APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Africa’s geothermal capacity is set to more than double in the next seven years, allowing the continent’s geothermal industry to overtake Europe’s, according to research published by consulting firm Rystad Energy.
The firm expects geothermal power capacity to reach 13 GW in Africa by 2050, up from only around 1 GW today.
Generating electricity from geothermal resources involves harnessing superheated pools of water and steam created by magma flowing deep below the earth’s surface.
Where geological conditions allow – typically in volcanic regions, or along tectonic plate boundaries – these geothermal resources can be piped to the surface and converted to electricity.
The heat produced by geothermal resources can also be used for various purposes.
The Rift Valley region of East Africa has by far the most favourable conditions for geothermal energy generation on the continent.
Kenya has led the way in harnessing this potential – rapid development over the past decade has helped the country become the world’s seventh-largest geothermal producer.
Rystad figures show that the country is now producing 6.5 terrawatt hours (TWh) of electricity from geothermal sources (nearly half its total supply), up from just 1.6 TWh in 2010.
The world’s largest geothermal facility, Olkaria VI, is set to begin production in Kenya’s Hell’s Gate National Park as early as next year.
Daniel Holmedal, senior supply chain analyst at Rystad Energy, told African Business that the rise of Kenya’s geothermal industry is partly down to drilling campaigns undertaken by state-owned entities as far back as the 1960s.
These had the effect of “de-risking” investment by geothermal developers, which eventually launched projects after resources had been proven.
Reflecting the rapid momentum, Kenyan power company KenGen – which operates multiple geothermal power stations in the country – has announced a 48 percent increase in pre-tax to 30 June.
The company, which is 70% owned by the Kenyan government, said that additional geothermal units allowed it to continue interrupted electricity supplies, even as hydro-power facilities were affected by drought conditions.
MG/as/APA