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Insights into the Enhanced Non-Pumped Brine Management Model in Olkaria’s 81.1MWe Wellhead Generating Units
Joseph CHUMARI, Daniel ODONGO
[KenGen PLC, Kenya]
KenGen PLC generates 799MWe of electricity from the Olkaria geothermal field in Kenya and has made significant strides in harnessing geothermal energy, particularly with the deployment of wellhead generating units making up to 81.1MWe of the total output. These units, designed for rapid deployment, provide a practical solution for early-stage power generation while large steam gathering systems are under development. A geothermal wellhead generating unit consists of a compact steam turbine-generator setup positioned near the geothermal well. Upon extracting the geothermal fluid, the next process involves separating steam from brine using a demister. The extracted steam powers the turbine for power generation, while brine is initially held in a well drilling pond before being directed to a re-injection well. KenGen’s journey began with the commissioning of its first pilot plant (KWG-01) in January 2012. By 2016, KenGen PLC had expanded its operations to include fifteen (15) wellhead units, raising the need for a less sophisticated brine re-injection system. The non-pumped re-injection model for the units leverages the natural topography and pressure gradients of Olkaria, helping in re-injection of brine to seven (7) re-injection wells. This has helped in improving brine management and ensure environmental compliance. This model will be used to highlight the importance of non-pumped brine re-injection systems in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of geothermal power generation.
Topic: Enhanced Geothermal Systems