Kenya’s hydropower generation goes up as dams fill up

The Masinga Dam hydropower generating facility.

NAIROBI: KenGen says it's looking to stabilize electricity bills with the increased generation from hydro power. The firm Wednesday said that generation from the cheaper hydro sources is set to go up in the coming weeks following significant rise in water levels at its main power dams.

The dams at the main generating sites, at the seven forks hydro-electric power and the Turkwel power dam, have been rising in recent weeks, while inflows at the Sondu and Sangoro stations are good, according to energy planners at the public power generating company.

KenGen CEO Eng Albert Mugo says favorable weather will raise contribution from the hydro power stations going forward. "The inflows have been very good. The main Masinga dam has risen over four metres since May 1, 2015. Average output from hydro has also increased from around 8.6GWh to over 10GWh per day," reckoned Mugo.

"We will step up hydro generation in the months ahead but ensure we conserve available water to last until the short rains later in the year," says the CEO. Forecasts by the Meteorological Services also show that current high rainfall at the major catchment areas are set to significantly improve the water levels by the end of the long rains season.

"The Tana River, Turkwel and Sondu Miriu catchment areas are expected to experience near normal rainfall with a tendency to above normal during the current season," indicates Met report in their latest update.

New levels

As of last evening, levels at the Masinga Power dam stood at 1,052.8 meters above sea level (masl), having gained four metres over levels recorded at the beginning of May. At the end of April, the dam level stood at 1047.6 masl. At the Masinga dam and indeed the entire seven folks cascade, maximum generation is attained when the water reaches full supply level at 1,056.5 masl, beyond which the dams will attain their spilling points.

At the Turkwel power dam, water levels there stood at 1,123.9 masl, against spilling point level of 1,150masl. By stepping up hydro generation, KenGen is ensuring stability and predictability of power bills, as this will compliment contribution of the expensive geothermal, but whose full benefits have been realised by consumers.

Geothermal has for the sixth month in a row been the dominant source of electric energy, contributing an average of 300 kilowatt hours (kWh) compared to 260 kWh generated from hydro sources. This has chiefly been attributed to the injection of 280 megawatts (MW) to the national grid in December last year from the newly commissioned Olkaria geothermal plant.