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WINDLAB CEO IN MERU

Global renewable energy development company- Ms. Windlab Ltd- CEO, Roger Price, toured the proposed site of the ‘Meru Energy Park’ in Athwana ward-Tigania West. The first phase of the Meru Energy Park, will inject over 80 Megawatts into the National grid once completed.

The Community-centered Meru Energy Park, which is a joint initiative with Meru County Investment and Development Corporative (MCIDC), seeks to not only tap into Meru’s high wind speeds and yearlong exposure to sunlight but to also partner with the local community to ensure a holistic approach that will see residents of Athwana and Meru County at large benefit from the project.

“As a leading Global renewable energy development company, Windlab prides itself in building strong & reliable relationships with the communities we find ourselves working with. It is with this in mind that we hope the 1^st phase of the Energy park will not only boost Kenya’s energy production but also uplift lives of the resident of Athwana and Meru County.” Mr. Roger Price, CEO, Windlab.

Accompanying him on the tour, MCIDC Chairperson, Ms. Felicity Biriri, lauded the company’s professionalism as she re-affirmed that MCIDC is working on a three - pronged approach to ensure the ambitious delivery date for the project is attained.

“As MCIDC, we are working closely with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) & Windlab to ensure the Meru Energy parks starts power generation, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) negotiations are ongoing with a positive outlook. We are collaborating with the County Department of Lands and the County Commissioner’s office, who are facilitating the resolution of land disputes that have held back the land title issuance.” Ms. Felicity Biriri, Chairperson MCIDC

A mast that measures the wind speeds and strength in the proposed project area has been set up to verify the data given by Windlab’s state-of-the-art atmospheric modelling and wind energy assessment proprietary technology. Additionally, the Energy Company together with MCIDC is continuously engaging the Community through public participation forums while informing the locals on their rights and how they can work together to ensure mutual benefit for all parties.

Present during the tour, Lands CEC member, Hon. Jeremiah Lenya, echoed the County’s effort to ensure that all land matters and cases are resolved expeditiously to ensure title issuance kicks off by close of November this year.

“As a County Government, we are working to ensure that all affected land owner are issued with valid title deeds so that Windlab can engage them individually. We have been working with the area leaders and the County Commissioner in reducing the pending land disputes in a bid to revive the staled process. With our Current timelines, we hope to have started issuance of titles by late November, 2019.” Said Jeremiah Lenya, CEC member Lands, Physical Planning, Urban Development & Public works

Speaking on the project Ms. Katherine Pearson, Managing Director of Windlab East Africa said.

“We are extremely glad to be engaged in such a trans-formative project that will see the People of Meru and Kenya join the renewable energy move. At Windlab, we pride ourselves in our trend-setting technology, active team but most of all, our approach is hinged heavily on our strong warm relation with the communities we find ourselves working with.”

“Over the recent past, setting up renewable energy projects across Kenya has been difficult as most projects tend to ignore the community in which they implement the said projects. By Engaging Windlab, whose approach is community-driven, we are assured of a mutually beneficial process and end product, which will have had a predictable transition from conceptualization, initialization through to the implementation of the Meru Energy Park.” Reiterated Ms. Biriri.

Notes for Designer (infographic etc.)

• Windlab puts community relations at the forefront of everything it does when developing a wind project. This is vital as a wind farm will be a part of a community’s infrastructure for 25 years or more.
• The National Energy Mix Chart

• Average Wind speed in Meru is about 9m/s. For example, Boston City in America is the windiest city with a wind speed of 5.4m/s.

Caption Windlab is looking to put up the latest turbines so as to harvest more wind power with less turbines. With the E-141(purple turbine) make, due to its height- 220m from the ground- it taps more wind than the smaller turbine.

What this means;

• Less turbines yet high yields
• Reduces Turbine number thus land around turbine can be still utilized.
• Less costly to maintain compared to farms with smaller turbines.

Potential Benefits of the Project.

• Boost clean- renewable energy into Kenya’s Electricity Grid
• Provide employment for area locals
• Social-Economic growth of the residents of the Area- in this case Athwana ward and Meru County.
• Development of a Community Trust that will support community projects over the lifespan of the project.