Will Africa’s biggest wind power project transform Kenya’s growth?

By Alex Court, for CNN
Updated 5:53 AM EST, Thu January 29, 2015
The Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, situated on the banks of the largest desert lake in the world, aims to provide 300MW of energy, equivalent to roughly 20% of the current capacity of Kenya's national grid.
The Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, situated on the banks of the largest desert lake in the world, aims to provide 300MW of energy, equivalent to roughly 20% of the current capacity of Kenya's national grid.
Colette du Toit PHOTOGRAPHY
The project will be the biggest single private investment in Kenya's history. The wind farm site, located in Loyangalani District in North-East Kenya, will cover 40,000 acres of arid desert.
The project will be the biggest single private investment in Kenya's history. The wind farm site, located in Loyangalani District in North-East Kenya, will cover 40,000 acres of arid desert.
Colette du Toit PHOTOGRAPHY
Eventually 365 wind turbines will feed into a vast overhead electric grid collection system. The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd, with funding from the Spanish Government, is constructing a 428km transmission line to deliver the wind farm's electricity to the grid.
Eventually 365 wind turbines will feed into a vast overhead electric grid collection system. The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd, with funding from the Spanish Government, is constructing a 428km transmission line to deliver the wind farm's electricity to the grid.
Land Turkana Wind Power Ltd
A fisherman from the El Molo tribe walks ashore as the sun rises over Komote, a village on the banks of Lake Turkana, Kenya, near the location of the new wind farm.
A fisherman from the El Molo tribe walks ashore as the sun rises over Komote, a village on the banks of Lake Turkana, Kenya, near the location of the new wind farm.
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty
The Turkana project is expected to generate <a href="http://www.ltwp.co.ke/component/content/article/1-general-info/101-press-release-24th-march-2014" target="_blank" target="_blank">$150 million a year</a> in foreign currency savings to Kenya.
The Turkana project is expected to generate $150 million a year in foreign currency savings to Kenya.
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty
The power generated by the site will be bought at a fixed price by Kenya Power over a 20-year period in accordance with the signed Power Purchase Agreement.
The power generated by the site will be bought at a fixed price by Kenya Power over a 20-year period in accordance with the signed Power Purchase Agreement.
Land Turkana Wind Power Ltd
The project follows Ethiopia's Ashegoda Wind Farm, completed in 2013. Also positioned in a rift valley, the farm is much smaller than Kenya's Lake Turkana project. Once completed, the new project will have more than double the output of Ashegoda.
The project follows Ethiopia's Ashegoda Wind Farm, completed in 2013. Also positioned in a rift valley, the farm is much smaller than Kenya's Lake Turkana project. Once completed, the new project will have more than double the output of Ashegoda.
courtesy Vergnet
Inside Kenya's Lake Turkana wind project

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