geothermal energy, a clean source of energy exploited in Kenya

In the heart of the Rift Valley (Kenya)the parkhell’s Gate contains smoking rocks. With an activity very volcanic dense, they produce natural vapours. “The steam here is really hot, something around 120°C, it’s scorching hot. And it all comes from water reservoirs that are about 1,000 meters deep.”says Christine Katana, geologist. The principle of geothermal energy is simple: giant wells collect water vapor to transport it to power stations.

In Kenya, 5 power plants are in working order and a 6th is under construction. They supply a third of the country with electricity. “For us, geothermal energy is the best energy. It is the cheapest, it can be found locally, it is not dangerous and above all ecological“, explains Cyrus Karingithiengineer of the geothermal power plant ofOlkaria (Kenya).