In Kenya, the demand for electricity is increasing year after year due to the country’s remarkable economic growth. In contrast, hydroelectric power generation, one of the main sources of power, has been operating at a lower rate due to recent climate change and drought. The shortage is being replaced by thermal power generation, but the increased use of expensive imported fuels is putting financial pressure on the industry, and there are also concerns about the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Under these circumstances, geothermal power generation is a stable power generation method that is not affected by weather conditions and emits less air pollutants and carbon dioxide than thermal power plants of similar scale, making it a very high priority for development in the country. However, the current geothermal development is being carried out without a detailed understanding of the underground geothermal resources and without sufficient consideration of the possibility of direct utilization of the geothermal resources. In addition, human resources for geothermal development are concentrated in geothermal development institutions such as the Kenya Power Generation Corporation and geothermal development companies, and improving the research capacity of universities and other research institutions is a top priority. This cooperation aims to research and develop solutions to problems that are expected to occur in the exploration, development, and utilization stages of geothermal resource development in Kenya and neighboring countries (hereinafter referred to as “comprehensive solutions”). The project aims to promote the optimal development of geothermal resources through the use of the Comprehensive Solution, thereby contributing to the development of geothermal energy in Japan and neighboring countries.
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