ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News

GDC seeks approval for new geothermal project Menengai West

State-owned GDC is planning to drill additional wells in Menengai West in an effort to increase the country’s geothermal power capacity

State-owned Geothermal Development has applied for approval from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to set up a new steam drilling project in Nakuru, Kenya. The so-called Menengai West Geothermal Drilling Project aims to increase the country’s renewable power capacity.

The specific locations to be drilled and the targeted depth of the wells will only be determined once the funds are available.

This application follows news of GDC receiving a Sh1.3 billion grant from the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility to drill six wells in the Baringo Country. If successful, drilling at Baringo is project to add 300 MW of geothermal capacity by 2030.

Kenya’s national electricity grid now has a capacity of 3341 GW-hours. According to data by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the share of thermal power to the grid has dropped to 13.4% as of last November. This is the lowest figure in three years as a result of the national government turning to more renewable energy sources.

Source: Business Daily

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