Feasibility Study on Direct Utilisation of Energy from Geothermal Brine – A Case Study of Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant, Kenya

Abstract

Geothermal brine, a by-product of electricity generation contains a substantial amount of energy which, if tapped, can be used for a number of low heat energy applications. Possibility of application of brine energy from Olkaria geothermal power plant, Kenya has been assessed.
Brine produced at Olkaria Northeast field has an energy potential of 100 MWt. The biggest hurdle in utilisation of this energy would be silica scaling potential when the brine is cooled. Analysis of brine’s chemistry shows that it can be cooled to 110oC with no scaling problems and this would avail 26 MWt. A large market with energy demand of about 11 MWt exists within a radius of 30km among flower firms, tourist hotels and private home owners . Olkaria Northeast field potential therefore has more than twice the current energy demand.
Preliminary design shows that geothermally heated water can be piped to a distance of 30 km with heat loss of 5oC and frictional pressure losses of 2.5 bars per km.