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Accelerating Geothermal Direct Use Development in Kenya: Opportunities, Barriers, and a Strategic Roadmap
Victor OTIENO
[KenGen, Kenya]
Kenya possesses extensive geothermal resources, primarily located along the Kenya Rift System (KRS). Geothermal energy is one of the country's most reliable renewable resources due to its consistency and baseload availability. Although geothermal development faces unique challenges compared to other renewable technologies, it offers substantial potential for reducing environmental impact and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through both electricity generation and direct use applications. Currently, about 98% of geothermal utilization in Kenya is focused on power generation. While direct use applications have begun to expand in recent years, their adoption remains slow relative to electricity production. Existing applications are mainly limited to greenhouse heating, bathing and swimming, aquaculture, agricultural drying, and milk pasteurization. This paper provides an overview of the key direct use opportunities for geothermal resources in Kenya. Using published data, it examines the main barriers constraining the development of geothermal direct use projects and recommends strategies to accelerate uptake. The review reveals that if effectively supported, geothermal direct use can enhance energy sustainability, diversify applications, and strengthen resilience within the national energy sector.
Topic: Direct Use