Uganda has big geothermal energy potential
May 20, 2009
Geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. It is generated in the earth core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Currently, Uganda mainly depends on hydro electricity, but the drop in the level of Lake Victoria raises questions about its sustainab
Sarah Akankwasa
Geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. It is generated in the earth core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Currently, Uganda mainly depends on hydro electricity, but the drop in the level of Lake Victoria raises questions about its sustainability.
The energy ministry committed $45m (sh89.5b) towards the exploration of geothermal power. Geothermal energy is produced through trapping steam released by hot rocks with water reservoirs deep in the earth which is used to power turbines. The direct use of hot water has been on since ancient times. The Romans, Chinese, and Native Americans used hot mineral springs for bathing, cooking and heating. Today many hot springs are still used for bathing and many people believe they have natural healing powers.
It is high time the Government found better use for the hot springs around the country. Geothermal energy in Uganda is estimated at 450mw. Potential areas are Katwe, Kabiro and Buranga in western Uganda and are ranked for exploration.
According to a United Nations–backed project testing new seismic and drilling in Kenya, The East African great rift valley has a high potential for geothermal power production. Kenya is more committed to harnessing geothermal energy. It produces 67MW and this is expected to rise to 576MW by 2019.
Geothermal power plants use hydro-thermal resources which have two common ingredients: water (hydro) and heat (thermal). Geothermal plants require high temperature (300 to 700fahrenheit) hydrothermal resources that may come from either dry steam wells or hot water wells. We can use these resources by drilling wells into the earth and piping the steam or hot water to the surface.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally-clean and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Over 90% of Ugandans use biomass energy which is associated with respiratory diseases and environmental degradation. Harnessing geothermal energy will save us these problems.
The writer is the programme assistant of the Africa Institute for Energy
Geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. It is generated in the earth core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Currently, Uganda mainly depends on hydro electricity, but the drop in the level of Lake Victoria raises questions about its sustainability.
The energy ministry committed $45m (sh89.5b) towards the exploration of geothermal power. Geothermal energy is produced through trapping steam released by hot rocks with water reservoirs deep in the earth which is used to power turbines. The direct use of hot water has been on since ancient times. The Romans, Chinese, and Native Americans used hot mineral springs for bathing, cooking and heating. Today many hot springs are still used for bathing and many people believe they have natural healing powers.
It is high time the Government found better use for the hot springs around the country. Geothermal energy in Uganda is estimated at 450mw. Potential areas are Katwe, Kabiro and Buranga in western Uganda and are ranked for exploration.
According to a United Nations–backed project testing new seismic and drilling in Kenya, The East African great rift valley has a high potential for geothermal power production. Kenya is more committed to harnessing geothermal energy. It produces 67MW and this is expected to rise to 576MW by 2019.
Geothermal power plants use hydro-thermal resources which have two common ingredients: water (hydro) and heat (thermal). Geothermal plants require high temperature (300 to 700fahrenheit) hydrothermal resources that may come from either dry steam wells or hot water wells. We can use these resources by drilling wells into the earth and piping the steam or hot water to the surface.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally-clean and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Over 90% of Ugandans use biomass energy which is associated with respiratory diseases and environmental degradation. Harnessing geothermal energy will save us these problems.
The writer is the programme assistant of the Africa Institute for Energy