The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has announced a grant to Kenya’s Craftskills Energy Limited for a feasibility study to develop a 50-megawatt wind power plant with integrated battery storage capacity in Kenya. U.S. firm Delphos International will be executing the study.
“This project has both the structure and the smartness to prevail,” said USTDA Acting Director Thomas R. Hardy, “Craftskills has quality partners and already implemented other major wind power projects in Kenya. USTDA foresees that U.S. companies will be very competitive in the supply of the project’s major components.”
Moreover to a wind resource assessment and plant design, the study will examine a battery energy storage solution that will enhance the capacity of the power plant and sustain the intermittency of wind power to the grid. The result would be more power delivered more reliably to Kenyan consumers at a competitive cost.
“The U.S. Embassy is honored to continue its support for this project,” said U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter. “We are dedicated to helping our Kenyan partners gain access to U.S. government resources that will help them grow their economy with the expertise of American companies.”
Craftskills CEO Simon Guyo added, “We are grateful to USTDA for its support, foresight, and commitment. Craftskills looks forward to getting this pioneering clean energy project to fruition with the help of the study.”
This project helps Power Africa and the Electrify Africa Act by increasing generating capacity, introducing advanced storage technologies, and upholding private sector engagement in Kenya’s energy sector.