Geothermal power in Kenya

Geothermal power is very cost-effective in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, East Africa. As of 2023^[update], Kenya has 891.8 MW of installed geothermal capacity.^[1][2] Kenya was the first African country to build geothermal energy sources. The Kenya Electricity Generating Company, which is 74% state-owned, has built several plants to exploit the Olkaria geothermal resource; Olkaria I (268.3 MW), Olkaria II (105 MW), Olkaria IV (140 MW), Olkaria V (158 MW),^[3] and Wellhead generation plants (75 MW), with a third private plant Olkaria III (139 MW). Additionally, a pilot wellhead plant of 2.5 MW has been commissioned at Eburru and two small scale plants have been built by the Oserian Development Company to power their rose farm facilities with a total of 4 MW.

Currently, the exploration of geothermal wells in Kenya as well as sale of geothermal steam to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company^[4] and Independent Power Producers for the purpose of electricity generation is undertaken by the Geothermal Development Company.