International IT Company, Google is set to buy a 12 per cent stake in the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in Kenya, a project which is expected to generate 15% of the nation’s energy.
Google Energy Lead for Africa, Joe Mucheru said tat Africa was a great place to invest and energy is a key demand for the market. According to Mucheru, Africa is a fast growing economy that needs more renewable resources.
Mucheru says the cost of thermal energy, diesel generation is too high especially with the growing economy and he believes it is a good investment for Google because it allows them to be involved in a trans-formative project that will provide roads and lines for Kenya and that it is in line with its existing energy investments into other markets.
This is going to be the largest wind investment within Africa and it is hoped it will attract more investment into the energy sector.
Mucheru says it has invested in 22 projects, two of which are in Africa ie, in South Africa, the Jasper 96 MW solar project, which is also one of the largest projects in Africa.
Google has been investing in Africa for the last eight and a half years according to Mucheru and while it does not have any new projects to announce, the company is keeping its eye open for any projects that meet its agenda in terms of “return and impact”. CNBCAFRICA.COM reported.
Currently wind power generates a little over one per cent of Kenya’s energy but after the project is complete, the expectation is that it will increase exponentially with capacity of 310 megawatts (MW).
