Is Geothermal Energy Kenya’s “Holy Grail”?

Geothermal Sites in Kenya

Kenya’s estimated geothermal potential is more than 15,000 MW, according to Geothermal Development Company (GDC). Report by the Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed that Kenya and Turkey are the only two developing nations that have exceeded forecasts for harnessing geothermal energy over the last five years.
During the just concluded 17th East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC), Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) was awarded both the outstanding Clean Power Award and Excellence in Power Generation. Their Olkaria geothermal power generation was specifically lauded.
The Olkaria area in Kenya’s Rift Valley is home to the largest geothermal project in Africa, it has a total potential of 2,000 MW. This estimate is almost equivalent to current electricity demand in Kenya.
The great leverage KenGen has exerted on geothermal energy was witnessed when electrical power imports from Uganda was cut by half. In the first half of 2015, Kenya imported 27.97 million kWh of electricity, this is compared to 57.91 million kWh during a similar period in 2014. The sharp slump in power imports by 51.7% was as a result of the Olkaria I geothermal power plant increasing its total capacity to 280 MW at the end of 2014. The connection of the additional power to the national grid necessitated a slice in power import from Uganda.

Prospective East Africa’s Heated Oil Pipeline will be the World Longest

Hoima – Lokichar – Lamu Crude oil Pipeline Route (The Top/Northern)

Kenya and Uganda have come to a consensus on a northern route for the crude oil pipeline. The length of the Hoima – Lokichar – Lamu route is 1500 kilometre (930 miles). The cost of the project is estimated to be around 450 billion Kenya shillings (US$4.5 billion).
The pipeline could the extended further to connect South Sudan and Ethiopia. The pipeline is part of the greater Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSETT).
This will bring to global markets 6.5 billion barrels of oil from Hoima in Uganda, and 600 million barrels from Turkana in Kenya via the port city of Lamu in the Indian Ocean
The prospective crude oil pipeline will be constantly heated because Ugandan and Kenyan oil is waxy. This will make it the world’s longest heated oil pipeline.
Talks on financing for oil pipeline have started, but according to BMI research estimates, the pipeline will be unlikely before 2020.

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Related video:
The Kenya Citizen TV Video Report on Hoima-Lokichar-Lamu oil pipeline route.

Inaugural East African Power Industry Awards

EAPIC 2015

The East African Power Industry awards honored outstanding power professionals and energy projects in the East African region. It was held during the 17th East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC) on 27 – 28 August 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya. It was attended by more than 1200 energy professionals
The highlights are
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) took the outstanding Clean Power Award and Excellence in Power Generation category
The South African delegation exhibited at the EAPIC. They have an interest in East Africa power sector.

Kenya to Learn from India’s Electricity Distribution Reforms

Kenya-India

Delhi India is the new Mecca for developing countries wishing to privatize electricity distribution.
The Delhi region power consumer base is around 4.231 million. The energy demand is approximately 5,000 MW. The power distribution companies were privatized in 2002, and the stake held by the central government through Delhi Power Co. Ltd is 49%.
Since privatization, the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses have significantly reduced in Delhi from over 55% to 15%. The developing countries would like to gain this technical expertise to implement in their respective countries.
To take advantage of India’s capacity building relating to power distribution, Kenya Energy Regulatory Commission (KERC) and Kenya Power recently made a reconnoitering mission to Delhi with the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).
Kenya Power has been the sole utility power distributor in Kenya for the last fifty years. With these new developments, is it time to end Kenya Power monopoly? – The Energy Bill 2015 seeks to do just that. Microgrid Energy, a US private company is set to be the new competitor from September 2015.
The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has also partnered to train transmission engineers with India state-owned Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd (PGCIL).
Kenya improved electrical transmission system will reduce power outages and wide consumer base.
The other countries that have made a similar pilgrimage to India are Jamaica, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

Kenya is spearheading East African Power Interconnectivity

African Power Pools.

Kenya is spearheading the development of East African Power Pool (EAPP). The regional power links are expected to be ready in the next three years. The East Africa regional power grid is similar to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
Kenya Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. (KETRACO) is upgrading and expanding Kenya’s 1955 decrepit high voltage power transmission lines.
The EAPP will connect Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the Africa Great Lakes region.
Ethiopia which aims at making hydro power a major national export to neighboring countries has already signed contracts with Kenya to sell power. Ethiopia is counting on exporting to Kenya the almost complete 1870 MW Gilgel Gibe III hydro power.
The power interconnection to the south will further connect the East Africa power grid via Tanzania to the 12-nation SAPP circuit. The Southern Africa region aims at being energy sufficient by 2019.
The high voltage power interconnections execution is a challenge. The ongoing and the proposed 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) infrastructure project require huge investment.
The KETRACO value the cost of current projects at over Ksh. 200 billion (US$ 2.0 billion). The projects are financed by The Government of Kenya in partnership with The African Development Bank, and The French Development Agency among others.
The projects are expected to provide reliable and affordable power supply. It will also minimize constant power outage problem.

Solar Powered Schools in Kenya

Aleutia’s Solar Classroom in a Box

Aleutia Computers Ltd, manufacturer of computers in the United Kingdom is in the process of building a solar powered school in every one of the 47 counties in Kenya.

Rubiri School in Nairobi was one of their case studies featuring what they call “Solar Classroom in a Box”. Their target is rural schools not connected to the electric grid.

The 2 million shillings ($20,000) classroom can be built in two days, and will have 10 computers for students and one for the teacher. The teachers’ computers will be pre-loaded with Wikipedia and Khan Academy offline software.

Small Hydro Projects Should be Initiated in Non-KTDA Regions

Tea production areas and forest distribution in Kenya – by Wikipedia

Kenya is among the leading tea producing countries in the world after China and India. Kenya produced a total of 369,400 tonnes in 2013.

Tea has been Kenya’s top forex earner until last year when it was edged out of the first position by diaspora remittance. Recent Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data shows the trend continuing. Tea brought in Sh110 billion ($1.1 billion) compared to Sh138 billion ($1.38 billion) from diaspora remittance. Most of diaspora remittance is going to the real estate sector.

Tea requires significant rainfall when growing, and there is a correlation between tea producing regions and presence of rivers. These rivers could be used to set up small hydro projects to power tea factories.

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) manages more than 65 tea processing factories. It is the single largest producer and exporter of Kenyan tea. It plans to invest more than Sh4.8 billion (US$ 48m) to set up at least 10 – 16 small hydro energy plants on rivers close to tea factories. Funding is from the French Development Agency (AFD), and the total potential generating capacity is estimated at 20 – 30 MW.

At least six hydro energy projects are now complete or under construction, namely: 5.8 MW Gura (Nyeri), 1 MW Chania (Kiambu), 5.6 MW North Mathioya (Muranga County), 2-MW South Mara (Meru County), 1.5-MW Iraru (Meru County) and 1.8 MW Lower Nyamindi (Kirinyaga County).

Other projects in the pipeline for development include 2 MW Nyambunde, 3.6 MW Kipsonoi, 2.5 MW Chemosit, Kiringa, Ura, Kathita, Kiptiget, 6 MW Nyamasege, 1.5 MW Rupingazi, and 9 MW Nandi Forest.

KTDA Power Co., incorporated in 2010, will provide some of its tea factories with cheaper, reliable and clean renewable energy. This will cut down operation costs, and generate employment opportunities. The excess power will be sold to the national electricity grid via the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).

The potential for hydro energy with capacities of less than 10 MW in Kenya is estimated at 3,000 MW. Non-tea producing regions should also initiate the development of such small hydro projects on rivers capable of generating electricity. The KTDA should also be more equitable and develop power projects in all tea growing regions rather than focusing only on Mt. Kenya region.

Ethiopia’s Gilgel Gibe III Hydropower Project is a Threat to Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana Region from Space – by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti

The massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project is currently under construction on the Blue Nile River. It started on April 2011 and now is more than 40% complete. The completion is expected in 2017, and the projected output is expected to be as high as 6000 MW.

The hydro-power potential of Ethiopia is more than 45,000 MW of electricity. Apart from local utilization, Ethiopia would like to make this hydro-power a major national export to neighboring countries.
The GERD project has caused a lot of concern especially in Egypt, which rely heavily on the Nile for its livelihood. The dam may seriously reduce the flow of river water reaching downstream. The Blue Nile River from the Ethiopian highlands accounts to about 86% of the Nile River’s water.
Unlike the GERD project, Gibe III dam project has revised much less publicity.
The Gibe III hydroelectric plant is located in southwest Ethiopia. The US$1.8 billion project was formally launched in 2008 and is almost complete – 98.5% complete. The dam has 10 turbines, each with 187 MW generating capacity, totaling the projected capacity of 1870 MW. It will start running three turbines, producing at least 500 MW by September 18, which is the Ethiopian New Year according to the Julian calendar.
The criticism to Ethiopia’s Gibe III dam is that it is a threat to Kenya’s Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake. It has been likened to be the next Aral Sea in Central Asia, which has suffered an irreparable damage.
The project has already been linked to severe starving experienced by the Kwegu people. The 200,000 indigenous tribe in southwest Ethiopia.
Lake Turkana gets 90% of its water from the Omo River. Water reduction to the lake would make life difficult for the communities depending on Lake Turkana for their livelihoods, especially the Turkana herders and fishermen who will pay a heavy price. This may further foment insecurity, and disputes over grazing or water rights may escalate in the already volatile region.
Kenya has already made plans to purchase power from the Gibe III dam. This is despite the fact that Kenya’s Turkana people who have no voice may be impacted. Further studies also need to be done on the effects posed by Gibe III dam and irrigation projects in the South Omo region have on Lake Turkana resources over the years.

In the future, Ethiopia plans to build two more dams Gilbe IV and Gilbe V downstream river Omo for hydro power generation.
Just like GERD project brought Ethiopia and Egypt to the negotiating table. Kenya and Ethiopia should hash out the threat to Lake Turkana; which from Kenya’s See No Evil, Speak No Evil policy, it may not happen soon

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Related Video
International Rivers: Community Voices of Lake Turkana

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Update by Reuters, October 2015 Ethiopia’s industrialisation spells crisis for Kenya’s Turkana

Biogas Energy Adds 2.4 MW to Kenya’s Power Grid

Gorge Farm Energy Park – Naivasha

Biogas is gaseous fuel. It is produced by anaerobic degradation process of organic matter by bacterial consortium. The biomass is converted into biogas and is composed mainly of methane (98%), and carbon dioxide. The biogas is clean, and renewable energy source.

Harvesting the biogas generated from anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic matter, makes the biogas available for use as fuel for direct heating, electrical generation and other uses.

Biojoule an associate company of Tropical Power Energy Group in Naivasha, Nakuru County has opened AD biogas power plant on the shores of Lake Naivasha with an output of a 2.4 MW. It is now connected to the nation power grid by Kenya Power, which makes it the first in Africa. The power is enough to power about 8,000 households

The feedstock is about 150 tonnes per day of organic waste, which is obtained from 800-hectare Gorge Farm owned and operated by VP Group, a fresh-produce horticultural exporter company in East Africa. The biogas made from biomass energy feedstocks is then burned to produce electricity. The remaining undigested solids is used as organic fertilizer, obviating the need of synthetic fertilizers overreliance.

The cost of the plant is US$ 7.5 million, and it took less than a year to build. Its lifespan is projected to be about 25 years, and they expect to recoup the investment cost within 6 years.

The biogas power project has added diversity to Kenya’s distributed energy mix. It is an excellent concept and vital to Kenya’s future energy security. The same technology can applied to produce biogas from municipal organic waste in Kenya big towns.

Solarjoule, another associate company of Tropical Power will also be embarking on constructing a further 10MW solar photovoltaic next year in the same vicinity to add to the national grid.

Geothermal Energy Cuts Kenya’s Electrical Power Imports by Half

Olkaria geothermal power plant

Geothermal energy is among renewable energy sources. It is derived from natural steam generated by heat deep in the earth’s crust, especially from volcanic-active belts.

The Great Rift Valley transverse Kenya from the north to the south. It is an area known for extinct, latent and active volcanic activity. This makes it an ideal location for generating geothermal energy.

The Olkaria area is a region located in Kenya’s Rift Valley. It is home to the largest geothermal project in Africa. It has been used to generate clean geothermal electrical power. It is estimated that the Olkaria area has a total potential of 2,000 MW, which is almost equivalent to current electricity demand in Kenya.

The Olkaria I commercial electricity generation started in 1981 with 15 MW. Similar capacity generation was added in 1982 and 1985 to make a total output of 45 MW. There was a steady increase over the years. At the end of 2014, an additional 140 MW was added to the national grid to make a total of 280 MW.

In the first half of 2015, Kenya imported 27.97 million kWh of electricity from Ethiopia (~5%) and Uganda (~95%). This is a drop of 29.94 million kWh compared to a similar period in 2014. The additional 140 MW increase in electrical energy added to the national power grid by Olkaria 1 geothermal power plant necessitated a sharp slump in power imports by 51.7%. This has also resulted in a fall in power bills to its customers.

This is good news for East Africa’s largest economy. This follows a rise in energy demand from the growing industries and increased electrical connectivity to its citizens which is now roughly 37% of the total population. This is against Kenya’s ambitious plan to connect 70% of its population to the electric power grid by 2017.