No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Climate Change Resilient Geothermal Production In Eburru And Olkaria, Nakuru County, Kenya
Abstract
Climate change is inevitable for years to come. This reality dictates that development paths should build social, economic and ecological resilience for sustainability to be attained. In Kenya, 70 % of total formal employment is from natural resource sectors. This paper focused on technological inadequacies in the course of geothermal production in Olkaria and Eburru geothermal sites which are fragile ecosystems. The physical and chemical characteristics of waste geothermal fluids, physical and chemical properties of rain water were analyzed as well as gaseous emissions from the plants. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used in determining samples. Focused group discussions, interviews, observation guides and key informant were used to collect data. Most of the data was collected from Kengen for a five year duration between 2011 and 2015. 81 wells were sampled out for analysis. Analysis was done using Statistical Package of Social Sciences. One sample t-test was integral in comparing averages of observations against recommended national standards. The results indicated that waste geothermal fluids were unsuitable for discharge into the environment. Apart from this, rain water at geothermal sites was acidic due to emission of gases. More so, geothermal exploration undermined quality of underground water and could not be used for recreation. The flash system of production had inherent inadequacies that resulted in imposing the characteristics of geothermal formations to the surrounding. The gases emitted exceeded the maximum values permissible for controlled zones. The ideal situation would contain the waste fluid in a closed loop system so as to minimize its interaction with the surrounding. The results were integral in informing resilient pathways that could facilitate climate compatible development which in essence would bolster climate change resilience.
Growing demand for electricity due to economic development contributes to increased greenhouse gas production, especially CO2. However, emissions can be limited by enhancing the efficiency of primary energy conversion, such as integrating geothermal energy into coal-fired power plants. Therefore, this paper proposes replacing conventional feed-water heaters with geothermal preheaters to create a hybridized system. This study was based on a numerical model validated at a selected Polish power unit. The model was subsequently calibrated for off-design conditions to facilitate partial load analysis. The obtained characteristics outperformed those of the non-hybrid unit, generating over 18 MW of electric power output. Such an improvement could potentially boost the unit's net efficiency by more than 2.6 %. This enhancement is significant as power units typically operate under part load for approximately 90 % of the time, hence the need to evaluate the performance characteristics of hybridized units in those states. Furthermore, the research outlines the potential decrease in the plant's CO2 emission factor, with reductions reaching up to 6.5 % under off-design conditions. Based on a gap analysis of the existing literature, this paper's comprehensive partial load evaluation serves as a new addition to research on hybridized systems.
This report aims to contribute to the debate on climate change policies and their link to development. A climate resilient perspective is adopted to understand how climate change policy objectives can be reconciled with development goals. The report reviews the main theoretical concepts that characterise the scientific literature on climate risk and vulnerability assessments, and identifies climate resilient fit-for-purpose indicators accordingly. This makes it possible to build the theoretical foundations to improve understanding of the implications of climate aid financing. The novelty of this report lies in the emphasis given to economic aspects of climate risk, most notably: the concepts of loss and damage, the understanding of factors that enhance economic resilience, the links between climate change policies and development (besides economic growth) and the acknowledgment of the role of natural capital in pursuing development policies. By reviewing grey and peer-reviewed literature, 102 suitable indicators are identified and grouped into six components. A case study is proposed which involves building three climate resilient development indices. The three indices are built for climate resilient development using the same components and indicators but adopting different political perspectives. Our case study demonstrates that although there is some agreement on which indicators should be included in an index for climate resilient development, a single approach to building a global index for climate resilient development does not exist. The high number of differences between the scores of the three indices indicates that a single index in the climate resilient development domain is a sort of chimera. Any index should address a specific policy request with a clear objective. This is a first step to building a fit-for-purpose index.
Acknowledgments This paper,was,commissioned,under,the ICTSD Programme,on Intellectual Property Rights and Sustainable Development and the Global Platform on Climate Change, Trade Policies and Sustainable
A Transition to a Green Economy. A Change in Paradigm or Greener Shade of Brown
- E Alfredsson
Alfredsson, E. (2011). A Transition to a Green Economy.
A Change in Paradigm or Greener Shade of
Brown.
Climate Risk Adaptation in the Electric Power Sector
- A D Bank
- Phillipines Mandaluyong
Bank, A. D. (2012). Climate Risk Adaptation in the
Electric Power Sector.. Mandaluyong,
Phillipines..
Integration of EMS in Monitoring of Environmental and Social Aspects Associated with Operation of Olkaria II Geothermal Power Plant in Naivasha Sub-County
- P Barasa
Barasa, P. (2015, January). Integration of EMS in
Monitoring of Environmental and Social
Aspects Associated with Operation of Olkaria
II Geothermal Power Plant in Naivasha Sub-County. Geothermal Reservoir Engineering.
Kenya Economic Outlook: Transformation of Kenya's Economy Key to Realization of Vision 2030. A Green Growth Path for Kenya, Opportunities, Challenges and Risks
- Kippra
KIPPRA. (2013, January). Kenya Economic Outlook:
Transformation of Kenya's Economy Key to
Realization of Vision 2030. A Green Growth
Path for Kenya, Opportunities, Challenges and
Risks. Policy Monitor, 2(5).
Nature and its Role inn the Transition to a Green Economy
- L Mazza
- , Brink
- T Badura
- T Kettunen
- M Withan
Mazza, L., Brink,, T., Badura, T., Kettunen, M., &
Withan, S. (2012). Nature and its Role inn the
Transition to a Green Economy. The
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity.
Hell's Gate Facing Death. The Star Newspaper
- J Muchangi
- M Kagweni
Muchangi, J., & Kagweni, M. (2014, May Wednesday
7). Hell's Gate Facing Death. The Star
Newspaper.
Biodiversity Conservation and Geothermal Energy
- T Mutia
Mutia, T. (2010). Biodiversity Conservation and
Geothermal Energy. United Nations
University, Island.