Malindi Solar Power Station Explained

Malindi Solar Power Station
Coordinates:-3.2069°N 39.7469°W
Country:Kenya
Location:Malindi, Kilifi County
Status:O
Commissioned:2022
Cost:US$66 Million
Owner:Malindi Solar Group Limited
Solar Type:PV
Ps Electrical Capacity:52MW

The Malindi Solar Power Station is a 52MW solar power plant in Kenya.[1]

Location

The power station is located in Malindi, Kilifi County, at the Indian Ocean, approximately 116km (72miles) by road north of Mombasa, the nearest large city. This is approximately 497km (309miles), by road, south-east of Nairobi, the country's capital and largest city.

Overview

The power station has a 52 megawatt capacity. Its output is planned to be sold directly to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company for integration into the national grid. It is expected most of the power generated will be consumed locally, in an area with increasing energy demand, limited energy supply and an expanding population. It is also anticipated that the power station will support the creation of jobs through direct employment and indirect job creation through more consistent supply of electricity.[2] Up to 250 direct jobs are expected to be created, in addition to a further 5,600 jobs in the wider economy.[3]

Developers

The power station was developed by a consortium of comprising the following corporations: (a) Commonwealth Development Corporation (b) Globeleq (c) Africa Energy Development Corporation (AEDC), the originator of the project and (d) IDEA Power.[2]

Ownership

When completed the power station will be owned by Malindi Solar Group Limited, a special purpose vehicle company, which will operate the solar energy project. The ownership of Malindi Solar Group Limited is as illustrated in the table below:[1]

Malindi Solar Group Limited Stock Ownership! Rank !!Name of Owner!!Domicile !!Percentage !!Notes
1 Globeleq
2
3 Africa Energy Development Corporation (AEDC)
Total

Construction costs, funding, and commissioning

The construction of the solar power plant is budgeted at US$66 million, with US$50 million sourced from the CDC Group and US$16 million sourced from Globeleq.[2] It was expected that the power station would come online in 2020.[4] In January 2022, Afrik21.africa reported that the power station had started "commercial operations".[5]

In February 2024, Kenyan media reported that Globeleq had received authorization from the Kenyan Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) to invest KSh4.6 billion (US$29 million) in a battery storage system at this power station. The battery storage is expected to be in the 40 MWh range and is intended to respond to peak-hour demand between 7.30pm and 8.30pm Kenyan time.[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UK Firms To Develop Sh6.7 Billion Solar Power Plant In Malindi . 12 July 2018 . Business Today Kenya . 1 June 2019 . Nairobi.
  2. Web site: CDC Group Invested US$50 Million In Malindi Solar Group, To Build A 52 Megawatts Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant In South-East Kenya. Africa Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) . 12 July 2018 . 1 June 2019 . AVCA . London.
  3. Web site: Energy Live News Limited . UK Injects £52 Million Into Solar Power Plant In Kenya . 7 May 2019 . 1 June 2019 . Priyanka Shrestha . London.
  4. Web site: Foreign Secretary Welcomes More Than £64 Million of British funding for Kenyan Industry . 3 May 2019 . Africanews.com . 1 June 2019 . Congo Brazzaville.
  5. Web site: Kenya: Malindi solar power plant (52 MWp) starts commercial operations . Afrik21.africa . 25 January 2022 . Jean Marie Takouleu . 26 January 2022 . Paris, France.
  6. Web site: . UK firm, Globeleq to invest Sh4.6bn on solar plant in Malindi. 13 February 2024 . John Mutua . 13 February 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.