KENYA Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has commenced the acceptance of applications for conducting feasibility studies for the establishment of a 40MW Kamburu Floating Solar Photovoltaic Project. This venture, receiving financial support from a German institution, sets out to harness solar energy at the 94MW-capacity Kamburu Dam, strategically situated in Kenya’s southern territory.
The recent tender initiated by KenGen in October invited consultancy services to undertake the crucial feasibility studies required for the floating solar project. The German Development Bank (KfW) has allocated specific funds for this initiative, while the project’s tender documents indicate the possibility of sourcing additional financing from institutions like the World Bank, AFD, and other monetary entities.
Anticipated to be executed within an approximate timeframe of eight months, the floating solar project is expected to secure a power purchase agreement (PPA) upon completion. The tender documents reveal KenGen’s earlier pursuit of consultancy services three years ago for developing similar floating solar photovoltaic projects at Kamburu Dam, Turkwel, and Kiambere.
The decision to establish the 40MW Kamburu Floating Solar Photovoltaic plant at Kamburu Dam stems from various factors highlighted in the tender documents. These factors include minimal water variation at the dam, a less intricate design, robust infrastructure comprising well-connected roads and a reliable grid network, cost-effectiveness in operation and maintenance (O&M), and manageable permitting costs facilitated by KenGen ownership.
Currently, KenGen has initiated the development of a 40MW utility-scale photovoltaic array grounded at the Seven Forks Cascade, adjacent to the Kamburu Dam. The application deadline for the project is set for December 15, 2023.
This move aligns with Kenya’s growing solar capacity, which reached approximately 307MW by the end of the previous year, as per data disclosed by the International Renewable Energy Association (IREA). The country continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, aiming for sustainable and efficient power generation.