KenGen approves GreenFire closed-loop application in Olkaria geothermal field, Kenya

Olkaria II geothermal power plant, Kenya (source: ARGeo)

GreenFire Energy Inc. (GreenFire) has announced that it has received approval from KenGen to commence the implementation of the company’s proprietary GreenLoop® technology in a geothermal well in the Olkaria geothermal field in Kenya. This follows up on a collaboration between the two parties that had been previously announced during the 2023 Geothermal Rising Conference.

The goal of the demonstration is to generate electricity from a well not currently producing steam with a view of implementing GreenLoop broadly in KenGen’s applicable geothermal resources. The KenGen and GreenFire Energy collaboration aims to accelerate the generation of geothermal energy in Kenya and beyond.

GreenFire has developed a versatile, closed-loop Advanced Geothermal System (AGS) called GreenLoop. This technology opens the possibility of retrofitting idle wells to produce power economically. It can also help in de-risking new wells by facilitating the expansion of existing fields and the development of new geothermal resources.

GreenFire has rapidly expanded the deployment opportunities of their closed-loop technology in the past years with similar partnerships secured in the Philippines, Spain, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Australia.

KenGen has played a major role in making Kenya one of the Top 10 largest geothermal power producers in the world. The state-owned geothermal developer and operator currently has an installed capacity of 799 MW which accounts for 85% of the country’s geothermal installed capacity.

Further, the company maintains an expansion plan targeting a power generation capacity of 3000 MW. Amongst KenGen’s 2024 priorities is the focus on new technologies to enhance electricity generation through initiatives to up-rate existing assets and rehabilitate power plants. An ongoing example of this is the rehabilitation of Olkaria I, which happens to be the oldest geothermal power plant in Kenya.

Source: Email correspondence