Kopere Solar Power Station

Solar power stations in Kenya

Kopere Solar Power Station

Country| Kenya
Location| Kopere, Nandi County
Coordinates| 00°00′02″S 35°11′50″E﻿ / ﻿0.00056°S 35.19722°E﻿ / -0.00056; 35.19722
Status| Proposed
Construction began| 2019 Expected
Commission date| 2021 Expected
Owner(s)| Voltalia Portugal SA
Solar farm
Type| Flat-panel PV
Power generation
Nameplate capacity| 50 megawatts (67,000 hp)

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Kopere Solar Power Station, is a planned 50 megawatts (67,000 hp) solar power plant in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community.[1]

## Location

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The power station would be located in the neighborhood known as Kopere, in Nandi County, close to the border with Kisumu County, approximately 310 kilometres (193 mi),[1][2] by road, north-west of Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city. The solar farm would sit on approximately 250 acres (101 ha) of land.[3]

## Overview

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Kenya has ambitions to electrify 100 percent of the country's population, up from 70 percent in 2017. This development and the 55 megawatts Garissa Solar Power Station, owned by Kenya Rural Electrification Authority, are aimed to diversify Kenya electricity sources, given the unpredictability of hydro-power in this East African country. The project was initiated by Portuguese energy firm  Martifer Solar and was later acquired by the French firm in 2016.[1][4]

This power station is expected to supply at least 600,000 on-grid customers. In addition to the power station, the developers will construct a 33/132kV sub-station and a 1.8 kilometres (1 mi), transmission line to integrate the estimated 106GWh generated annually into the national grid.[5]

## Developers

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The power station is being developed by Voltalia Portugal SA, the Portuguese subsidiary of the French company Voltalia.[1][4] The developers have already signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with electricity distributor Kenya Power and Lighting Company.[4] Voltalia is expected to own and operate the solar farm and power station, after commissioning.[6]

## Construction timeline, costs and funding

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Construction is expected to start in 2019. In December 2018, the African Development Bank (AfDB) committed to lend US$18.17 million towards the construction of this power station. At that time, AfDB was also in the process of securing another US$11.6 million concessional loan from the Climate Investment Fund’s Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program (SREP), to lend towards this development as well.[5][needs update]

## See also

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* List of power stations in Kenya
* Garissa Solar Power Station

* Kenya portal
* Renewable energy portal

## References

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1. ^ a b c d ESI-Africa (30 May 2018). "Kenya: French firm signs contract for a 50 MW PV plant". Rondebosch, South Africa: ESI-Africa. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
2. ^ Google (20 August 2021). "Road Distance Between Nairobi, Kenya And Kopere Matatu Stage, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
3. ^ Kiganda, Antony (6 May 2016). "Another 40 MW solar power plant in Kenya to be constructed". Nairobi: Construction Review Online. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
4. ^ a b c Ngugi, Brian (27 May 2018). "French firm inks 50 MW solar electricity purchase deal". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
5. ^ a b ESI-Africa (4 December 2018). "Kopere Solar Power Project secures $18.17 million senior loan". Cape Town: ESI-Africa. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
6. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (31 May 2018). "Kenya: Voltalia to run the 50 MW Kopere solar power plant". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

## External links

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* Voltalia signs power sale contract for 50 MW solar power plant in Kenya As of 30 May 2018.