Geothermal power in Kenya
Encyclopedia
Geothermal power is very cost-effective in the Rift area
of Kenya
, East Africa
. Kenya was the first African country to build geothermal energy sources. Kenya Electricity Generating Company
(KenGen) has built two plants, Olkaria I
(45 MW) and Olkaria II
(65 MW), with a third private plant Olkaria III (48 MW). Plans are to increase production capacity by another 576 MW by 2017, covering 25% of Kenya's electricity needs, and correspondingly reducing dependency on imported oil. In Ethiopia
there is another plant for geothermal power (in 2008 some experts from Iceland
calculated that Ethiopia has at least 1000 MW of that energy). Hot spots have been found across the continent, especially in the Great Rift Valley
.
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. Kenya was the first African country to build geothermal energy sources. Kenya Electricity Generating Company
Kenya Electricity Generating Company
Kenya Electricity Generating Company or simply KenGen is a state-owned company, the largest power producing company in Kenya producing about 80 % of the electricity consumed in the country....
(KenGen) has built two plants, Olkaria I
Olkaria I Geothermal Power Plant
The Olkaria I Geothermal Power Plant is one of Kenya's largest geothermal power plant having an installed electric capacity of 45 MW....
(45 MW) and Olkaria II
Olkaria II Geothermal Power Plant
The Olkaria II Geothermal Power Plant is one of Kenya's largest geothermal power plants, has installed electric capacity of 70 MW. In 2010 capacity was expanded to 105 MW....
(65 MW), with a third private plant Olkaria III (48 MW). Plans are to increase production capacity by another 576 MW by 2017, covering 25% of Kenya's electricity needs, and correspondingly reducing dependency on imported oil. In Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
there is another plant for geothermal power (in 2008 some experts from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
calculated that Ethiopia has at least 1000 MW of that energy). Hot spots have been found across the continent, especially in the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
.