The Garissa Solar Plant is emerging as a major driver of renewable energy and economic development in northern Kenya, harnessing the region’s abundant sunshine to supply clean electricity to the national grid.
Located in Balambala Constituency, about 20 kilometres from Garissa Town, the 54.65-megawatt facility occupies approximately 85 hectares and is among the largest grid-connected solar power plants in East and Central Africa.
The project has more than 206,000 solar panels and 1,172 inverters, alongside extensive transmission and power infrastructure connecting the facility to the national grid.
Boost to renewable energy
The plant has strengthened Kenya’s renewable-energy capacity by adding a significant source of solar power to the national electricity mix.
Data from the project shows that by June 21, 2021, the facility had generated and exported 234,840 megawatt-hours to the national grid, averaging about 246.49MWh per day.
Its cumulative revenue had reached approximately KSh1.3 billion by the same date.
The figures underline the growing economic value of renewable energy while supporting Kenya’s efforts to provide reliable, sustainable and affordable electricity.
Infrastructure and local economic impact
The project has also brought significant infrastructure development to Balambala.
Its supporting facilities include a 5.7-kilometre 132kV transmission line linking the solar plant to the KETRACO substation, substations, a 50MVA step-up transformer, internal roads, staff housing, a borehole and water treatment plant, sewage treatment facilities and an office and training centre.
The investment has created opportunities for businesses and service providers while improving infrastructure around the project area.
It has also strengthened Garissa’s profile as a potential destination for renewable-energy investment.
Garissa eyes wider clean-energy potential
The solar plant could form part of a larger renewable-energy hub in the county.
Plans are underway to optimise the facility through a proposed 50MW wind power project, which would complement solar generation and potentially allow the site to contribute to electricity production beyond daylight hours.
The proposed expansion would further increase Garissa’s renewable-energy capacity and could attract additional investments into the county.
For northern Kenya, the Garissa Solar Plant represents a significant shift in the region’s economic potential.
The project demonstrates how the region’s abundant solar resources can be converted into electricity while supporting national energy needs, generating revenue, improving infrastructure and opening new opportunities for economic development.
Garissa is increasingly positioning itself as an important producer of renewable power for the country as Kenya accelerates its transition to clean energy.
