Skip to main content

Globeleq 35 MW Menengai Geothermal Plant Project To Start by April 2025

 Bringing Sustainable Energy to Kenya: Globeleq's 35 MW Geothermal Power Project in Menengai



In a significant stride towards sustainable energy development in Kenya, Globeleq, a leading independent power producer, is set to embark on a groundbreaking 35 MW geothermal power project in Menengai. With the project slated to commence construction next week, the collaboration between Globeleq and its partners marks a pivotal moment in Kenya's renewable energy journey.

Mobilization of Construction Teams and Commencement of Civil Works

Globeleq has joined forces with prominent EPC contractors, Toyota Tsusho Corporation and CFAO Kenya Limited, to kickstart the mobilization of construction teams. The commencement of civil works signals the beginning of a transformative phase for the Menengai region and the broader Kenyan energy landscape.

Timeline and Project Scope

The construction phase is estimated to span 23 months, with full operation expected to commence around the quarter of 2025. This ambitious timeline underscores the commitment of all stakeholders involved to deliver clean, reliable energy to the region in a timely manner. Once operational, the project is poised to create approximately 250 jobs, providing much-needed employment opportunities for the local community.

 GDC's Inaugural Geothermal Plant

Menengai will serve as the inaugural geothermal plant supplied by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) to the project. Under a 25-year project implementation agreement, GDC will play a pivotal role in providing steam to power the plant, further solidifying Kenya's position as a leader in geothermal energy production.

Operations and Maintenance

Upon reaching commercial operation in 2025, Globeleq will assume responsibility for operating and maintaining the power plant. This commitment ensures the sustained efficiency and longevity of the infrastructure, guaranteeing uninterrupted energy supply to the region for years to come.

Power Purchase Agreement with KPLC

Electricity generated from the Menengai geothermal plant will be sold to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) under a 25-year power purchase agreement. This strategic partnership underscores the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving sustainable energy initiatives and meeting the growing demand for electricity in Kenya.

As Globeleq's 35 MW geothermal power project in Menengai takes shape, it represents a beacon of hope for Kenya's energy future. By harnessing the country's abundant geothermal resources, this initiative not only promotes environmental sustainability but also fosters economic growth and job creation. With construction set to commence imminently, the countdown to a greener, more prosperous future for Menengai and Kenya as a whole has begun

Source: Researched and Written by Robert Buluma, alphaxioms@gmail.com.

Comments

Hot Topics 🔥

LCOE Benchmarking: Eavor Technologies vs. Fervo Energy

LCOE Compared: Eavor Technologies vs.  Fervo Energy   Two Bets on Next-Generation Geothermal An Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights Analysis | May 2026 Image:  Eavor and Fervo Drilling Rigs well poised in their respective well pads , drill baby , baby what a time to be a live Introduction: Why the Cost Question Matters Now The global geothermal sector is in the middle of a pivotal moment. After decades of stagnation largely confined to volcanic hotspots, two fundamentally different technological approaches are racing to prove that geothermal energy can be deployed broadly, cheaply, and at scale. Eavor Technologies , the Calgary-based advanced geothermal systems (AGS) company, and Fervo Energy , the Houston-based enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) pioneer, represent the sharpest divergence in next-generation geothermal strategy today. Each company is backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in private capital, each has reached key commercial milestones, and each is advancing ...

Ormat raises concerns over Kenya Power payment delays

When Power Stalls: Payment Delays Threaten Kenya’s Geothermal Momentum By: Robert Buluma Kenya’s geothermal story has long been told as one of Africa’s most compelling energy success narratives—a nation that dared to dig deep into the Earth and emerged with a reliable, renewable backbone for its electricity grid. From the steaming plains of Olkaria to the ambitious expansions across the Rift Valley, geothermal has positioned Kenya as a continental leader in clean baseload power. But beneath this success lies a growing tension—one that could quietly undermine the very foundation of this progress. Recent signals from , one of Kenya’s key independent power producers, have cast a spotlight on a familiar yet dangerous challenge: delayed payments from . What may appear as a routine financial hiccup is, in reality, a warning sign with far-reaching implications for investment, energy security, and the future trajectory of geothermal development in Kenya. The Backbone of Kenya’s Energy System T...

KenGen’s Sh32bn project stalled amid donor funding dispute

Donor Funding Row Freezes KenGen’s Sh32 Billion Geothermal Ambition A Billion-Shilling Dream Stalls in Kenya’s Energy Heartland By:  Robert Buluma In the shadow of the steaming vents and rugged volcanic terrain of Hell’s Gate National Park, one of Kenya’s most ambitious clean energy expansions has hit an unexpected wall. The multi-billion-shilling geothermal project led by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) — valued at approximately Sh32 billion — has been frozen following a donor funding dispute. What was once a symbol of Kenya’s global leadership in geothermal energy now finds itself entangled in financial uncertainty, bureaucratic friction, and the fragile nature of international development financing. The pause is more than a delay in infrastructure delivery. It is a signal of how modern energy transitions, even in globally admired renewable hubs like Kenya, are still deeply dependent on external capital flows, policy alignment, and institutional trust betwe...

Poland Drills Deep to Unlock Low Temperature Geothermal Future

Drilling Into the Unknown: Poland’s Radoszyce GT-1 Geothermal Gamble Could Reshape Europe’s Low-Temperature Energy Future By: Robert Buluma In a quiet corner of southern Poland, far from the noise of global energy debates, a drilling rig has begun turning—slowly, deliberately, and with immense consequence. Beneath the modest landscapes of Radoszyce lies a question that could redefine how Europe thinks about geothermal energy: Can low-temperature geothermal resources power the next wave of sustainable heating and regional development? The launch of the Radoszyce GT-1 geothermal exploration well , executed by UOS Drilling S.A. , is more than just another drilling campaign. It is a test of resilience, ambition, and technological confidence in a region where previous geothermal attempts have not always delivered success. This is not just a story about a well. It is a story about risk, reinvention, and the silent heat beneath our feet . A Project Born From Persistence The Radoszyce GT...

Kenya's Suswa Geothermal Field: GDC Begins Drilling Exploration

Kenya's Suswa Awakens: GDC Launches Exploration at the Rift Valley's Next 300 MW Geothermal Frontier By Alphaxioms Geothermal Insights There is something quietly momentous about the sight of a drilling rig being loaded onto a truck and driven south from Menengai toward the ancient caldera of Suswa. For most Kenyans who pass through the Rift Valley on the Nairobi–Naivasha highway, Suswa is a dramatic volcanic silhouette on the horizon — a brooding landform that has sat in geological patience while the country has built its geothermal identity elsewhere. That chapter is now ending. In January 2026, Kenya's Geothermal Development Company officially mobilised drilling rigs toward the Suswa geothermal field, signalling the beginning of active exploration at a site estimated to hold up to 300 megawatts of geothermal potential. It is, by any measure, one of the most consequential energy milestones Kenya has reached in years — and it deserves a thorough examination. At Alphaxioms ...

Geothermal Data Centers: Rewriting the Water-Energy Equation

Thirsty Servers, Silent Reservoirs: Can Geothermal Power the Water-Smart Data Center Era? By: Robert Buluma The digital economy runs on an invisible infrastructure—rows of servers humming inside vast data centers, processing everything from financial transactions to artificial intelligence models. But beneath this digital revolution lies a growing, often overlooked tension: water . Recent projections warn that data centers could consume as much freshwater as tens of millions of people by 2030 . Whether the exact figure is 30, 40, or 46 million, the signal is unmistakable: the world’s data infrastructure is becoming a major water consumer . At the same time, a quieter force is emerging from beneath the Earth’s surface— geothermal energy —with the potential not only to power data centers, but to fundamentally reshape their water footprint . This is not just a story about energy. It is a story about resource convergence —where water, heat, electricity, and digital demand collide—and ho...

NASEO Geothermal Power Accelerator Driving Multi-State Energy Transformation

Geothermal Power Accelerator : America’s Quiet Race to Unlock the Earth’s Energy Core By:  Robert Buluma The global energy transition is often framed through the familiar lenses of solar panels stretching across deserts and wind turbines rising above coastlines. Yet beneath the surface—literally—lies one of the most powerful, reliable, and underutilized energy resources on Earth: geothermal power. Now, a bold initiative in the United States is attempting to rewrite the trajectory of this sector. The Geothermal Power Accelerator, a collaboration among 15 states, signals a decisive shift from cautious exploration to aggressive deployment. This is not just another policy framework. It is a coordinated, multi-state effort designed to eliminate long-standing barriers, attract private capital, and transform geothermal from a niche energy source into a cornerstone of grid reliability. A Coalition Built for Speed, Not Talk At its core, the Geothermal Power Accelerator represents somet...

Geo POWER Act Accelerates Next-Generation Geothermal Deployment Nationwide

  Geo POWER Act Ignites a New Era for Next-Generation Geothermal Energy in the United States By: Robert Buluma The global energy transition is no longer a distant ambition—it is a rapidly unfolding reality. Across continents, nations are racing to secure reliable, clean, and scalable energy sources capable of sustaining economic growth while addressing climate imperatives. In this high-stakes transformation, geothermal energy—long considered a niche player—is now stepping into the spotlight. And in the United States, a powerful legislative push is accelerating that shift. The recent introduction of the Geothermal Power Opportunity with Expanded Regions (Geo POWER) Act (H.R. 8437) in the U.S. House of Representatives marks a defining moment for the future of geothermal energy. Championed by Representatives Nick Begich (R-AK) and Susie Lee (D-NV), the bill reflects a growing bipartisan consensus: geothermal energy—particularly next-generation systems—must play a central role in Amer...

Sage Geosystems: Turning Underground Pressure Into 24/7 Power

Sage Geosystems : The Geothermal Startup That Turns Pressure Into Power By: Robert Buluma Most conversations about advanced geothermal circle around the same question: How do you extract heat from dry rock? Sage Geosystems started with a different question: What if the Earth could do most of the work for you? Based in Houston, Sage has quietly built a technology stack that treats the subsurface not just as a heat source, but as a pressure vessel. Their system captures heat and mechanical energy, stores energy underground like a battery, and uses a fraction of the surface pumping that conventional geothermal requires. This article focuses entirely on Sage , how their technology works, what makes it genuinely different, and where the blind spots still are. Part I: The Core Innovation , Pressure Geothermal Sage's foundational insight is simple but powerful: deep hot rock isn't just hot. It's also under immense natural pressure. Traditional geothermal systems ignore that pre...

Eavor’s Geretsried Closed-Loop Geothermal Plant Now Powers the Grid

Eavor Technologies Achieves Historic Milestone: World’s First Commercial-Scale Closed-Loop Geothermal System Now Delivering Power in Geretsried, Germany Published: December 2025 By:  Robert Buluma The Day Geothermal Changed Forever On a crisp Bavarian morning in late 2025, a quiet revolution in clean energy officially went live.   Eavor Technologies Inc ., the Calgary-based pioneer of closed-loop geothermal technology, announced that its flagship commercial project in Geretsried, Germany has begun delivering power to the grid becoming the world’s first utility-scale multilateral closed-loop geothermal system to achieve commercial operation. For anyone who has followed the geothermal sector for the last decade, this is nothing short of seismic (pun intended). What Makes Eavor’s Closed-Loop System Truly Disruptive? Traditional geothermal plants rely on naturally occurring hot water reservoirs or enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that require hydraulic fracturing and massiv...