Spanish Energy Firms to Build 13.6MW Wind Farm in Ngong

Spanish wind developers, Iberdrola Ingeniería and Gamesa have secured a contract to build a 13.6-MW wind farm in Ngong, 30 km from Nairobi.

According to Iberdrola, the new Ngong wind farm, to be built within 18 months, will have 16 G52 turbines and will be financed with Spain’s development aid fund (Fondos de Ayuda al Desarrollo or FAD).

The consortium formed by Iberdrola Ingeniería (40%) and Gamesa (60%) was awarded the Sh2.1 billion turnkey project by Kenya Electricity Generating Company Limited (KenGen). The project includes the engineering, supply, construction, and commissioning of the Ngong II wind farm.

Iberdrola Ingeniería, which in recent years became the Iberdrola Group’s technological core, has had operations in Kenya since 2006, boasting a sales office in Nairobi manned by staff relocated from Spain.

Between 2006 and the end of 2009, it carried out a project entailing the automation of KenGen’s hydro plants and the construction of a control centre for this company.

The company is reported to be the world’s third-largest energy engineering company by turnover from foreign business and the biggest in the Spanish power sector.

For Gamesa the Ngong II wind power project represents the company’s first arrival in Kenya, in line with its strategy of penetrating new markets and customers.

Planning to stay in Kenya over the long term, the Iberdrola subsidiary is considering participating in more wind projects, and other projects related to power networks and geothermal plants.

Gamesa meanwhile has nearly 20,000 MW of its wind turbines installed across 26 countries on four continents. The company is also a global benchmark in the market for the development, construction, and sale of wind farms, with more than 3,500 MW installed and a wind farm portfolio totalling 22,000 MW at varying stages of development in Europe, America, and Asia.

Join 15,000+ pros getting our weekly digest of news and insights.