Next month, Kenya is primed to become a nexus for international renewable energy leaders, financial institutions, and regulators, as they convene to drive the wind energy agenda as a key component of clean energy solutions.
The Africa Energy Forum, scheduled for June 20-23, will serve as a platform for tackling key impediments such as regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms, which have historically hindered the expansion of wind energy across the continent.
The continent of Africa, with its vast potential for wind energy production, has been the focus of many international financial institutions, governments, and private sectors. They are keen to forge partnerships that exploit this renewable resource to increase access to electricity for homes and businesses.
Despite the potential, a mere 1% of the world’s wind farms are presently located in Africa, primarily due to financial constraints that have impeded the progress of such projects.
Wangari Muchiri, the Africa WindPower Director at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), expressed anticipation for the upcoming dialogue at the forum. “We eagerly await the chance to collaborate with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors at the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi, to discuss the numerous opportunities that wind energy can provide.”
Africa WindPower, a subsidiary of the GWEC tasked with promoting wind power across Africa, will co-host the event with EnergyNet, a UK-based events firm.
Kenya, known for housing the continent’s largest wind power plant – the 310-megawatt Lake Turkana Wind Power Project – and three additional plants, was a strategic choice for the forum’s location.
The symposium is anticipated to draw an audience of approximately 2,500 participants, including representatives from both private and government sectors. The expectation is that this gathering will spark deals and partnerships aimed at financing wind power projects across Africa.
As part of the forum’s agenda, young entrepreneurs and academic institutions will be targeted to leverage Africa’s young population to accelerate the adoption of green energy solutions.