Opportunities for Direct Utilization of Geothermal Energy in Eburru Area

Abstract

Geothermal energy is the natural heat from the earth’s interior. The energy is indigenous, reliable and environmentally benign resource that is inexorably gaining momentum in many parts of the world endowed with the resource. Kenya is endowed with vast geothermal resources in excess of 10,000MWe, located in the Kenyan Rift. Irrespective of the great energy potential, nearly 700MWe has been harnessed at Olkaria and Eburru Geothermal Fields for electricity generation. However, direct utilization of geothermal energy in Kenya has been low, estimated at 22.4MWt. Some of the direct uses in Kenya include greenhouse heating by Oserian Development Company Ltd, pyrethrum drying at Eburru, swimming and bathing at Olkaria Geothermal Spa and Lake Bogoria Spa Resort. This paper assess opportunities for direct utilization of geothermal energy in Eburru area, where KenGen is currently operating a 2.4MWe Geothermal Wellhead Power Plant. Eburru is a settlement scheme where a shallow well drilled in the 1950s is still used by the local to dry pyrethrum. This study proposes to broaden the use of geothermal energy for large-scale agricultural drying, geothermal steam bath, pasteurization, poultry hatching and provision of potable water which is a big challenge in the area. The proposed applications of geothermal energy in Eburru will improve the socio-economic life of people living in the area. Further, it will be a platform for KenGen to exchange knowledge and show-case direct uses of geothermal resources in Kenya.