The new Malindi Solar photovoltaic plant is Globeleq’s tenth operational solar PV plant in Africa.
In 2015 Norfund and CDC partnered to invest in Globeleq as a vehicle to develop new energy projects that help meet the demand for power across Sub-Saharan Africa. Globeleq is the leading independent power company in Africa. The company operates in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, and currently generates almost 1,500 MW. It has more than 2,500 MW under development across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Globeleq and its project partner, Africa Energy Development Corporation (AEDC), report that Malindi has been supplying 40 MWac of power into the national grid since 14 December 2021.
“We are very pleased that Globeleq is delivering on the ambitions to develop more renewable energy across Sub-Saharan Africa, and this power plant represents another important milestone”.
Lisa Huun Thomsen, Senior Investment Manager in Norfund
Located in Kenya, the power plant is delivering enough clean and renewable power to supply approximately 250,000 residential customers and will avoid 44,500 tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually.
Made up of 157,000 photovoltaic panels, it is one of the first independent power producer-owned utility scale solar plants in Kenya and the only renewable power plant located in the country’s coastal area.
The US$69 million solar plant is in Langobaya, Malindi District, Kilifi County, about 120 km northeast of Mombasa. Construction began in 2019. Electricity is being sold through a 20-year agreement with the national distribution company, Kenya Power. The project also included the construction of a new 220 kV Weru substation which has already been handed over to Kenya Power and is now a part of the national grid infrastructure.