MEGA Engineering in the World by China
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JinkoSolar to build solar plant in Abu Dhabi
By Zheng Xin | China Daily | Updated: 2017-03-03
Technicians check solar panels at a textile company in Jimo, Shandong province. [Photo/China Daily]
Sweihan project to offer one of lowest power prices by a utility globally
JinkoSolar Holdings Co Ltd, the world's largest solar panel producer by shipments, will join force with Japan's Marubeni Corporation and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC) to develop one of the world's largest photovoltaic power plants in Abu Dhabi.
The Sweihan project, a 1,177MW (DC) PV power plant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will not only be vast in size, but will also see its power price being one of the lowest ever achieved by a utility scale project globally under a 25-year power purchase agreement, the company said.
JinkoSolar chairman Li Xiande, said: "We are excited to be a part of the significant milestone project to co-develop with ADWEC and Marubeni."
He said: "The execution of the power purchase agreement demonstrates our strong technical skills, reliable high-efficiency products and development capabilities, and we are proud of making a significant contribution to the development of the solar industry in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."
A special-purpose company jointly owned by the three companies, with JinkoSolar accounting for 20 percent, Marubeni 20 percent, and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) 60 percent, are responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the PV plant located in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi.
The power generated will be sold to ADWEC for 25 years under the power purchase agreement.
ADWEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of government entity ADWEA.
Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst with Asia utilities and infrastructure research at Bloomberg Intelligence, said: "A generation capacity of 1,177 MW is a huge project, and a 25-year power purchasing agreement should provide a stable stream of cash flow."
Jacobelli said the JinkoSolar consortium investment does not indicate a changing trend for Chinese companies' when it comes to investments abroad in terms of either a preferred energy source or a preferred country.
He said: "Many Chinese private and state-owned-enterprises look for investment opportunities in all forms of energy and look for projects globally. On the renewable energy front, Beijing-based China Longyuan Power has invested in wind facilities in Canada and is constructing another wind project in South Africa for example. Shanghai-based SPI Energy invested in solar projects in Japan and elsewhere, as another example."
Solar analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance Wang Xiaoting said the bids were not unachievable considering the cheaper equipment, lower system costs in terms of dollar per watt, longer power purchase agreement time, probably lower financing costs and better local incentives.
Abdulla Ali Musleh Al Ahbabi, Chairman of ADWEA, said:" Today's important milestone is a highly significant event for both Abu Dhabi and also for the global Solar PV market."
By Zheng Xin | China Daily | Updated: 2017-03-03
Technicians check solar panels at a textile company in Jimo, Shandong province. [Photo/China Daily]
Sweihan project to offer one of lowest power prices by a utility globally
JinkoSolar Holdings Co Ltd, the world's largest solar panel producer by shipments, will join force with Japan's Marubeni Corporation and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC) to develop one of the world's largest photovoltaic power plants in Abu Dhabi.
The Sweihan project, a 1,177MW (DC) PV power plant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will not only be vast in size, but will also see its power price being one of the lowest ever achieved by a utility scale project globally under a 25-year power purchase agreement, the company said.
JinkoSolar chairman Li Xiande, said: "We are excited to be a part of the significant milestone project to co-develop with ADWEC and Marubeni."
He said: "The execution of the power purchase agreement demonstrates our strong technical skills, reliable high-efficiency products and development capabilities, and we are proud of making a significant contribution to the development of the solar industry in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."
A special-purpose company jointly owned by the three companies, with JinkoSolar accounting for 20 percent, Marubeni 20 percent, and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) 60 percent, are responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the PV plant located in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi.
The power generated will be sold to ADWEC for 25 years under the power purchase agreement.
ADWEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of government entity ADWEA.
Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst with Asia utilities and infrastructure research at Bloomberg Intelligence, said: "A generation capacity of 1,177 MW is a huge project, and a 25-year power purchasing agreement should provide a stable stream of cash flow."
Jacobelli said the JinkoSolar consortium investment does not indicate a changing trend for Chinese companies' when it comes to investments abroad in terms of either a preferred energy source or a preferred country.
He said: "Many Chinese private and state-owned-enterprises look for investment opportunities in all forms of energy and look for projects globally. On the renewable energy front, Beijing-based China Longyuan Power has invested in wind facilities in Canada and is constructing another wind project in South Africa for example. Shanghai-based SPI Energy invested in solar projects in Japan and elsewhere, as another example."
Solar analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance Wang Xiaoting said the bids were not unachievable considering the cheaper equipment, lower system costs in terms of dollar per watt, longer power purchase agreement time, probably lower financing costs and better local incentives.
Abdulla Ali Musleh Al Ahbabi, Chairman of ADWEA, said:" Today's important milestone is a highly significant event for both Abu Dhabi and also for the global Solar PV market."
TaiShang
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Chinese-built dam starts countdown before operation in Cote d'Ivoire
(Xinhua) 19:23, March 07, 2017
The Soubre hydroelectric dam, the largest of its kind in Cote d'Ivoire and being built by a Chinese company, has entered its final stage of construction before officially initiating electricity generation later in the year.
The dam constructed by PowerChina is in the process of "impoundment," a technical operation of gradually closing the floodgates' valves so as to allow water levels to rise, explained Ballet Maxime, head of mission of Cote d'Ivoire's CI-Energies.
The assistant to the Soubre project manager of PowerChina, Zhang Long, said the operation is scheduled to take a 23-day run, after which a test of generators will be conducted before the dam will officially start generating electricity.
"Today's impoundment means the beginning of the countdown to the production of electricity through the dam," Zhang said.
Launched on February 25, 2013, the project benefited from financing support from the Chinese Import-Export Bank and the Chinese government. The cost of the project is approximately 571 million U.S. dollars, of which 85 percent percent is financed by China and 15 percent by Cote d'Ivoire.
With an installed capacity of 275 MW and an annual output of 1,100 gigawatt hours (GWH), the 4.5 km long Soubre dam is among the most powerful and largest power generation centers in the sub-region.
(Xinhua) 19:23, March 07, 2017
The Soubre hydroelectric dam, the largest of its kind in Cote d'Ivoire and being built by a Chinese company, has entered its final stage of construction before officially initiating electricity generation later in the year.
The dam constructed by PowerChina is in the process of "impoundment," a technical operation of gradually closing the floodgates' valves so as to allow water levels to rise, explained Ballet Maxime, head of mission of Cote d'Ivoire's CI-Energies.
The assistant to the Soubre project manager of PowerChina, Zhang Long, said the operation is scheduled to take a 23-day run, after which a test of generators will be conducted before the dam will officially start generating electricity.
"Today's impoundment means the beginning of the countdown to the production of electricity through the dam," Zhang said.
Launched on February 25, 2013, the project benefited from financing support from the Chinese Import-Export Bank and the Chinese government. The cost of the project is approximately 571 million U.S. dollars, of which 85 percent percent is financed by China and 15 percent by Cote d'Ivoire.
With an installed capacity of 275 MW and an annual output of 1,100 gigawatt hours (GWH), the 4.5 km long Soubre dam is among the most powerful and largest power generation centers in the sub-region.
Martian2
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China builds 4-million panel solar farm | Business Insider
What 4 million solar panels in China look like from space | Business Insider
"The world's largest solar farm covers 10 square miles and now has 4 million solar panels. It's the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in China, which has the capacity to generate 850 megawatts of electricity — enough to power roughly 140,000 homes.
Here's what the complex, built in 2013, looked like then compared to how it looked in January 2017, in photos from the NASA Observatory.
...
However, Longyangxia may not be the largest solar power plant for long. According to Bloomberg, there is a project planned for the Ningxia region of Northwest China which will have a capacity of 2000 megawatts when it's completed."
----------
"SunTech solar panel maker from China."
(Picture copyright: SunTech)
What 4 million solar panels in China look like from space | Business Insider
"The world's largest solar farm covers 10 square miles and now has 4 million solar panels. It's the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in China, which has the capacity to generate 850 megawatts of electricity — enough to power roughly 140,000 homes.
Here's what the complex, built in 2013, looked like then compared to how it looked in January 2017, in photos from the NASA Observatory.
...
However, Longyangxia may not be the largest solar power plant for long. According to Bloomberg, there is a project planned for the Ningxia region of Northwest China which will have a capacity of 2000 megawatts when it's completed."
----------
"SunTech solar panel maker from China."
(Picture copyright: SunTech)
Last edited:
TaiShang
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China builds 4-million panel solar farm | Business Insider
What 4 million solar panels in China look like from space | Business Insider
"The world's largest solar farm covers 10 square miles and now has 4 million solar panels. It's the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in China, which has the capacity to generate 850 megawatts of electricity — enough to power roughly 140,000 homes.
Here's what the complex, built in 2013, looked like then compared to how it looked in January 2017, in photos from the NASA Observatory.
...
However, Longyangxia may not be the largest solar power plant for long. According to Bloomberg, there is a project planned for the Ningxia region of Northwest China which will have a capacity of 2000 megawatts when it's completed."
----------
"SunTech solar panel maker from China."
(Picture copyright: SunTech)
Amazing. Plus, entirely domestically sourced. Along with this, of course, many side industries such as smart grid, UHVDC transmission/grid, and storage come into picture.
Renewable energy sector is quite broad and an ecosystem by itself.
I wonder how renewable energy impacts grid development. Are they strongly/causally linked?
AndrewJin
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A vital bridge for millions of people in southern BD
In the meantime, hundreds of BD engineers and high-skill workers are being trained.
This bridge is constructed by the company headquartered in my city, which is responsible for nearly all the epic bridges built in 21st century in the world.
In the meantime, hundreds of BD engineers and high-skill workers are being trained.
This bridge is constructed by the company headquartered in my city, which is responsible for nearly all the epic bridges built in 21st century in the world.
Dungeness
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I hope Chinese government is not financing this sort of projects.
OguzSenturk
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https://www.pv-tech.org/news/hanwha-q-cells-and-kalyon-enerji-win-1gw-solar-tender-in-turkey
Hanwha Q CELLS and Kalyon Enerji win 1GW solar tender in Turkey
The price will be valid for 15 years and the solar equipment used must be domestically sourced, according to a release from Gunder, an organization that represents the Turkey section of the International Solar Energy Society.
Gunder president Kutay Kaleli said: “With the conclusion of the competition, Turkey has already made the biggest step towards the establishment of solar energy investments, and more importantly, a domestic and national solar energy industry.
“As a result of this competition, the price quotation for the 19th round was below the psychological limit of US$0.07/kWh at 6.99 cents.”
Kaleli said the Konya project would require US$1.3 billion investment and is due to start operations within three years. There will also be a 500MW factory accompanying the plant to become operational within 21 months.
The local content rules for the project are significant, especially given that Turkey’s Ministry of Economy opened an investigation into alleged dumping of Chinese solar panels in Turkey last July.
Kaleli also welcomed receiving such a significant investment commitment from a reputable foreign firm in Hanwha Q CELLS. Their’s was the highest foreign commitment participating in the final stages of the tender.
He added: “Also this record low price in the tender was a new indicator that the solar power can compete with other sources of electricity generation.”
Turkey had 899MW of solar installed as of the end of February this year. Most of this came under the unlicensed regulation, with just 12.9MW in the licensed category.
Hanwha Q CELLS and Kalyon Enerji win 1GW solar tender in Turkey
- By Tom Kenning
- Mar 20, 2017 2:39 PM GMT
The price will be valid for 15 years and the solar equipment used must be domestically sourced, according to a release from Gunder, an organization that represents the Turkey section of the International Solar Energy Society.
Gunder president Kutay Kaleli said: “With the conclusion of the competition, Turkey has already made the biggest step towards the establishment of solar energy investments, and more importantly, a domestic and national solar energy industry.
“As a result of this competition, the price quotation for the 19th round was below the psychological limit of US$0.07/kWh at 6.99 cents.”
Kaleli said the Konya project would require US$1.3 billion investment and is due to start operations within three years. There will also be a 500MW factory accompanying the plant to become operational within 21 months.
The local content rules for the project are significant, especially given that Turkey’s Ministry of Economy opened an investigation into alleged dumping of Chinese solar panels in Turkey last July.
Kaleli also welcomed receiving such a significant investment commitment from a reputable foreign firm in Hanwha Q CELLS. Their’s was the highest foreign commitment participating in the final stages of the tender.
He added: “Also this record low price in the tender was a new indicator that the solar power can compete with other sources of electricity generation.”
Turkey had 899MW of solar installed as of the end of February this year. Most of this came under the unlicensed regulation, with just 12.9MW in the licensed category.
Jlaw
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I wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Shotgunner51
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Good news, it's a mega-size solar power project for Turkey!
P.S. Note that Hanwha Q-Cells is not a Chinese firm, it's a South Korean multinational that operates in many countries including China and Turkey. It is part of the South Korean Hanwha Group and employs around 10,000 employees worldwide.
JSCh
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Chinese companies to play more active role in U.S. infrastructure building: experts
Source: Xinhua | 2017-04-14 04:44:43 | Editor: huaxia
The aerial photo shows the Alexander Hamilton Bridge over the Harlem River in New York City, which recently underwent a full renovation. China Construction America Inc (CCA) is the company in charge of the renovation. (Xinhua/Courtesy of CCA)
NEW YORK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged a massive infrastructure plan in the country, which may bring increasing opportunities for Chinese companies, U.S. experts said here on Wednesday.
"The Trump administration has been very focused on investing infrastructure, including public-private partnerships ... We are open for business and welcome Chinese companies to participate and bid for the projects," said Patric Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on an event titled "Skyclub Dialogue: Infrastructure Development and Investment" in New York.
Foye further explained that as the government agency oversees much of the regional transportation infrastructure in the two states, Port Authority processes bridges, tunnels, airports and seaports, which are "revenue-generating assets" and "expect to attract capitals from all over the world, including China."
His viewpoints were echoed by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, who also spoke at the event.
"When I look at the one-trillion-dollar price tag that President Trump has put on the infrastructure needs of the United States ... I looked at the three trillion reserve in China, I looked at the expertise that exists in China and I looked at what China Construction America and other Chinese construction companies are doing, creating jobs in the United States," said Orlins.
China Construction America Inc (CCA), a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, is among the Chinese companies that have been playing an active role in the U.S. construction market.
Founded in 1985, CCA now has 2,000 employees, of whom 98 percent are local employees, according to the company's president Ning Yuan, who also attended the event.
Yuan said the company has successfully completed six bridge projects in the New York Metropolitan area and ranks number ten in bridge contractors across the United States.
CCA is fully funded and ready to get involved in more public-private partnership (PPP) projects, he noted.
Foye pointed out that Chinese companies like CCA should focus not only on capital-raising but also on engineering solutions and creativity when bidding on a project.
"Continued growth and success of the Chinese firms in the U.S. will eventually give them a competitive advantage in the PPP market," said Foye.
Source: Xinhua | 2017-04-14 04:44:43 | Editor: huaxia
NEW YORK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged a massive infrastructure plan in the country, which may bring increasing opportunities for Chinese companies, U.S. experts said here on Wednesday.
"The Trump administration has been very focused on investing infrastructure, including public-private partnerships ... We are open for business and welcome Chinese companies to participate and bid for the projects," said Patric Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on an event titled "Skyclub Dialogue: Infrastructure Development and Investment" in New York.
Foye further explained that as the government agency oversees much of the regional transportation infrastructure in the two states, Port Authority processes bridges, tunnels, airports and seaports, which are "revenue-generating assets" and "expect to attract capitals from all over the world, including China."
His viewpoints were echoed by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, who also spoke at the event.
"When I look at the one-trillion-dollar price tag that President Trump has put on the infrastructure needs of the United States ... I looked at the three trillion reserve in China, I looked at the expertise that exists in China and I looked at what China Construction America and other Chinese construction companies are doing, creating jobs in the United States," said Orlins.
China Construction America Inc (CCA), a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, is among the Chinese companies that have been playing an active role in the U.S. construction market.
Founded in 1985, CCA now has 2,000 employees, of whom 98 percent are local employees, according to the company's president Ning Yuan, who also attended the event.
Yuan said the company has successfully completed six bridge projects in the New York Metropolitan area and ranks number ten in bridge contractors across the United States.
CCA is fully funded and ready to get involved in more public-private partnership (PPP) projects, he noted.
Foye pointed out that Chinese companies like CCA should focus not only on capital-raising but also on engineering solutions and creativity when bidding on a project.
"Continued growth and success of the Chinese firms in the U.S. will eventually give them a competitive advantage in the PPP market," said Foye.
JSCh
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Bio-electric plant begins construction in Cuba in cooperation with China
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 14:39:53|Editor: An
CIRO REDONDO, Cuba, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The largest Cuban bio-electric plant with foreign investment for clean energy production began construction on Thursday in the central Cuban province of Ciego de Avila.
Located in the town of Ciro Redondo, about 430 kilometers east of Havana, the plant will also apply Chinese technologies by the joint venture firm Biopower S.A., a company with British and Cuban capital.
According to Francisco Lleo, official of the Cuban sugar state company AZCUBA, the investment of the plant will amount to about 186 million U.S. dollars and it will start operations in December 2019.
"This will be the first plant in Cuba to generate energy through the use of the sugarcane leftovers generated in the Ciro Redondo plant and to contribute 60 megawatt hours to the country's electricity system," said Lleo.
He also said that once sugar harvest is over, the plant will process marabu wood, a tree that proliferates in the local fields, to continue electricity generation.
"The plant will deliver all the electricity the factory needs to produce sugar and the rest will be contributed to the National Energy System," as part of Cuba's effort to produce up to 26 percent of its electricity with renewable or clean energy by 2030, said Lleo.
Chinese ambassador Chen Xi and British ambassador Anthony Stokes attended the commencement ceremony and welcomed the start of the bioelectric plant construction in Ciego de Avila.
Chen said he was pleased that Chinese companies are now helping Cuba's economic development, which helps strengthen ties between Havana and Beijing.
"This project will be a success because in addition to offering new jobs to the residents of the community, it will also preserve the environment by offering clean and efficient energy," he said.
It will have a great impact on the community because it will completely eliminate the sugarcane leftovers generated by the plant and will substantially reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.
Stokes pointed out that this is the first project launched by Cuba, China and the United Kingdom in the region for the production of renewable energy and will provide jobs for the local population.
"It is an important day for economic relations between our countries, which will help build a more sustainable and ecological future," said Stokes.
The production of electricity with renewable energy is part of the strategic projects of authorities in the Cuban energy sector to save fossil fuels and reduce its dependence on imported oil.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 14:39:53|Editor: An
CIRO REDONDO, Cuba, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The largest Cuban bio-electric plant with foreign investment for clean energy production began construction on Thursday in the central Cuban province of Ciego de Avila.
Located in the town of Ciro Redondo, about 430 kilometers east of Havana, the plant will also apply Chinese technologies by the joint venture firm Biopower S.A., a company with British and Cuban capital.
According to Francisco Lleo, official of the Cuban sugar state company AZCUBA, the investment of the plant will amount to about 186 million U.S. dollars and it will start operations in December 2019.
"This will be the first plant in Cuba to generate energy through the use of the sugarcane leftovers generated in the Ciro Redondo plant and to contribute 60 megawatt hours to the country's electricity system," said Lleo.
He also said that once sugar harvest is over, the plant will process marabu wood, a tree that proliferates in the local fields, to continue electricity generation.
"The plant will deliver all the electricity the factory needs to produce sugar and the rest will be contributed to the National Energy System," as part of Cuba's effort to produce up to 26 percent of its electricity with renewable or clean energy by 2030, said Lleo.
Chinese ambassador Chen Xi and British ambassador Anthony Stokes attended the commencement ceremony and welcomed the start of the bioelectric plant construction in Ciego de Avila.
Chen said he was pleased that Chinese companies are now helping Cuba's economic development, which helps strengthen ties between Havana and Beijing.
"This project will be a success because in addition to offering new jobs to the residents of the community, it will also preserve the environment by offering clean and efficient energy," he said.
It will have a great impact on the community because it will completely eliminate the sugarcane leftovers generated by the plant and will substantially reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.
Stokes pointed out that this is the first project launched by Cuba, China and the United Kingdom in the region for the production of renewable energy and will provide jobs for the local population.
"It is an important day for economic relations between our countries, which will help build a more sustainable and ecological future," said Stokes.
The production of electricity with renewable energy is part of the strategic projects of authorities in the Cuban energy sector to save fossil fuels and reduce its dependence on imported oil.
JSCh
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Kenyan president hails China for boosting its geothermal power
Source: Xinhua | 2017-04-29 18:37:44 | Editor: huaxia
File photo taken on Oct. 17, 2014 shows the geothermal power area in Naivasha, Kenya. (Xinhua/Zhou Xiaoxiong)
NAIVASHA, Kenya, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday hailed Chinese government for its assistance in boosting geothermal power production in the country.
Kenyatta said the Chinese have extended financial and technical expertise that has made Kenya become a leading geothermal electricity producer.
"We are very grateful to the people and government of China for their assistance that has enabled Kenya to exploit its enormous geothermal resources," Kenyatta said in Naivasha when he broke ground for the construction of the Olkaria V power project which will produce 158 MW of electricity.
The President at the same time also commissioned 14 wellhead units producing a total of 75 MW of electricity.
The "wellhead unit" is a unique technology to harness geothermal power, which has reduced the duration between the first drilling of a well and installation of a geothermal plant from five years to two years.
The Export-Import Bank of China has given a 400 million U.S. dollar loan facility to enable Kenya to conduct drilling for geothermal steam.
The financial assistance was for drilling 80 wells; but given the efficiency and expertise of the Chinese firm, Great Wall Drilling Company, 89 geothermal wells have been drilled. The drilling began in September 2012 and the last well was completed in June 2016.
Kenyatta said the expansion of geothermal power production will contribute to Kenya's prosperity. "In commissioning these wells, and in breaking ground for the new project, we take a mighty step on the road to prosperity for this nation," he noted.
He added that Kenya has one of the largest reserves of geothermal energy and more plants will be constructed to harness the power for the benefit of Kenyans.
"This form of energy is not subject to the vagaries of the weather, and that it runs at a respectable rate of more than 90 percent of the time every year, means that we can bring reliable power to every Kenyan home," said the Kenyan leader.
Once the geothermal power plant is connected to the national grid, more Kenyan households are expected to access electricity.
Government data indicates that since 2013, electricity connections have risen to 5.9 million households representing 63 percent of the total population, up from 2.26 million.
Source: Xinhua | 2017-04-29 18:37:44 | Editor: huaxia
NAIVASHA, Kenya, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday hailed Chinese government for its assistance in boosting geothermal power production in the country.
Kenyatta said the Chinese have extended financial and technical expertise that has made Kenya become a leading geothermal electricity producer.
"We are very grateful to the people and government of China for their assistance that has enabled Kenya to exploit its enormous geothermal resources," Kenyatta said in Naivasha when he broke ground for the construction of the Olkaria V power project which will produce 158 MW of electricity.
The President at the same time also commissioned 14 wellhead units producing a total of 75 MW of electricity.
The "wellhead unit" is a unique technology to harness geothermal power, which has reduced the duration between the first drilling of a well and installation of a geothermal plant from five years to two years.
The Export-Import Bank of China has given a 400 million U.S. dollar loan facility to enable Kenya to conduct drilling for geothermal steam.
The financial assistance was for drilling 80 wells; but given the efficiency and expertise of the Chinese firm, Great Wall Drilling Company, 89 geothermal wells have been drilled. The drilling began in September 2012 and the last well was completed in June 2016.
Kenyatta said the expansion of geothermal power production will contribute to Kenya's prosperity. "In commissioning these wells, and in breaking ground for the new project, we take a mighty step on the road to prosperity for this nation," he noted.
He added that Kenya has one of the largest reserves of geothermal energy and more plants will be constructed to harness the power for the benefit of Kenyans.
"This form of energy is not subject to the vagaries of the weather, and that it runs at a respectable rate of more than 90 percent of the time every year, means that we can bring reliable power to every Kenyan home," said the Kenyan leader.
Once the geothermal power plant is connected to the national grid, more Kenyan households are expected to access electricity.
Government data indicates that since 2013, electricity connections have risen to 5.9 million households representing 63 percent of the total population, up from 2.26 million.
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