Kenya Bids To Host World Geothermal Congress Come 2029

Kenya's Bold Bid: A Game-Changer for Global Geothermal Leadership

Image credit from Alphaxioms previous articles

In a thrilling announcement that has reverberated across the energy sector, Kenya has officially launched its bid to host the World Geothermal Congress (WGC) in 2029. This prestigious global forum, held every three years, aims to scale up the deployment of geothermal energy worldwide. The bid underscores Kenya's commitment to renewable energy and cements its leadership in the sector.

Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira made the announcement during the 2024 Kenya Geothermal Congress in Nairobi, a gathering that has drawn industry leaders, academics, financiers, government officials, NGOs, and community representatives. Wachira emphasized that hosting WGC 2029 will not only position Kenya as a continental leader but also as a formidable player on the global stage. "Hosting the WGC 2029 will give us a competitive edge, bolstering our position as a global leader in renewable energy deployment," Wachira stated.

The impact of hosting such a significant event extends beyond prestige. Wachira highlighted the potential for attracting substantial Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into the geothermal sector. This influx of capital is expected to spur industrialization and drive sustainable development, aligning with Kenya's long-term blueprint for a 100% transition to renewable energy by 2030.

Kenya's geothermal journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With an estimated geothermal potential of 10,000 MW, the country has already harnessed about 940 MW, placing it seventh globally among top geothermal developers. However, this represents less than 10% of its potential, with significant opportunities for expansion.

State-owned enterprises like the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) have been at the forefront of this development. Yet, private sector participation has been slow but is now gaining momentum. Wachira's announcement is a clarion call to private investors, signaling a conducive environment for geothermal development.

The WGC bid is more than an event; it is a strategic move that will have ripple effects across the continent. As Wachira noted, "Kenya's journey towards advancing its leadership position in the development of renewable energy is on course." The government's commitment to accelerating geothermal energy development is a key cog in this vision, promising sustainable industrial growth.

Image: A drilling rig possibly Kifaru 1 , standing poised on a wellpad which is a replica of Kenyan soil arguably agitating for Action to drill deeper for steam in a quest of Clean Energy provision

Hosting the WGC will bring together a diverse array of stakeholders to collaborate and craft innovative solutions for a sustainable future. It’s an opportunity for Kenya and Africa to showcase their advancements and potential in geothermal energy, fostering partnerships that transcend borders.

Just recently we highlighted on how Kenya is at a threshhold helm of surpassing the 1GW Geothermal Club

As Kenya gears up for this ambitious bid, the eyes of the world will be watching. The 2029 World Geothermal Congress in Nairobi could very well be a turning point, not just for Kenya, but for the global energy landscape. With its abundant geothermal resources and unwavering commitment to renewable energy, Kenya is poised to lead the charge towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Source: The Star, KBC, Mount Kenya Times, Pumps Africa,IGA, Geothermal Arising , People Daily

Advertise With Alphaxioms! And Let Your Company

Reach a wider audience in the Energy sector

Connect With Us:LinkedIn, X, Gmail : alphaxiomsgeothermal@gmail.com : Whatsap & Tel: +254701279086

Comments

Amsterdam Strikes Geothermal Gold: Hot, Thick, Permeable Reservoir Confirmed

Breakthrough Beneath the Beach: Amsterdam Region Hits Geothermal Paydirt at Strandeiland By: Robert Buluma The Netherlands just took a giant leap toward fossil-free heating. On the artificial island of Strandeiland (part of Amsterdam’s fast-growing IJburg district), the SCAN exploration well has officially confirmed what the geothermal community has been hoping for: a thick, hot, and , most importantly permeable reservoir in the Slochteren Formation. Key numbers that matter: Reservoir thickness: 152 meters Bottom-hole temperature: 66 °C Permeability: confirmed via successful production and injection tests That’s not screaming-hot by Icelandic standards, but for direct-use district heating in one of Europe’s densest urban areas, 66 °C is more than enough to supply thousands of homes with clean, baseload heat – forever. Why This Well Changes Everything for the Netherlands The Dutch government launched the SCAN program (Seismic Campaign Nethe...

Geothermal-Powered Greenhouses: Qingyun County's Leap Toward Sustainable, Year-Round Agriculture in Shandong

Harnessing Geothermal Energy to Power Modern Agriculture: How Qingyun County Is Redefining Sustainable Food Production in Shandong By: Robert Bulum a As winter tightens its grip across northern China, most agricultural regions brace for declining productivity, rising energy costs, and increased environmental pressure. Yet in Qingyun County, located in China’s eastern Shandong Province, a different story is unfolding,one where geothermal energy is quietly transforming agriculture into a resilient, low-carbon, high-yield enterprise. At the heart of this transformation lies the Shandong Shuifa Aerospace Modern Agriculture Industrial Park, where geothermal energy has become a critical enabler of year-round food production, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. A Warm Oasis in the Depth of Winter Shortly after the Minor Snow solar term, temperatures outside the greenhouses in Qingyun County drop sharply. Inside the intelligent greenhouse complex, however, conditions re...

A Quiet Revolution Underground: Prenzlau’s Geothermal Leap Toward a Fully Renewable Heat Future

Prenzlau’s Geothermal Breakthrough: A Decisive Step Toward a Fully Renewable Heat Future By: Robert Buluma The city of Prenzlau, located in northeastern Germany, has reached a major milestone in its transition toward sustainable energy. In December 2025, Stadtwerke Prenzlau announced a decisive breakthrough in its geothermal project after successfully encountering geothermal water at a depth of 983 meters. This discovery represents a critical step forward for the city’s ambition to fully decarbonize its heat supply and positions Prenzlau as a leading example of how medium-sized towns can harness geothermal energy for district heating. The geothermal water discovered during drilling operations is estimated to be around 200 million years old and is contained within a saline sandstone formation deep underground. With a temperature of approximately 44°C and a planned production rate of 130 cubic meters per hour, the resource offers a reliable and continuous source of renewable heat. A test...

Germany Unveils Groundbreaking KfW–Munich Re Program to De-Risk Deep Geothermal Heat Projects

Germany Launches Landmark Financing Program to Accelerate Deep Geothermal Heat Projects By: Robert Buluma Germany has taken a decisive step toward securing a climate-neutral heat future. On December 18, 2025, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK), KfW Development Bank , and global reinsurer Munich Re officially launched a groundbreaking funding program designed to unlock large-scale investments in deep geothermal energy for municipal and industrial heat supply. The new initiative, known as the KfW Geothermal Promotional Loan (KfW-Förderkredit Geothermie), directly addresses one of the most persistent bottlenecks in geothermal development: the high financial risk associated with drilling deep geothermal wells. By combining low-interest loans with comprehensive risk coverage, the program is set to significantly accelerate geothermal deployment across Germany. Why Deep Geothermal Matters for Germany’s Heat Transition While Germany has made remarkable progre...

Exergy ORC Sets New World Record: 46 MW of Geothermal Power in Turkey Delivered in Under 13 Months

Exergy ORC Delivers Two Geothermal Power Plants in Turkey in Record Time: 46 MW Added in Under 13 Months By: Robert Buluma On November 30, 2025, Exergy International proudly announced the successful commissioning of two new geothermal power plants in Aydın, Turkey: Maren Nezihe Beren 2 (13 MWe) and Emir (33 MWe), totaling 46 MW of new clean electricity capacity. What makes this milestone truly remarkable is the execution speed , both plants were delivered in less than 13 months from contract signing to full commercial operation, setting a new benchmark in the geothermal ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) industry. Why This Achievement Matters in 2025 In an era where renewable energy projects often face delays of 24–36 months (or longer), completing two binary-cycle geothermal plants totaling 46 MW in under 13 months is nothing short of extraordinary. Turkey already ranks 4th globally in installed geothermal capacity (~1.7 GW as of 2024), and these new plants reinforce the country’s lead...

Zanskar’s Big Blind: First Blind Geothermal Discovery in 30 Years

Big Blind: The Geothermal Discovery That Changes Everything By: Robert Buluma Utah startup Zanskar Geothermal quietly dropped one of the most important announcements in American energy in decades. They discovered and confirmed “Big Blind” ,the first completely blind, commercial-grade geothermal system found in the United States in over thirty years. Let that sink in. No hot springs. No fumaroles. No steaming ground. No prior wells. Zero surface expression whatsoever. Just desert, sagebrush, and – 7,000 feet below, a reservoir hot enough and permeable enough to support gigawatt-scale power production. This isn’t incremental progress. This is a paradigm breaker. Why “Blind” Discoveries Matter So Much For the last 40 years, geothermal development in the U.S. has been geographically handcuffed. You could only build plants where nature advertised the resource on the surface – think Yellowstone, The Geysers, or Imperial Valley. Ever...

Fervo Energy To Partner With Turboden In 400 MW Utah Geothermal Project

Unleashing the Power of Earth: Turboden and Fervo Energy Partner to Revolutionize Geothermal Energy By: Robert Buluma In the heart of the rugged landscapes of southwest Utah, a groundbreaking collaboration is underway to harness the Earth's natural heat and propel the world towards a greener, more sustainable future. Turboden , a trailblazer in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems, has joined forces with Fervo Energy , a pioneer in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), to embark on an ambitious journey towards redefining geothermal energy production. The Cape Station project stands as a testament to this alliance, marking Fervo Energy largest commercial endeavor in the geothermal energy sector to date. Positioned to become a beacon of innovation, Cape Station aims to revolutionize the way we harness energy from beneath the Earth's surface, with an anticipated total project capacity of approximately 400 MW. This endeavor not only symbolizes a transformative leap towards carbon-...

American Critical Resources and Plum Acquisition Corp. IV Sign LOI for SPAC Merger to Advance U.S. Geothermal Lithium Project

Revolutionizing Energy: The Synergy of Geothermal Power and Lithium Extraction at Hell's Kitchen Posted by Robert Buluma on December 20, 2025 In an era where the world is racing toward sustainable energy solutions, the intersection of geothermal power and lithium production is emerging as a game-changer. As electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and advanced technologies demand ever-increasing supplies of critical minerals, innovative projects are stepping up to meet the challenge. One such groundbreaking initiative is the Hell's Kitchen project by American Critical Resources (ACR), a subsidiary of Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. (CTR) . This California-based endeavor not only harnesses the Earth's natural heat for clean electricity but also extracts lithium a vital component in batteries ,directly from geothermal brines. With a recent announcement of a proposed business combination with Plum Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: PLMK), a special purpose ac...

Nysa Unveils Ambitious Geothermal Project: Exploratory Drilling Set for Spring 2026

Nysa May Be Sitting on Vast Geothermal Wealth: Exploratory Drilling to Begin in Spring 2026 By: Robert Buluma Nysa, a historic town in southern Poland, could soon become a regional pioneer in geothermal energy. With the signing of a contract for a geothermal exploratory well, the municipality has officially launched one of the most ambitious renewable energy projects ever undertaken in the Opole Voivodeship. Preparatory works will continue through 2025, with drilling scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and continue for approximately six months. The goal is clear: to confirm whether deep beneath Nysa lie geothermal waters capable of transforming the town’s heating system, economy, and environmental footprint. A Strategic Step Toward Energy Independence According to Nysa Mayor Kordian Kolbiarz, geothermal energy represents far more than a technological experiment. It is a strategic investment in the town’s future. If the geothermal resources are confirmed, they could supply heat and hot wa...

$170M Geothermal De-Risking Breakthrough: Philippines Unlocks Underground Potential

$170 Million to Unlock the Heat Beneath: How the Philippines Is De-Risking Geothermal Exploration By: Robert Buluma Geothermal energy has always been one of the Philippines’ greatest untapped strategic advantages an indigenous, low-carbon baseload resource sitting quietly beneath the archipelago’s volcanic spine. Yet for decades, the country’s geothermal expansion has moved cautiously, constrained not by lack of resource potential, but by risk, particularly at the exploration and drilling stage. That may now be changing. In a landmark move, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) have unveiled a $170 million Philippine Geothermal Resource De-Risking Facility (PGRDF),a financial mechanism designed to absorb the most uncertain and capital-intensive phase of geothermal development: early-stage drilling. Backed by a sovereign loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) , the facility signals a bold shift in how governments can catalyze geothermal gro...

Iceland’s Geothermal Revolution: Bjarni Pálsson to Lead Strategic Task Force Shaping the Nation’s Energy Future

Iceland Charts a Bold Geothermal Future: Bjarni Pálsson to Lead the Nation’s Strategic Task Force By Robert Buluma | October 30, 2025 Iceland — the land where fire meets ice — is once again positioning itself at the forefront of geothermal innovation. In a decisive move, Iceland’s Minister for Environment, Energy, and Climate , Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, has launched a new strategic initiative to redefine how the country harnesses its powerful geothermal resources — not just as an energy source, but as a national tool for growth, equality, and global leadership. At the helm of this vision stands Bjarni Pálsson , the President of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and Executive Director of Wind and Geothermal at Landsvirkjun , Iceland’s national power company. Pálsson will chair an expert task force charged with developing a forward-thinking roadmap for Iceland’s geothermal future — one that could once again set a global benchmark for sustainable energy. A Task Force of ...

ALPHAXIOMS Geothermal News & Energy Research

Search This Blog