The Role of Geothermal Power Within the Energy Mix in the Union of Comoros

Abstract

Comoros is a country with a high reliance on petroleum products. The electricity is mainly generated from fossil fuels (83.3%) and the remaining part consists of hydroelectricity (16.7%). In the aim to end this energetic reliance, a program for the development and valorisation of the endogenic energetic resources is being implemented. This will enable providing a reliable and stable electricity to the consumers. The electrification in Comoros is very poor, with a very intermittent connection and daily power outages for the consumers. The main objective is to improve the energy security of the country by implementing renewable energies within the energetic mix, hence mitigating the reliance on fossil fuel products. It is necessary to know which one of the renewable energies (e.g. geothermal, biomass, wind, solar photovoltaic, hydroelectricity, hydraulic etc.) will be the primary energy replacing thermal power. Solar photovoltaic and wind energies are both intermittent power sources. Their integration within a large-scale electrical system can cause complications in terms of the network stability. Concerning geothermal power, geophysical and geochemical studies have highlighted the existence of a high potential, which was estimated to be more than 40MW to the Northeast of Mt Karthala. Considering the current energy demand of 15 MW, the geothermal development project aims to generate 10 MW in the first instance and then to progressively increase the capacity to 40MW until 2030. To implement a stable electricity generated from global renewable energies for Grande Comore, none of these energies should be adopted alone, excluding the others. It is always useful having diverse options of energy supply. The energy mix is still the ideal solution. A combination of solar photovoltaic and geothermal energies will significantly reduce the energetic reliance on diesel generation, especially on Grande Comore. Geothermal is still the best long-term energy option and has an important role in mitigating the diesel importation. Geothermal power represents a strategic emergent industrial sector for Comoros and it has a strong potential in increasing the renewable energy part with the energy mix.