Google plan to buy into Lake Turkana Wind ended by delay

<ul> <li>Lake Turkana wind farm in Kenya was initially set for completion 2017, after which Google had committed to buy the stake from Vestas.</li> <li>Google was not immediately available for comment.</li> </ul>

by REUTERS

Africa11 February 2020 - 13:15

In Summary

Lake Turkana wind farm in Kenya was initially set for completion 2017, after which Google had committed to buy the stake from Vestas.
Google was not immediately available for comment.

The view of the Ksh 70 billion Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in Loiyangalani district of Marsabit County of Northern Kenya sitting on a 40,000 acres piece of land on August 16, 2016. The farm is the largest private investment in Kenya’s history will comprise 365 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 850 kW which aims to provide 310MW to Kenya’s national grid. Photo/Jack Owuor

Tech giant Google’s plans to buy a 12.5 per cent stake in Africa’s largest wind farm have been canceled after delays to the project, Danish wind turbine maker Vestas has said.

The 310-megawatt (MW) Lake Turkana wind farm in Kenya was initially set for completion 2017, after which Google had committed to buy the stake from Vestas.

But the delay led to the cancellation of the deal with Google in 2019, Vestas said.

“Due to delays relating primarily to the transmission line, the Vestas agreement with Google was canceled in 2019,” a Vestas spokesman told Reuters, adding that it was in talks with other potential buyers of the stake.

Google was not immediately available for comment.

The Sh70 billion wind farm located in Loiyangalani, Marsabit County comprises 365 turbines, each with a capacity of generating 850 kilowatts of energy.