurance
Ketraco, and the community of Kajiado. BTE Renewables is immensely proud of now having Agency provides an on-demand insurance
completed five wind and solar projects under these very challenging circumstances, Skjodt said. product for the project. Kipeto has further
The Kipeto project reached financial close in December of 2018, connected to the grid in partnered with USAID Power Africa in
January 2021 and has now reached commercial operation with all 60 wind turbines under the developing its Biodiversity Action Plan.
20-year power purchase agreement with Kenyan utility, KPLC. The project is funded by equity from
Actis-backed BTE Renewables (88%) and Kenyan-owned Craftskills (12%) alongside senior debt Contact Kipeto Energy, info@
from the US International Development Finance Corporation, the US Government’s development kipetoenergy.co.ke

Learners across SA’s green energy map ready to welcome EnergyDrive

chool learners across South Africa’s green energy map are getting The EnergyDRIVE is designed to be interactive, enticing and
ready to welcome the EnergyDRIVE, a partnership between the educational. It features a solar roof structure, biogas digester,
SSouth African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the Durban photovoltaic panel display unit as well as a solar hot water display unit.
University of Technology (DUT). The walls of the container are made up of a battery bank, photovoltaic
Considering that high school learners are the leaders and decisions components, a TV and display cupboards, making it an inspirational
makers of tomorrow, the programme promotes renewable energy and experiential teaching aid.
and climate change awareness, instilling knowledge to learners across “We believe education is an essential element of the global
rural communities, about the benefits and uses of clean energy response to climate change. It helps people understand and address
technologies. The intention is to increase awareness to create a the impact of global warming, increases “climate literacy” among young
generation of well-informed decision-makers who can play an essential people, encourages changes in their attitudes and behaviour, and helps
role in increasing adaptation and mitigation capacities of communities, them adapt to climate change related trends, concluded Ntuli.
whilst empowering youth to adopt sustainable lifestyles.
Back for the third year since its inaugural 2017 trip, the Contact SAWEA, Tel 010 007-5655, admin@sawea.co.za
EnergyDRIVE has already reached almost 3 000 learners, in Grade 9 to
12. This year, the much loved yellow converted mobile edu-unit will
make its way to remote communities where learners often do not have
access to information about renewable technologies.
“This initiative stretches across the renewable technologies, to
include communities within the vicinity of solar farms. In this way we
are not only reaching out to new communities in towns and rural areas
but we are also attracting other technology partners and stakeholders
who have a national footprint. We will be announcing these partners
in due course, but for now have already confirmed fifteen schools
across the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape Provinces,” explained
Ntombifuthi Ntuli, CEO of SAWEA, who added that the participating
wind and solar farms will each fund a portion of the road show, as well
as host field trips for participating learners.

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