Bridging the Skills Gap: in the Geothermal Sector. Mariita N. O. Geothermal Division Kenya Electricity Generating Company Naivasha - Kenya

Transcription

1 Bridging the Skills Gap: in the Geothermal Sector Mariita N. O. Geothermal Division Kenya Electricity Generating Company Naivasha - Kenya

2 Presentation outline Introduction Stages in Geothermal Development Status and development potential in Africa Barriers to Geothermal development Human Capacity in Geothermal development Addressing the skills gap Role of the GTI Conclusions 2

3 Benefits of Geothermal Energy Provides clean and safe energy using little land Is indigenous, renewable and sustainable Generates continuous, reliable baseload power Conserves fossil fuels and contributes to diversity in energy sources Avoids importing and benefits local economies 3 Offers modular, incremental development and village power to remote sites

4 What is Geothermal? Geothermal Energy heat from the Earth Transmitted: i) Conduction ii) Convection fluids via fractures and pores in the rocks 4

5 5 Rift Based Geothermal Model

6 Manifestations Hot Springs Geysers Fumaroles Hot Ground Sulfur 6

7 Geothermal Development Process: Kenya s Examples

8 Stage I: Surface Exploration Objective: Determine existence of resource i) Heat Source Energy source ii) Fluid Recharge and pathways iii) Reservoir conditions -Permeability and heat capacity -fluid & gas chemistry iii) Baseline EIA Make Decision: GO or NO-GO 8

9 Stage II: Sizing of resource Drilling of Appraisal wells (depth 2,500 to 3,000m) Objective: Determine the size of the resource -Pressure, Temperature and Overall fluid Chemistry Feasibility study to determine viability of the project & Overall Economics: Plant size, type, funding and Tariffs Complete EIA Including public disclosure. Make Decision: GO or NO-GO 9

10 Stage III: Production drilling and Plant Construction Production wells ( depth 2,500 to 3,000m) Construction of steam gathering system Power plant Construction -Make up wells (Size, timing and location) -Reservoir monitoring (Pressure, temperature and fluid chemistry) -Rehabilitation and Environmental Management Procedures. 10

11 Potential and Status in Africa

12 Geothermal Resources in Africa Only Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia have power plants 12

13 Barriers to development Large up-front investment in exploration, appraisal and production drilling Technological Constraints: Manpower (development and retention) & Equipment Environmental & Social issue: Pollution, Land Commercial & Legislative Framework Risks VISION 13

14 Lack of Skills in: - Resource Exploration Resource Assessment Power Plant Development: 14

15 Overcoming Barriers in Human Capacity Development Kenya s Experience

16 Geothermal Training Geothermal technology -specialized field. On-job and focused need based training Worldwide, trainings been offered at: University of Pisa, Italy Kyushu University, Japan Auckland University, New Zealand. UNU-GTP, Iceland Short Course in Kenya, UNU-GDC- KenGen 16

17 Trained v Installed MW Trained MW Asia L. America Europe Africa 17

18 Type of Kenyan Geothermists Trained 18 Geophysicist Reservoir Engineers Geochemists Geologists Environmental scientists Drillers Power Plant Operators Many Still active in geothermal Some Not active

19 Kenya s Geothermal Training Programme (Since 1982) Progressive Graduate Technical staff training 1 year geothermal course -New Zealand (Theory) After 2 years on job, -6 months practical training course Iceland. 3 months specialized courses at Kyushu -Japan and Pisa - Italy Long specialized courses in USA and Japan (PhD) All contracts/consultancies have a training component Encourages advanced training in Geothermal Technology Staff retention through Keeping them busy when back Over 200 technician staff, over 40 Msc and 4 PhD holders 19

20 KenGen s Geothermal Training Programme Strategy (Since 1982) KenGen training policy -1 course per staff per year. KenGen Geothermal Training School established 1988 Catering for KenGen s internal training needs (esp. technicians) Affiliated to United Nations University (Iceland) where joint short courses are offered to ARGeo members in conjunction with GDC &KenGen Target is that trained Africans can train others through a training centre in Kenya 20

21 UNU-GDC-KenGen Geothermal Training Program First course held in November 2005 Potential contribution of geothermal to national energy needs Geothermal project management Focused on decision makers Subsequent 3-week courses being held annually since 2006 Geothermal resource exploration and appraisal Participants from: Burundi, Comoros, Rwanda, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi and Ethiopia Facilitators: KenGen, GDC, UNU-GTP, ARGeo and GEF 21

22 Overcoming Barriers: Future of Geothermal Training Kenya s Proposal

23 Proposal I A Centre be hosted within either the Kenya Electricity Generating Company or the Geothermal Development Company. Adopt UNU/GTP curriculum, and with Iceland s Technical & financial support. Increase the yearly total number of trainees (staff of GDC and KenGen). Cut down on the travel costs. 23

24 Proposal 2 A centre be hosted by a Kenyan university in partnership with the UNU-GTP, GDC and KenGen. Adopt own curriculum, in consultation with GDC and KenGen. Get Technical & Financial support from GDC and KenGen. Attract trainees from GDC, KenGen and the general public. 24

25 Conclusions 25 Geothermal Energy will play a leading role in provision of Africa s energy needs and governments should provide; Adequate human capacity through focused specialized training There is need to set up a permanent geothermal training centre for the East African region to accelerate development of Geothermal Energy Incentives such as continuous training will go a long way in attracting and retaining geothermists.

26 26 Thank you!