Kenya Builds One of Africa’s Largest Wind Farms as It Targets 100% Renewable Energy by 2030
Published · 3 min read
Kenya is pushing to become one of the world’s leading renewable energy nations. The country already generates more than 90 percent of its electricity from clean sources and has set a target to reach 100 percent by 2030.
That goal is backed by a major national plan and one of the most striking clean energy projects on the African continent.
A Wind Farm Built for the Continent
At the heart of Kenya’s clean energy push is the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (LTWP), located in Marsabit County in northern Kenya. The facility spans 160 square kilometers and holds 365 turbines, producing 310 megawatts of electricity.
It is one of the largest wind farms in Africa.
Since opening in June 2018, the project has supplied roughly 12 percent of Kenya’s national grid, generating more than 1,400 gigawatt-hours of power each year. That is enough to power approximately one million homes daily.
The wind farm has also kept 736,615 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere annually, supporting Kenya’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
A $620 Million Bet on Clean Power
The project cost approximately 620 million euros and stands as the single largest private investment in Kenya’s history. Private investors provided $680 million in equity and financing.
Denmark played a key role. Danish company Vestas supplied the turbines, while EKF, Denmark’s export credit agency, provided around one billion Danish kroner in loan guarantees. The European Investment Bank also contributed significant funding.
The wind farm operates under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Kenya Power and Lighting Company, giving investors a stable, long-term revenue stream.
The National Plan Behind the Target
Kenya’s National Energy Compact (2025–2030), unveiled in 2025, sets out how the country plans to reach 100 percent clean electricity. The plan targets $19.1 billion in total financing, with $5.1 billion expected from private investors.
Current installed renewable capacity stands at 2,627 megawatts. The government is aiming to more than double that to 5,952 megawatts by 2030 through expanded geothermal, wind, solar, and hydroelectric projects.
The plan also includes 400 megawatt-hours of battery storage to manage supply from variable sources like wind and solar.
Millions Still Without Power
Universal electricity access is a central part of the plan. Kenya currently sits at 75 percent electricity access. The Compact targets connecting an additional 5.1 million households by 2030, bringing that figure to 100 percent.
The strategy combines grid expansion, smaller mini-grid systems, and standalone solar units for remote areas that are too costly to reach through traditional infrastructure.
Clean cooking access is also part of the agenda. Only 34.4 percent of Kenyans currently use clean cooking methods. The government wants to raise that to 100 percent by 2030, addressing a major public health concern tied to indoor smoke from traditional stoves.
Community Concerns Have Not Been Ignored
The Lake Turkana project has drawn praise globally, but it has also faced serious local criticism. A village called Sarima was relocated to build an access road, sparking protests and the formation of the Sarima Indigenous Peoples’ Land Forum in 2015.
A 2021 court ruling found that land was acquired without following proper legal procedures, though judges did not cancel the title deeds.
Despite sitting next to one of Africa’s largest wind farms, only 17.9 percent of Marsabit residents have access to electricity, highlighting a gap between national-scale energy projects and local benefit.
What Comes Next
Kenya’s government plans to expand its national transmission network by 8,000 kilometers and has set a target of 1,000 megawatts of cross-border power trade by 2030 within East Africa.
The country also recently hit 1 gigawatt of installed geothermal capacity, making it only the sixth country in the world to reach that milestone.
With its blend of wind, geothermal, solar, and hydroelectric power, Kenya is being closely watched as a model for how developing nations can transition away from fossil fuels at scale.
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