NAIROBI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Plumes of steam rise above the Olkaria I Geothermal Power Plant in Kenya's Hell's Gate National Park, as a network of pipes channels steam from deep underground to the plant's generating units, where the earth's heat is converted into electricity.
Commissioned in the 1980s as Africa's first geothermal power station, Olkaria I faced growing challenges in maintaining its generating capacity and efficiency as its equipment aged over more than four decades of operation.
Following a rehabilitation project undertaken by SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China, the plant's total installed capacity increased from 45 megawatts (MW) to 63 MW, while the amount of steam available for power generation remained unchanged.
Located along the Great Rift Valley, Kenya has substantial geothermal potential. Data from Kenya's Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority show that geothermal power accounts for around 40 percent of national electricity generation, making it the country's leading source of electricity.
Under the Kenya National Energy Compact 2025-2030, the country aims to increase its installed geothermal capacity to 1,681 MW by 2030 and achieve 100 percent clean electricity generation.
Upgrading an existing plant can be more challenging than building a new one, said Zhang Yang, deputy project manager of the rehabilitation project.
"Building a new plant is like painting on a blank canvas, where you can plan everything from scratch. With a rehabilitation project, much of the existing structure has to remain, so you have to find solutions within the space and layout already available," he said.
The project, which began in August 2023, involved upgrading all three generating units within the constraints of the decades-old facility. Engineers had to ensure that new equipment was compatible with existing systems while coordinating mechanical and electrical components within the plant's original layout, Zhang said.
The team also redesigned the steam-field pipeline layout based on steam parameters and optimized several components, including separators, exhaust stations, control valves and cooling systems. These adjustments helped increase the plant's generating capacity without requiring additional steam, Zhang added.
Maurice Awuor, electrical engineering manager at the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), said the rehabilitation had raised the plant's installed capacity to 63 MW, equivalent to about 2 percent of Kenya's total installed electricity generation capacity.
"This is the only geothermal rehabilitation project in Kenya over the past three years that has been commissioned and added installed capacity to the national grid," Awuor said.
The rehabilitation also saw the installation of Chinese-made equipment, including condensers, circulating water pumps and cooling towers, to replace aging machinery.
Zhang said that after KenGen personnel visited Chinese factories and exchanged views with manufacturers, they gained a better understanding of the performance of Chinese equipment and its manufacturing processes, paving the way for its adoption in the geothermal project.
"This time, we have introduced Chinese-made equipment into a geothermal project in Kenya, and I believe more projects will adopt Chinese equipment in the future," Zhang said.
Awuor said Chinese companies had strengths in technology and equipment, and cooperation with them was important for Kenya as it seeks to develop its geothermal resources.
Beyond equipment, the project has also facilitated knowledge-sharing between Chinese engineers and their Kenyan counterparts.
Perry Karuri, a Kenyan quality assurance and control engineer responsible for construction inspections, said it was her first time working with Chinese engineers.
During equipment installation and commissioning, she discussed technical parameters, construction quality and on-site challenges with her Chinese colleagues. The teams jointly examined problems and worked out solutions to ensure that construction met the required standards, she said.
"We not only share knowledge and exchange experience, but also learn from each other's different working methods. I have learned a more rigorous approach to work from the Chinese engineers," Karuri said, adding that the cooperation had provided opportunities to develop practical skills and gain experience in operating and maintaining the upgraded equipment.
Zhang Liang, the project manager, said some areas around the plant had previously experienced rotational power cuts due to electricity shortages, and additional installed capacity at Olkaria I has helped strengthen the local power supply.
He added that geothermal power can also complement other renewable sources. While wind and solar generation fluctuate with weather conditions and the time of day, geothermal plants can provide a relatively stable supply of electricity, helping balance the grid when wind generation is low or solar output falls after sunset.
"Geothermal resources are an important domestic energy source for Kenya. Their relatively low generation costs can help reduce the electricity sector's sensitivity to fluctuations in international oil and gas prices," Awuor said.
He noted that the additional capacity at the upgraded plant could help Kenya meet rising electricity demand, support industrial production and manufacturing, and advance efforts to diversify its energy mix and transition toward cleaner energy. ■
