Kenya Power has entered the commissioning phase of a solar mini-grid project in one of the southernmost parts of the East African country.
The Wasini Island mini-grid project in Mukwiro village, in Kwale County, has a solar plant capacity of 737kWp and includes a 70kVA diesel generator.
The project encompasses 1,820 solar panels and 247 lead acid batteries with a total capacity of 2276kWh. It is projected to serve 468 people.
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“Today, I had the incredible opportunity to represent Kenya Power in the commissioning phase of the Wasini Island Mini-grid in Mukwiro village, located in Kwale County, one of the southernmost parts of Kenya,” Billy Onyango, County Engineer at Kenya Power posted on LinkedIn.
“This project, the first of its kind implemented under the Kenya Electricity Modernisation Project (KEMP) illustrates the optimal deployment of mini-grids where grid connection is untenable.”
It is being funded by the World Bank in partnership with the county government.
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At the time of the project’s announcement last year, local media reported that it is the first time the area is getting electricity since independence. The area’s residents rely on fishing as their main income, but it has suffered due to a lack of electricity.
Because of this they have no storage facilities, forcing them to sell fish at below market value.
The KEMP project aims to support the government’s initiatives of ensuring increased electricity access to Kenyans, particularly among low income groups in peri-urban and off-grid areas.
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According to the project’s environmental assessment report, Kenya’s daily average solar insolation is estimated to be about four to kilowatt hours per square meters, which is considered one of the best for solar electric energy production in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Depending on the conversion efficiency of solar modules, 10-14% of this energy can be converted to electric power.
“The Wasini island mini-grid-power development in Wasini village is designed primarily to address energy demands at the local level and creating income generation activities,” the report said.
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