Geothermal accounts for large amount of power capacity in Kenya

Geothermal capacity in Kenya is among the largest in the world according to Renewable Global Status report. The report stated that Geothermal currently accounts for over a quarter of the country’s total power capacity of 2,333MW.

It explains that the amount of geothermal energy produced in Kenya and that is already on the national grid totals 600 megawatts (MW) as of 2015. The Kenyan Government has renewed interest in geothermal energy to reduce the country’s use of expensive electricity from diesel generators and boost the nation’s competitiveness.

In 2014, approximately 280MW of steam power was fed to the national grid from the Olkaria fields in Naivasha, easing power bills by about 30%. Olkaria is active in geothermal power generation and is producing growing quantities of clean electrical power in Kenya.

Kenya has an untapped potential of 10,000MW of steam energy in the Rift Valley region where a series of exploration works are going on. According to the country’s utility producer; Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), geothermal power now accounts for 51% of the installed power capacity displacing hydropower as the initial top energy source.