KenGen to set up Olkaria VII geothermal plant

Electricity generating company KenGen is set to establish a seventh geothermal plant at Olkaria dubbed- Olkaria VII.

In a tender bid document on Tuesday, the NSE-listed firm indicated it was seeking consultancy services for the Olkaria VII geothermal power plant feasibility study.

The targeted expansion of geothermal plants by KenGen aligns with the company’s goal of increasing its installed generation capacity from renewable energy sources.

KenGen’s plans for Olkaria VII are off the back of the recent commissioning of its 86 megawatt (MW) Olkaria I-additional unit six geothermal power plant.

The additional plant raised KenGen’s total installed energy capacity to 1904MW where the geothermal capacity now stands at 799MW.

The targeting of renewable energy sources in developing the power plants align with the government’s Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP).

Over 86 per cent of KenGen’s installed generation capacity is drawn from green sources.

This includes hydro-826MW, geothermal 799MW and wind-26MW.

KenGen's ongoing projects include the development of the KenGen Energy Park in Olkaria Naivasha which will provide cheaper-priced geothermal steam and electricity to industrial, commercial and recreational facilities.

Other projects in the pipeline include the 40MW Seven Forks Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project, the raising of the Masinga Hydropower Dam, Ngong Wind Farm and the rehabilitation of Olkaria I units 1, 2 & 3 geothermal plants.