Olkaria_III_Geothermal_Power_Station
Olkaria III Geothermal Power Station
Geothermal power station in Kenya
The Olkaria III Geothermal Power Station, is a large geothermal power plant in Kenya, having an installed electricity generating capacity of 150 megawatts (200,000 hp).[1][2]
| Olkaria III Geothermal Power Station | |
|---|---|
Map of Kenya showing the location of Olkaria III Geothermal Power Station | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Location | Olkaria, Nakuru County, Kenya |
| Coordinates | 0°53′20″S 36°15′19″E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 2000, 2009, 2014, 2016 & 2018 |
| Owner(s) | Ormat Technologies Inc. |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 1 x 48 MW 1 x 36 MW 1 x 26 MW 1 x 29 MW 1 x 11 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) |
The facility is located adjacent to Hell's Gate National Park, along with its sister stations, Olkaria I, Olkaria II, and Olkaria IV. This location lies in the Olkaria area, in Nakuru County, on the eastern edge of the Eastern Rift Valley, approximately 38.2 kilometres (24 mi), by road, southwest of Naivasha, the nearest large town.[3] Olkaria lies approximately 126 kilometres (78 mi), by road, northwest of Nairobi.[4] The geographical coordinates of Olkaria III Geothermal Power Station are 0°53'27.0"S, 36°17'21.0"E (Latitude:-0.890833; Longitude:36.289167).[5]
The Olkaria III Power Station first started operation in 2000, running one Ormat power plant with a generation capacity of 13 megawatts (17,000 hp). In January 2009 new infrastructure was installed, adding another 35 megawatts (47,000 hp) to the plant's capacity. Later, 36 megawatts (48,000 hp) production capacity was installed. The third generation unit at Olkaria III, with capacity of 26 megawatts (35,000 hp) was commissioned in 2014, bringing total capacity at the plant to 110 megawatts (150,000 hp).[6] The fourth generation unit, with capacity of 26 megawatts (35,000 hp) was commissioned in 2016, bringing total capacity at the plant to 139 megawatts (186,000 hp).[7] In 2018 another 11 megawatts of capacity was added increasing generation capacity to 150 MW.[8]
Olkaria III Power Station is owned and operated by Ormat Technologies Inc., a Reno, Nevada registered company, with production facilities in Yavne, Israel. Oromat Technologies owns the power station through its 100 percent subsidiary "OrPower 4 Inc". According to Kenyan print media, Ormat Technologies Inc. sold 503 gigawatt hours (GWh) to Kenya Power and Lighting Company, earning KES:3.89 billion (US$45 million), in the 12 months ending 30 June 2013.[9]
- Allan Odhiambo (9 February 2016). "US firm injects 29MW geothermal power into grid". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- Brian Ngugi (9 May 2022). "Kenya Power pays Sh1 billion to US energy firm Ormat". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- Google (11 March 2024). "Road Distance Between Naivasha, Nakuru County, Kenya and Olkaria III, Nakuru County, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- Google (11 March 2024). "Road Distance Between Nairobi Central, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya and Olkaria III, Nakuru County, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- Google (11 March 2024). "Location of Olkaria III Geothermal Power Station, Olkaria, Nakuru County, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- EII (19 February 2010). "Expanding Kenya's Geothermal Power Potential". Energyinsight.info (EII). Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- Neville Otuki (21 July 2017). "Kenya moves to third in new geothermal rankings". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- "Ormat's Olkaria III Plant 1 Expansion Reaches Commercial Operation, Increasing Complex Capacity to 150 MW". Ormat Technologies. Reno, Nevada, United States. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- John Gachiri (27 February 2014). "US energy firm records revenue growth from Olkaria plant". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi.