Lekela mulls 100MW extension to Senegal’s first onshore wind farm

Developer receives funds to assess the feasibility of expanding its 158.7MW onshore wind farm in Senegal

Lekela’s 158.7MW Parc Eolien Taiba N’Diaye onshore wind farm consists of 46 of Vestas’s V126-3.45MW turbines

The owner of west Africa’s first utility-scale wind farm is considering a 100MW extension to the 158.7MW project.

Developer Lekela and the US-based International Development Finance Corporation will fund a feasibility study into the planned expansion.

Lekela’s 158.7MW Taiba N’Diaye onshore wind farm delivered first power to the grid in late 2019 and was completed earlier this year.

The wind farm consists of 46 of Vestas’s V126-3.45MW turbines.

The study covers an area west of the existing wind farm and will consist of a wind measurement campaign, a grid study, an environmental impact study and other onsite surveys.

Chris Antonopoulos, chief executive officer at Lekela said, “This study represents an exciting opportunity to continue the expansion of wind power in Senegal and provide more clean, reliable energy to local people.”

Earlier this year, Lekela was awarded funds for a feasibility study into installing a battery energy storage system at the wind farm.