Menengai’s Broken Promise: How Kenya’s Geothermal Model Lost the Steam Thematic image of the Olkaria Geothermal Field Kenya’s Menengai geothermal project was sold as a model of modern public-private partnership. The state would carry the difficult and expensive burden of geothermal exploration and drilling. Private power producers would then build, own and operate power plants. Geothermal Development Company would supply the steam; the independent power producers would convert it into electricity; Kenya Power would buy the output. On paper, the arrangement was elegant. In practice, Menengai has exposed a far more uncomfortable reality: Kenya’s public steam-supply model is not delivering the certainty it promised. Menengai Phase I was designed to produce 105 megawatts from three 35 MW plants. GDC’s own project page says the three plants were awarded to Globeleq Menengai Geothermal, Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power and OrPower Twenty Two under a build-own-operate structure. Yet the ...
Nysa May Be Sitting on Vast Geothermal Wealth: Exploratory Drilling to Begin in Spring 2026
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 water to residents connected to the municipal heating network, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. In addition, geothermal water could enhance the attractiveness of the popular “Frajda” bathing area, opening the door to wellness, recreation, and tourism opportunities.
“This project is another crucial element,alongside the construction of an eco-heating plant at NEC and a municipal photovoltaic farm,in building an economy based on local resources,” the mayor emphasized. The vision is one of long-term sustainability: energy produced locally, costs kept under control, and environmental impacts minimized.
Nearly 19 Million PLN Secured for the Project
The project has received a major financial boost, with nearly 19 million PLN secured from Poland’s National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW). Remarkably, the fund will cover 100% of the project’s value. Competition for this support was intense, with 52 municipalities from across Poland applying. Only 30 were selected, and Nysa stood out as the sole beneficiary from the Opole region,underscoring both the project’s quality and its national significance.
The funding will support the drilling of a deep exploratory well designed to confirm the presence, quantity, temperature, and salinity of geothermal water beneath the town. These parameters are critical, as they will determine whether geothermal energy can be used efficiently and economically for district heating, recreation, or other applications.
Drilling More Than Two Kilometers into the Earth
The exploratory drilling will be carried out by Algeo, a Polish company with 28 years of experience in geological and geothermal projects. To assess the reservoir’s potential, experts will drill to a depth exceeding two kilometers. This is no small undertaking. Preparing the drilling site and installing the drilling system will take approximately six months, after which round-the-clock drilling will begin.
“This will be a research well intended to confirm geological and technical assumptions,” said Algeo President Zbigniew Deręgowski. “We will be drilling 24 hours a day to ensure efficiency and precision.” The continuous drilling schedule reflects both the complexity of the task and the importance of obtaining accurate data.
What Will Decide the Project’s Future?
The success of the project will hinge on several key factors. The most important are the volume of geothermal water available, its temperature, and its chemical composition,particularly salinity. High temperatures and sufficient flow rates are essential for cost-effective heating. At the same time, salinity affects how the water can be handled, reinjected, or utilized without causing corrosion or environmental harm.
Once the drilling and testing phase is complete, the collected data will allow experts and city authorities to assess the economic viability of a full-scale geothermal installation. If conditions are favorable, Nysa could move forward with building geothermal heating infrastructure, potentially lowering heating bills for residents and stabilizing energy costs in the long term.
Environmental Benefits That Go Beyond Energy
Beyond economics, the environmental benefits of geothermal energy are substantial. Geothermal heating systems produce minimal greenhouse gas emissions and virtually no particulate pollution compared to coal- or gas-fired plants. For Poland, a country still grappling with air quality challenges, this is a particularly important advantage.
City Secretary Piotr Bobak highlighted Nysa’s leadership role in this context. “It is worth emphasizing that the Municipality of Nysa is becoming a pioneer in the region in implementing projects that will bring enormous benefits to residents and the environment in the future,” he said. Reduced emissions of harmful dust and gases could lead to better air quality, improved public health, and a higher overall quality of life.
A Rare Initiative in Poland
Currently, geothermal heating plants operate in only a handful of Polish cities. This makes Nysa’s initiative especially noteworthy. If successful, it could serve as a model for other medium-sized towns considering a transition to renewable heating solutions. The project aligns closely with broader European Union climate and energy goals, which emphasize decarbonization, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable resources.
Although the geothermal project is locally driven, it fits squarely within the EU-supported vision of sustainable regional development. By tapping into natural heat stored beneath the earth’s surface, Nysa is exploring a resource that is both renewable and available year-round, unlike solar or wind energy, which depend on weather conditions.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
The final results of the exploratory drilling are expected by the end of 2026. Until then, anticipation will continue to build among residents, policymakers, and energy experts alike. Success would mark a turning point for Nysa, potentially reshaping its energy system for decades to come. Even if the results fall short of expectations, the project will still provide valuable geological data and experience that can inform future energy initiatives.
For now, Nysa stands at the threshold of a promising experiment,one that blends innovation, environmental responsibility, and strategic planning. By daring to look deep beneath its own foundations, the town is signaling a readiness to embrace a cleaner, more resilient energy future. Whether the underground waters prove as rich as hoped remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Nysa has already taken a bold step forward on the path toward sustainable development.
Source: Nysa
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