KenGen Completes the Construction Of An 83MW Geothermal Plant

Kenya Generating Electric Company (KenGen), has completed the construction of an 83-megawatt additional geothermal plant.

With this, the company has set in motion activities to add the plant, which is expected to inject 83.3MW, into the national grid by June 2022.

This step comes after the company successfully delivered full steam to the Olkaria Power plant.

According to the KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano, the milestone is a big step forward in the country’s progress toward 100 percent utilization of renewable energy by the year 2030.

“The construction of Olkaria I Unit 6 is aligned to the company’s long-term strategy and Kenya’s Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP) focused on a sustainable supply of renewable energy in support of the Government’s Big Four Agenda,” She said.

The Furji turbine, which is now the largest single-unit turbine ever installed By KenGen in any of its geothermal power stations is currently undergoing reliability tests to confirm its output.

Geothermal accounts for 39 percent of the company’s installed generation. Adding this new unit will boost the geothermal share of KenGen’s capacity to 42 percent.

KenGen generates 1,818 MW of power, of which 86 percent comes from green sources. Hydropower accounts for 826 MW and wind for 26 MW, hence positive for the environment and the Kenyan economy.

KenGen has used its Olkaria experience to gain access to new markets, beginning geothermal work in Djibouti in 2021 and Ethiopia in 2019.

Electricity demand in Kenya is growing at an average of 4.5 percent. Demand hit a peak of 2,036 MW in November 2021.

Kenya intends to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.