Energy: Geothermal Power Stations in Kenya

The Hell's Gate area was discovered by explorers Fisher and Thomson in 1883, taking its name from a narrow break in the cliffs, which was once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that nourished the early humans of the Rift Valley.

Located 90 km northwest of Nairobi, the fracture is home to numerous hot springs and geysers, facilitating the establishment of geothermal power plants in the area.

Kenya is the seventh largest producer of geothermal energy in the world and is playing a pioneering role in this field in East Africa.

The geothermal power plant supplies more than 4 million inhabitants in Kenya and contributes to the fight against climate change because geothermal energy does not produce greenhouse gases.

In 2019, Kenya's geothermal energy production capacity was 690 Megawatt (MW), with a target of reaching 5,530 MW by 2030 thanks to four power plants named Olkaria  I to IV.

The Olkaria I power plant started operating in 1981 with a production capacity of 15 MW.

In 1982 and 1985, two additional turbines identical to the first one were put into service, bringing the production capacity to 45 MW7. 
In January 2015, units 4 and 5, with a combined capacity of 140 MW, were inaugurated. 
In December 2018, unit 6, with a capacity of 83 MW, brought the total capacity of this geothermal power plant to 268 MW.

Olkaria II was commissioned in 2003. Made of 3 units of a capacity of 35MW, it has a In 2010, a unit with a capacity of 35 MW was added, bringing the total capacity to 105 megawatts

The Olkaria III power plant started operations in 2000, with a production capacity of 13 MW. From 2009 to 2014, three new infrastructures were installed, bringing the total capacity of the plant to 110 MW. Fourth generation units were added in 2016 and 2018, bringing the total capacity of the plant to 150 MW