Direct Use of Low Enthalpy Deep Geothermal Resources in the East African Rift Valley

Feliks, M. E., Elliott, T. P., Delacherois Day, G., Percy, G. D. and Younger, P. L. (2015) Direct Use of Low Enthalpy Deep Geothermal Resources in the East African Rift Valley. In: World Geothermal Congress 2015, Melbourne, Australia, 19-25 April 2015,

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Abstract

Geothermal energy is already harnessed across East Africa to provide hundreds of megawatts of electricity, with significant plans for future expansion towards generation at the gigawatt scale. This power generation utilizes the high steam temperatures (typically more than 200 °C) that are available in several locations in Kenya, Ethiopia and elsewhere. The presence of these high enthalpy resources has deflected attention from the often attractive low and medium enthalpy resources present across a more extensive portion of the region. Geothermally heated water at cooler temperatures (less than 90 °C) could be widely produced by drilling shallower and cheaper boreholes than those required for power production. This low enthalpy resource could be widely exploitable throughout the Rift Valley, offering a low carbon, sustainable, reliable and commercially competitive source of heating, drying and cooling (via absorption chillers) to local farmers and growers, and for low temperature commercial and industrial uses. Applications of this type would displace expensive fossil fuels, reducing costs and carbon emissions as well as improving the region’s energy and food security. The power input for pump systems can be accommodated by relatively small generators, so direct heat projects could be beneficial to consumers in areas with no grid access.

Item Type:Conference Proceedings
Additional Information:Paper no. 28032
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Younger, Professor Paul
Authors: Feliks, M. E., Elliott, T. P., Delacherois Day, G., Percy, G. D., and Younger, P. L.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
Publisher Policy:Reproduced with the permission of the authors.
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