GDC to go big on direct uses of geothermal energy

Geothermal Development Company (GDC) will heavily expand its research and innovation on the direct uses of geothermal energy in support of community and national economic sphere, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eng. Johnson P. Ole Nchoe has said.

The MD was speaking at the Menengai Geothermal Project on Wednesday when he took a tour of the facility.

“We are forging diverse relationships with development partners such as USAID, African Development Bank and ICEIDA among others to leverage on the abundant geothermal resources in the country,” he said.

                                                                         Geothermal Development Company (GDC) Managing Director and CEO, Eng. Johnson P. Ole Nchoe admires capsicum from the geothermal heated green house at the Menengai Direct Uses pilot project when he visited the site in Nakuru County.

Geothermal energy is versatile and prolific. Apart from its uses in the generation of electricity, geothermal has other dozens of uses such as in heating greenhouses, milk pasteurisation, laundry, leisure and recreation, among many other uses.

In Menengai, GDC is already running a pilot on four projects for heating fish ponds, heating greenhouses, milk pasteurisation and laundry.

“We need to expand our investment portfolios and opportunities as a country. That way, we shall support the government’s endeavour’s in job and wealth creation,” he said.

The Menengai project is near completion to generate at least 105 Megawatts. Now,  the company has covered 80 per cent of the steam gathering system that will channel the steam to the power plants. Ketraco is almost at 95 percent in the construction of a sub-station and power evacuation lines, while the company has 135 Megawatts of steam at the well heads. Three Independent Power Producers are set to construct the power plants at the project area.