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Geothermal Energy Turkana

4 min read

Turkana County has significant wind power potential and some Geothermal Energy Turkana energy potential. While the major geothermal fields (Menengai and Olkaria) are located in other Kenyan regions, the Turkana region's geological and meteorological conditions create potential for renewable energy development.

Wind Power Potential

Turkana has some of Kenya's strongest and most consistent wind resources. The region's topography (including the Rift Valley escarpment), proximity to Lake Turkana, and location in the path of regional wind patterns create favorable conditions for wind power generation.

The combination of strong winds and relatively flat terrain in some Turkana areas makes the region attractive for wind power projects.

The Lake Turkana Wind Power Project

The Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project at Loiyangalani in northwestern Turkana was developed as Kenya's largest LTWP Wind Farm. The project was developed by a consortium led by a Finnish company (Windflower) and involved multiple international partners.

Project specifications:

  • Capacity: Approximately 310 megawatts (MW)
  • Number of wind turbines: 365 turbines
  • Height: Tall turbines (approximately 80+ meters)
  • Cost: Approximately USD 680 million

Construction and commissioning:

  • Construction began in the mid-2010s
  • Partial commissioning occurred in 2017
  • Full project commissioning was completed in 2019

The project represents a major infrastructure investment in Turkana and a significant renewable energy addition to Kenya's power system.

Power Generation and Supply

The LTWP was designed to generate approximately 1,400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, sufficient to power approximately 300,000 households. The project was intended to supply power to Kenya's national grid through transmission lines connecting to the national power system.

However, power evacuation (transmission to the national grid) has been a challenge. Limited grid infrastructure near Loiyangalani required construction of new transmission lines. Grid connection and payment arrangements between LTWP and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) have been subject to disputes and delays.

Disputes Over Grid Connection and Payment

LTWP has experienced disputes with KPLC over power evacuation and payment terms. The project requires KPLC to purchase wind power generated at negotiated rates. However, disputes have arisen over:

  • Transmission line construction and maintenance responsibility
  • Payment rates for electricity
  • Dispatch and grid management
  • Balancing between supply from LTWP and demand on the grid

These disputes have affected the project's financial returns and have created uncertainty about continued operation and expansion of wind power in the region.

Community Impacts and Employment

The LTWP project provided employment during construction and provides ongoing employment for operations and maintenance. However, employment numbers have been modest (hundreds rather than thousands), and most skilled positions have been filled by workers from outside Turkana.

Local community impacts have included some disruption to Turkana Pastoralism grazing (land use change for turbines) and some environmental impacts (bird and bat collisions with turbines).

Other Geothermal Possibilities

While the major geothermal fields (Menengai in the Rift Valley near Nakuru, Olkaria in the central Rift Valley) are not in Turkana, geothermal potential may exist in the Turkana region due to the region's location within the East African Rift Valley system. Geothermal exploration has been limited to date.

Renewable Energy Development Strategy

Kenya's energy policy emphasizes renewable energy development as part of climate mitigation and energy security goals. Wind power in Turkana is positioned as part of this renewable energy strategy.

Additional wind power projects have been proposed for Turkana and neighboring regions, though development has faced challenges including financing, grid infrastructure, and community issues.

Climate and Sustainability Benefits

Wind power generation provides clean energy without fossil fuel combustion or greenhouse gas emissions. The LTWP contributes to Kenya's renewable energy targets and supports climate mitigation goals.

However, wind power has some environmental impacts (bird and bat collisions, land use change, visual impact), and full life-cycle sustainability analysis would consider these impacts alongside climate benefits.

See Also

Sources

  1. Lake Turkana Wind Power (2019). Project Operations Report. LTWP. https://www.ltwp.co.ke/

  2. Kenya Power and Lighting Company (2020). Renewable Energy Integration Report. KPLC. https://www.kplc.co.ke/

  3. Ministry of Energy (2019). Kenya National Energy and Petroleum Policy 2019. Turkana County Government of Kenya. https://www.energy.go.ke/

  4. IRENA (2019). Renewable Capacity Status Report: East Africa. International Renewable Energy Agency. https://www.irena.org/

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