KenGen to add 1745 MW geothermal energy to grid by 2025

• 6 years ago (2018-02-20)
• David Flin

Africa 320 Gas engine plant 64

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The Kenyan utility Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has said that it plans to add 1745 MW for geothermal sources by 2025, as part of an attempt to reduce or end power generation from fossil fuels in the country.

Kenya currently has a total installed generating capacity of 2370 MW, and a peak demand of about 1770 MW. Of this, KenGen, which is 70 per cent owned by the Government, has an installed capacity of 1631 MW, with 533 MW from geothermal. Demand for electricity is predicted to grow at about 8 per cent per year until 2020, and will rise to 9 per cent in 2021, after which it will stabilise at 7 per cent, according to the Government’s transmission and distribution plan.

Moses Wekesa, Business Development Director for KenGen, said: “Government policy is for all generators, including KenGen and IPPs, is to eliminate power generation from fossil fuels. First, your supply must always be ahead of demand. The reason being is that it takes a while to put up a power plant.”