Kenya has become the first African nation to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), marking significant progress in the global expansion of offshore wind energy.
Announced at the eleventh Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa on June 17, Kenya’s entry into GOWA aligns Africa with Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Australia in developing offshore wind as part of strategic energy planning.
Kenya currently produces almost 90% of its electricity from renewable sources and views offshore wind as a potential addition to its clean energy framework. GOWA reports that Kenya has approximately 68 GW of floating offshore wind potential, which could help address rising electricity demand, diversify sources, and reduce dependence on imported fuels.
The World Bank Group’s ESMAP program from 2020 indicates a technical potential of 43 GW off Kenya’s coast, with 9 GW available via fixed-bottom offshore wind and 34 GW through floating wind technology.
Offshore wind development supports Kenya’s Energy Transition and Investment Plan, launching in 2024, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2050 across various sectors, including power and transport.
As a GOWA member, Kenya benefits from a network of governments, developers, and industry stakeholders accelerating global offshore wind deployment. Floating wind is expected to be a focus due to the deep waters along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, as noted by GOWA.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Energy, Alex Wachira, described offshore wind as “a new frontier for Africa”, emphasizing opportunities for energy security, the blue economy, and coastal communities.
GOWA Executive Director Amisha Patel stated that Kenya’s membership marks a pivotal moment for the alliance and highlights Africa’s growing influence in ocean governance and climate action.
Founded by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and the Danish government in 2022, GOWA aims to fast-track offshore wind development and achieve 2,000 GW of global capacity by 2050.
Since its inception, countries including Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US have joined GOWA. The alliance expanded further last year when Canada and its provinces Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador became members.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz