In South Africa, recent research found that 36% of birds killed by wind turbines were birds of prey. These birds have long lifespans and produce relatively few young each year, which means that even a small increase in deaths can cause their populations to decline. This wind-wildlife conflict has been termed a green-green dilemma: more clean energy and healthy bird populations are both desirable environmental goals, yet with detrimental counter effects.

Impact on Birds Africa

“Men, women and children are working without even the most basic protective equipment such as gloves and face masks,” said Mark Dummett of Amnesty International, which has investigated the cobalt-mining crisis in DRC. “In one village we visited, people showed us how the water in the local stream that they drank was contaminated by the discharge of waste from a mineral processing plant.”

General Africa

Google’s high-profile plan to buy a stake in Kenya’s Lake Turkana wind farm project has ended without a deal, Vestas, which developed and supplied turbines to the flagship development, has confirmed to Recharge.

General Transmission Africa

Over 800 birds were killed after colliding with turbines at 20 wind energy facilities (WEFs) in South Africa between 2014 and 2018, a new study has revealed. The toll includes species of conservation concern such as endangered Cape Vultures and Black Harriers, both endemic to southern Africa.

Impact on Birds Africa

The Treasury has redirected Sh1 billion meant for Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) line project and street lighting to financing post-Covid-19 economic recovery plans. The decision ...set to delay the taxpayers' pain of sinking more money into the contentious project.

General Africa

US energy firm Cordisons International has lost an 11-year battle to put up a Sh21 billion wind power farm in Lamu County.

Legal Africa

South Africa’s 22 wind farm power operators say that they were not consulted about Eskom’s plan for them to cease producing electricity, due to reduced demand during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Energy Policy Africa

Numerous unskilled youth employed as construction labourers now find it hard to resume their pastoralist lifestyles in the quest for a false promise of urbanisation. They have turned to drug abuse and crime. Young women and school-going girls have dropped out of school to become sex workers to earn money from project workers. ...Claims of unfulfilled promises include pledges of social amenities like health and education. Community members feel cheated. Lake Turkana Wind Power Limited needs to address this in order to foster a positive atmosphere for the project to thrive.

Impact on People Africa

Delays to complete, Africa’s largest wind farm project located in Kenya has resulted in American technology giant, Google, patience running out.

General Africa

American technology giant Google has cancelled plans to buy a 12.5 percent stake in Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP), Africa’s largest wind farm that was officially commissioned last July. ...“Due to delays relating primarily to the transmission line, the Vestas agreement with Google was cancelled in 2019,” said Vestas. “As Vestas’ strategy doesn’t include being a long-term wind park owner, we’re currently in commercial dialogues with potential buyers of our shares.” 

General Africa

Chief Justice David Maraga has appointed a new three-judge bench to hear a land case between Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd and Marsabit residents after the previous judges recused themselves. ...The residents say they cannot access the expansive land for grazing, and want nullification of the title deed issued to the wind power company which seeks to inject 310mw into the national grid.

Legal Africa

Kenya recently launched the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, Africa’s largest wind energy project and the biggest public-private investment in Kenyan history. The wind farm will produce 300MW of low-cost renewable energy for Kenya’s national grid.

Impact on Landscape Impact on People Africa

Fatal accident as vehicle attempted to negotiate mountainous pass in Western Cape

Safety Injury Africa

The year was 2017 and all eyes were on Ketraco, which was by now a year late in delivering the 435km Loiyangalani-Suswa transmission line linking Lake Turkana wind farm to the national grid. The project had stalled in as many months, with billions of shillings already having been spent. But the delay had less to do with Ketraco and more with the contracted Spanish company, Isolux Corsan, whose government happened to be the project financier through State loans.

Transmission Africa

BirdLife supports renewable energy – but not when it comes at the expense of wildlife. In recent years, plans to build a wind farm near an important site for migratory birds have caused much concern among conservationists. Now, opposing action has put it on ice.

Impact on Birds Africa

Zulu, who is Minister of Small Business Development, is also acting in the place of Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who is understood to be on compassionate leave during a period of mourning for her husband ...According to recent testimony at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, Mokonyane was deeply involved in a corrupt relationship with the Bosasa group of companies headed by Gavin Watson. There were concerns that this had created an unacceptable conflict of interest for her as she was the appeal authority in the family’s wind farm application.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape Africa

During these daily prayer sessions – the ex-employee thought they had been around late 2015 or early 2016 but was unable to recall exact dates – Gavin Watson had on “numerous occasions” mentioned the Roodeplaat wind farm project and the eagles. Watson had told those present – usually between five and ten, but sometimes as many as 15 employees – that his brother had an “environmental problem” with the presence of the eagles at Roodeplaat, and that he [Ronnie Watson] “would book someone to come and shoot these birds”.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Birds Africa

Iberdrola Ingeniera Y Construction S.A.U claims that Kinangop Wind Park Limited, which is under receivership, in 2013 contracted it to procure and install the wind turbines but following alleged hostility by the local community the agreement was terminated in 2015.

Legal Africa

In Summary: The fact is that Lake Turkana Wind Power project (LTWP) is a disruptive entity that has shaken the core of Kenya’s energy sector. It has opened up the sector to a level of scrutiny hitherto never witnessed. It has shone a light on how traditional infrastructure projects are undertaken.

General Africa

Notably, the addition of solar panels and wind farms would also increase the average temperature in the region by about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally—with a dash of irony—the models works best with less efficient solar panels. As technology accelerates, solar panels that are better at converting energy would also rob the ground of the warm air needed to produce rainfall, and even decrease local precipitation.

Impact on Landscape Africa