Name of the Project
Taiba N’Diaye wind farm.

Location
Located about 70 km north-east of Dakar, Senegal.

Project Owner/s
Lekela.

Project Description
Taiba N’Diaye is the first utility-scale wind power project in Senegal.

The project entails the construction of a 158.7 MW wind farm.

It will comprise 46 wind turbine generators of 3.34 MW each. They use a 117 m tubular steel tower and a blade length of 61.7 m, giving a very large swept area of 1 469 m2, enabling the wind turbines to maximise the amount of energy captured from the wind.

An on-site substation will boost the voltage of the electricity generated by the scheme from 33 kV to 225 kV through a transformer, while the adjacent Tobène substation will act as the grid connection point. Once operational, it is expected that the Taiba N’Diaye wind farm will provide more than 450 000 MWh/y of energy for more than two-million people. The project will prevent the emission of 300 000 t/y of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Potential Job Creation
During peak construction, up to 400 employment opportunities will be created, developing important skills and knowledge in the local community and enabling improved employment prospects.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at $342-million. The farm will be financed by Lekela, and the other half split between US-based Overseas Private Investment Corp and Danish export credit company EKF.

Planned Start/End Date
Expected to be completed in 2020.

Latest Developments
Senegal has started importing turbines for the wind farm.

As part of the project, young locals will be trained in electrical engineering and computer science to help with Senegal's chronic unemployment, Lekela Senegal head Massaer Cisse said.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Vestas (wind turbines).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Lekela (Senegal), tel +221 338 497 393 or email taiba@lekela.com.