Garissa is a 54 MW solar power plant in Garissa, Kenya. It is operated by Rural Energy Authority of Kenya [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 23k homes (estimated). It ranks #29 of 34 Kenya power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2018, it is around 8 years old — recently built. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 4.6% of Kenya's electricity; the national grid averages 95 gCO₂/kWh (90.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WKS0062186.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000800119; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Owner
Operated by Rural Energy Authority of Kenya [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 0.3°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
Kenya has 1 solar power plant in this dataset, together about 54 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- P.E. FOLCH II · Wind · 64.5 MW · Garissa
Location
Coordinates -0.3326, 39.6065 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Garissa?
Garissa is a 54 MW solar power plant in Garissa, Kenya, commissioned in 2018.
Who operates Garissa?
Garissa is operated by Rural Energy Authority of Kenya [100%].