Google invests in Lake Turkana, power project

Google has announced its commitment to invest Sh4 billion in the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project. Once operational, the project will bring 310 megawatts of clean energy onto Kenya’s national grid, enough to power more than two million households across the country.

Lake Turkana will help bring much needed capacity and stability to Kenya’s energy supply, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and emergency diesel generation, while providing cost effective energy.

Google will partner with Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the US government’s development finance institution, and Vestas, which is also supplying the turbines for the wind farm.

Google will purchase Vestas’ 12.5 per cent stake in Lake Turkana once it comes online. “We are making a commitment to invest in Lake Turkana project because it makes financial sense,” said Joseph Mucheru, Google Energy Lead for Africa.