Geothermal Energy Development in East Africa: Barriers and Strategies
Emmanuel Yeri Kombe *
Department of Energy Technology, School of Engineering and Technology, Kenyatta University, Kenya.
Joseph Muguthu
Department of Energy Technology, School of Engineering and Technology, Kenyatta University, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The East African Rift is among the most crucial regions of the world endowed with a remarkable geothermal potential. Using current technologies, East African countries have a geothermal power potential of more than 15,000 MWe. Nevertheless, the zone is still at an early stage of geothermal development with few plants producing a few hundred MWe. Among East African countries that have carried out research on geothermal resources, Kenya is leading in utilising geothermal energy resources for electricity generation. Eritrea, Uganda, Tanzania and Djibouti are at exploration stage while Malawi and Rwanda have so far not gone past geothermal resource potential record work. This study sought to address the challenges and barriers to the adoption of geothermal energy as well as the strategies to implement geothermal energy plans in East Africa.
Keywords: Challenges, strategies, East Africa, geothermal energy plan.