Kenya posts 46% geothermal power output increase for Q1 2023

City center of Nairobi, Kenya (source: flickr/ Ninara, creative commons)

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has announced that the power output from geothermal sources in Kenya increased by 46% for the 1st quarter of 2023. The Q1 output for this year reached 1,506.33 GWh compared to only 1,025 GWh for the same period last year.

The increase in geothermal power output coincided with a 47% drop in power generation from hydropower sources, attributed to water level problems because of the prolonged drought. Hydropower output was reduced from 807.73 GWh to 424.09 GWh for the first quarter from 2022 to 2023.

“We have water level problems and we may be forced to push other forms of power generation to meet the country’s power demand but the only challenge we might get is that the power will be slightly expensive,” commented Energy Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir.

Power output from thermal plants also increased by 44% to 600.39 GWh, as did electricity imports from Ethiopia. The dependence on electricity imports and fuel has resulted in increased power costs due to fuel surcharge. This has highlighted the importance of tapping more power from renewables such as geothermal and wind.

Simultaneous efforts are ongoing to increase the geothermal power capacity of Kenya. Last month, the preparation of wells started for the anticipated commercial operations of the 35-MW geothermal power plant of Sosian Energy in Menengai. KenGen is also working on the capacity expansion of Olkaria by uprating of the turbines of Olkaria I and IV geothermal power plants.

Source: Business Daily Africa