Ranking of Undeveloped Kenyan Geothermal Prospects by Use of Surface Geoscientific Data

Abstract

Geothermal energy is thermal energy from the subsurface of the earth. The heat is extracted in form of steam, and is tapped in the surface at very high pressures. Geothermal energy is renewable, carbon free and free form of energy that provides a continuous and uninterrupted supply of power and heat. Utilization of Geothermal energy began in the early 19 th century and as civilization advanced, this form of energy became most preferred and thus there is need to increase its capacity because it is not fully utilized. Kenya is endowed with this form of energy along the rift valley due to the recent quaternary volcanoes. Currently Kenya has an installed capacity of over 900 MWe, however the geothermal capacity in the country is more than 7,000 MWe. Only 5 of the 14 geothermal prospects have been developed while the rest are in different stages of exploration. This project highlights the geothermal portfolio capacity in Kenya and ranks the remaining 9 geothermal fields in their order of development. These fields include; Emuruangogolak, Suswa, Longonot, Arus Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Silali, Namarunu and Barrier geothermal field. To achieve this ranking, surface geoscientific data was generously given by various sources such as the main two industrial geothermal players (KenGen and GDC) and the Ministry of Energy. The data was reviewed and integrated to come up with a basis for the classification and ranking. Using this data, the project developed detailed raw conceptual models of each geothermal field and power potential estimates using power density calculations. Power density method of geothermal power calculation gives first order estimates of the geothermal filed expressed in terms of MW/km². Results of this work has ranked the fields as follows: Taking the resource capacity estimates, geological, hydrogeological, and fluid chemistry criteria into consideration and some socio- economic factors, the geothermal prospects are ranked as follows: Suswa, Longonot, Silali, Emuruangogolak, Korosi, Barrier, Arus Bogoria, Lake Baringo and Namarunu; Suswa being the most viable.