Final phase of 280MW Olkaria power plant nears completion

The amount of geothermal energy that is pumped into the national grid will change significantly in the coming month. This is after the remaining portion of the 280MW geothermal power plant is fully connected to national supply system.

Considered the largest of its kind in the world, this plant is made up of four units generating 70MW each, comprising 140MW Olkaria IV and Olkaria I units 4 and 5, with a capacity of 70 MW.

The State-owned energy generating firm said yesterday that Olkaria 5 unit is now feeding an additional 52MW to the national grid and that the new unit is still being tested.

“We have achieved a major milestone on the 280MW project after unit 5 was synchronized with the national grid. This is the last of the four 70 MW units in the 280MW geothermal project,” said KenGen CEO Albert Mugo.

Once all the four units are connected, the 280 MW Geothermal power plant will be complete, a development that is expected to bring down the cost of power.

KenGen said final tests were ongoing to ensure system stability. “In essence, it means that we are now close to the full 280MW even as we continue with load tests for unit 5,” said Mugo. The official commissioning of the final phase of the 280MW geothermal power project is expected in December.

Kenya is banking on geothermal energy to provide reliable and affordable energy, critical to lowering electricity costs, cost of living and that of doing business.

Geothermal energy is being used to replace the more expensive diesel-generated power plants, which have been a stop gap measure, especially when water levels at the hydro-dams fall significantly.