Nairobi to host Africa wind energy forum next month

Next month, Kenya will host renewable energy players, banks and regulators from around the world in a forum that seeks to advance wind power generation as an important part of clean energy.

The Africa Energy Forum, which will take place from June 20-23, will also address challenges such as financing and regulations to promote the use of wind power on the continent.

Africa has huge potential for wind energy production, prompting international financial institutions, governments and the private sector to pursue partnerships that harness the potential and increase access to electricity to homes and businesses.

Currently only one percent of the world’s wind farms are located in Africa, amid financing challenges that have hampered such projects.

“We look forward to participating with public and private stakeholders at the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi to discuss the opportunities that wind energy can provide,” Wangari Moshiri, Africa Director of Wind Energy at GWEC.

Africa WindPower – an arm of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) – tasked with accelerating the uptake of wind energy on the continent, will co-host the Forum with UK-based events company EnergyNet.

Kenya is home to Africa’s largest wind power plant, the 310-megawatt Lake Turkana Wind Project and has three more, cementing the decision to host the forum.

An estimated 2,500 sector players from private and government agencies are expected to participate in the forum, where deals and partnerships on financing wind energy projects on the continent are expected to be struck.

The forum will also target young entrepreneurs and higher education institutions as part of leveraging the youth population in Africa to promote the uptake of green energy.

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