The need for renewable energy has never been greater. The effects of global warming have forced many countries to seek alternative forms of energy production that are considered ‘green’ e.g. geothermal, solar and wind. However, it is widely believed that only developed countries can successfully harness these alternative forms due to the high initial costs and the challenging technologies associated with their development. Today, many countries have successfully developed geothermal energy resources. This paper discusses the journey of two such countries: Kenya and Iceland. During the 20th century, Iceland developed from being one of Europe’s poorest countries, dependent on imported coal for its energy, to a country with a high standard of living where around 82% of its primary energy is derived from indigenous renewable sources such as geothermal and hydropower. Kenya, on the other hand, began geothermal exploration in the mid-20th century, and the first well was drilled in 1973. Today, the developing nation has an installed capacity of 590 MWe, with an additional 280 MWe planned for early 2015. The journey towards successful geothermal energy production in these countries has been challenging in many ways but also full of beneficial lessons. These lessons could be useful to other countries that are just beginning, or are yet to begin the ‘geothermal journey’. This paper discusses such challenges, the technologies used, funding sources, impacts on the environment, both positive and negative, as well as the current status of geothermal development.

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