Garissa Photovoltaic Power Station in Kenya is a large-scale photovoltaic power station located in Garissa County, northeastern Kenya, with an installed capacity of 50 megawatts (MW), and it is the largest photovoltaic power station in East Africa constructed by Chinese enterprises in Kenya.
The project was designed, procured, constructed, installed and trained by a consortium of China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co. and JinkoSolar Co. with a preferential loan provided by the Export-Import Bank of China.
Officially put into operation in December 2019, the Garissa PV power plant has an average annual power generation capacity of more than 76 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is capable of meeting the electricity needs of about 70,000 households, or a population of about 380,000 people. This project not only effectively alleviates Kenya’s long-standing power shortage, but also injects green momentum into local economic development.
Kenya’s power supply is mainly dependent on hydropower, but the hydropower generation capacity is limited during the dry season, resulting in about 85% of the population not being able to get a stable power supply. The completion of the Garissa PV power plant has provided Kenya with a new source of electricity by utilizing abundant solar energy resources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 64,000 tons.
In addition, the project has had a positive impact on the local economy. It not only improves the power supply structure and reduces electricity prices, but also promotes the development of local commerce and industry, creating a large number of jobs. The Kenyan government also said that the project is in line with its energy development plan and helps to narrow the development gap between different regions.
As one of the important projects of China-Kenya cooperation, the Garissa PV power plant in Kenya demonstrates the potential of China-Africa cooperation in the field of clean energy, and provides valuable experience and demonstration for the development of green energy in Kenya and other African countries.
