Kenya: Tapping geothermal potential with first of its kind technology in Kenya

In its quest to generate more reliable, clean energy, Kenya has become the first country worldwide to pioneer new geothermal wellhead technology. The technique involves tapping steam from wells that are undergoing tests or awaiting connection to permanent plants. The technology not only helps to utilise the investment put into drilling the wells, which would otherwise be lying idle, but also benefits from early generation.
Kenya’s demand for electricity is driven by the recent, rapid economic growth and industrialisation, which has created the need to accelerate the drilling of geothermal wells to tap into the resource potential and avoid the over-reliance on erratic hydroelectric power. Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) related that “the long drought has reduced the capacity of main dams, forcing shutdowns and leading to reliance on costly diesel-powered generators, pushing up energy bills”.

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