KenGen to Increase Geothermal Power Production Amid Dropping Water Levels

As water levels at Kenya’s large hydropower stations fall, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) intends to increase electricity generation from geothermal sources.

Masinga Dam, Kenya’s largest hydropower dam, had a water level of 1,039.42 meters above sea level (mASL) as of yesterday midnight, against a total capacity of 1,056 mASL.

With only 7.5 millimeters of rain in the previous 24 hours, this was slightly above the minimum operating level of 1,037 mASL.

Climate change is primarily responsible for poor hydrology, which has resulted in unpredictable rainfall patterns, making it difficult to plan and implement a sustainable water management program in large dams.

“Despite the ongoing rains in most parts of the country, we are receiving very low inflows at our dams at the Seven Forks, located along the Tana River,” said KenGen Managing Director and CEO Peter Njenga.

“This poor hydrology means that we now have to turn to another source to meet the growing demand for electricity in the country,” he added.

According to KenGen’s daily electricity dispatch report, the large hydroelectric power stations, which would normally have a combined maximum capacity of 626 MW, were only able to achieve 471 MW at their peak over the past 24 hours.

“One of the large power stations, Masinga, has been shut down most days of November as part of our ongoing water management program to ensure we are able to meet the energy demands for the longest duration possible,” said Njenga.

Njenga went on to say that KenGen was looking to acquire more geothermal drilling licenses in the Great Rift Valley as part of the company’s plans to increase geothermal generation capacity, which he described as clean and more reliable because it is not weather-dependent.

Kenya has a potential geothermal energy capacity of 10 GW, of which only 950 MW has been developed, with KenGen developing approximately 799 MW in the Olkaria and Eburru Hill Geothermal Fields in Nakuru County.

KenGen has a diverse energy portfolio that includes geothermal, hydro, wind, and thermal power, totaling 1,904 MW, with 86% coming from renewable sources.