East Africa: “Using Today’s Technologies, Eastern Africa has the Potential to Generate about 2,500-6,500 MW of Energy from Geothermal Power”

Exclusive interview Ralph K.B. Nyakabwa-Atwoki, Technical Director, Sustnersol, Uganda (ESI Africa)

My vision for the geothermal resource sector is that of astronomical growth given the multi prong interests as evidenced by in-country, regional and continental commitments in providing sufficient electricity targets by 2020, 2030 and 2040 periods. This growth is inevitable given global warming, greenhouse gases and low electric energy penetration especially in Low Developed Nations of the world.

Geothermal Resources Council President Paul Brophy said the current global geothermal energy through the end of the decade will bring the existing approximately 12.6 GW to nearly 21.5 GW, with smaller increases in 2016-2017 giving way to larger annual increases from 2018-2020.

The Climate Policy Initiative estimated that public finance for geothermal must increase from $7.4 billion to as much as $73 billion to drive private investments that would meet a 23 GW target by 2030. There is an indicative financial resource of about $600 to motivate development in Indonesia, Kenya and the Caribbean throughout 2016 and a pledge of $20 billion to support on development of geothermal projects in East Africa’s Rift Valley and wind projects in North Africa.

Read More.........