INVESTIGATION FOR POTENTIAL OF DIRECT USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN MAGADI, KENYA

Abstract

Kenya is endowed with abundant geothermal energy resources in a number of prospects, mainly situated in the

Rift Valley. Of the mapped-out prospects, only four are being exploited for direct utilization and for electric

ity leaving out the other ten prospects. Currently main use is in generation of electricity at Olkaria and Eburru,

while Menengai is being developed for the same. Only a few of the prospects are for direct use currently. These

include: Eburru (drying of farm produce, harnessing of water), Olkaria (Oserian Development Corporation –

flower farming, Kengen – spa) and Ndogo (harnessing of water). Considering the large geothermal potential,

it is possible to use this form of energy in industrial processes. Industries require high energy needs to sustain

their processes, but these energies which include: Coal and fossil fuels are not clean, hence leading to pollution

of the atmosphere and depletion of the ozone layer.

This study sought to analyse the energy use in the Tata Chemicals new plant at Magadi, Kenya and suggest op

portunities for direct utilization of geothermal energy in the processing of soda ash to cut down on emissions

and also reduce on the expenditure used on the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). An energy audit was done in the soda

ash processing plant with the aim of introducing the use of geothermal energy directly in the processing plant.

The eight processes, from dredging of trona to packaging of the processed ash were analysed taking note of the

energy needs of every process.

It was concluded that, the introduction of direct geothermal energy to reduce the moisture content of the

Crushed Refined Soda (CRS) to 6% just before milling would in turn lead to an increase in the ash produced per

litre of heavy fuel oil used. Also the geothermal fluids can be used at the monohydrate drying section to reduce

the moisture content of the ash to 4.5% leading to a reduction on the quantity of steam used.