Kenya leads world in tapping geothermal sources of power

A delegation from Tanzania that toured Ol Karia power 1 station in Naivasha on 07/08/2013 enjoys the feel of steam. Kenya led the world in 2014 in harnessing geothermal energy sources. Photo/MACHARIA MWANGI.

What you need to know:

  • Country produced a third of the 700MW geothermal power connected to grids globally

Kenya led the world in 2014 in harnessing geothermal energy sources. The country is now producing a third of the 700 megawatts of power hooked to grids from geothermal energy sources in 24 countries.
The 280 megawatts tapped from the rich Ol Karia field and commissioned in October was named the world’s largest plant.

An increasing number of countries across the world are embracing geothermal as a source of steady, cheap, environment-friendly and secure energy.

In its dispatch to newsrooms ahead of the 2015 Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) meeting in February 2015 in Washington, D. C., GEA said that geothermal power development in 2014 recorded growth with more countries joining the fray.

This increased online capacity by between four per cent and five per cent for the third year in a row.

“With 700 megawatts of new additions in 2014, the global market reached upwards of 12.7 gigawatts of geothermal power in 24 countries. By comparison, the global industry added about 600 megawatts in 2013. As of the end of 2014, there are also 11.7 gigawatts of capacity additions in development and 1.8 gigawatts of power under construction in 80 countries,” it said.

GEA noted that Kenya had set in place favourable policies to support electricity generation and sustain “a growth curve”, without adding to the threat of global warming.

While Kenya activated 280 megawatts in October this year, leading to a 30 per cent fall in electricity costs, Central America’s Costa Rica received Sh47.9 billion ($550 million) loan from Japan for 165 megawatt geothermal projects, and El Salvador reached a new milestone, with 25 per cent of its electricity coming from geothermal.

Internationally, the value of geothermal is recognised and supported by new laws and policies. In its website, Kenya’s Geothermal Development Company (GDC) says it plans to raise geothermal energy production to 810 megawatts by 2016. Bulk electricity consumers, mainly industries, have been asked to spell out their energy demand.

GDC boss Dr Silas Simiyu expressed optimism with the Menengai site saying 105 megawatts would be ready for supply in the next 12 months. This follows the signing of a deal with three Independent Power Producers — Quantum Power East Africa, Orpower Twenty Two (a consortium of Ormat, Civicon and Symbion) and Sosian Energy — for the production of 35 megawatts each to the national grid.

GDC said it was in the process of developing a database of industrial users interested in power supply and geothermal energy and by-products such as sulphurous acid with future plans pegged on establishment of industrial parks near electricity generation sites to ease distribution challenges and also provide them with subsidised power.

“GDC has drilled a mega well capable of producing 30 megawatts at Menengai geothermal project instead of the anticipated average of five megawatts per well that takes 80 days to drill. Therefore striking a 30 megawatts well is akin to drilling six wells at once for the cost and time of one,” said Dr Simiyu adding that the savings would be passed on to consumers in reduced costs of power bills.

Cheaper tariff

Other sites currently under exploitation include Silali in Baringo County and Longonot.

“GDC is contributing to economic development by availing steady electricity to manufacturers and bulk consumers at source. GDC will make it possible for industries to enjoy a cheaper tariff and thus lower the cost of doing business owing to reduced transmission and distribution costs,” it said.

GEA members will meet on February 24, 2015 for a briefing on the state of the geothermal industry, in Washington, D. C.