Our projects> Karisimbi Geothermal Prospect

Karisimbi Geothermal Prospect

Closed

Mitigation

Energy

Call 2

Rwanda

Time consumed

Start: 06-Sep-11 End: 06-Sep-13

Lead Nordic partner

Reykjavik Geothermal Ltd

Country of Lead Nordic partner

Iceland

Local partner(s)

Ministry of Infrastructure

NCF grant size

449,584

Total project cost

681,423

Technologies

Geothermal solutions

Country of implementation:

Rwanda

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Description

The objective was to pave the way in Rwanda for the provision of geothermal energy, an indigenous clean renewable low cost energy, either in the form of electricity or direct applications such as heat and cooling.

In countries where the best resources are available, as in many countries in the East Africa’s Great Rift Valley, geothermal energy is a clean energy source that combines low emissions... The objective was to pave the way in Rwanda for the provision of geothermal energy, an indigenous clean renewable low cost energy, either in the form of electricity or direct applications such as heat and cooling.

In countries where the best resources are available, as in many countries in the East Africa’s Great Rift Valley, geothermal energy is a clean energy source that combines low emissions with economics that are superior to most other sources of energy. Despite this, growth in geothermal energy has not kept up with that of wind and solar energy, largely due to the fact that most of the resources are located in the developing world where investors have been unwilling to take the risks and to commit considerable capital required by the exploratory drilling activities. Reykjavik Geothermal (RG) is a geothermal development, investment and consulting company that is bucking this trend by focusing its work on emerging and developing markets such as Rwanda.

The Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) and the Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) of Rwanda are fast-tracking the development of geothermal resources in Rwanda. The government of Rwanda has commissioned various studies that indicate that Rwanda has viable geothermal resources, which can be developed for least-cost base load power generation and direct industrial applications. Furthermore, the government has employed consultants to carry out environmental and social studies on the impacts of potential geothermal resources identification and exploitation.

In Rwanda, major part of the electricity is currently generated in thermal power plants using heavy fuel oil or diesel. Power generation using the methane gas from Lake Kivu is the main foreseen additional capacity, followed by some further investments planned for hydro power and peat. A successful private-sector led geothermal power project in Rwanda or elsewhere in East Africa has the potential to grow into a utility-scale investment in geothermal power across the developing and emerging markets. As each project will have a target capacity of at least 100 MW and in some cases as much as 500 MW+, this could have an important impact on climate change mitigation. A 10 MW plant could potentially generate up to 60,000 t CO2/a (direct) over a lifetime of up to 25 years should the source be eventually proven.

While the geothermal power production is based on established and proven technology, investor appetite for application outside the developed world has been very limited. Africa is currently using only 1-2% of its estimated geothermal power potential, almost all of it in Kenya. Majority of the world’s geothermal resources are located in developing and emerging markets, and these markets are in many cases exactly those most in need of clean, stable and low cost power – as is the case with Rwanda. Therefore, geothermal resources can be seen as a real potential for environmentally and climate friendly development of these countries.

Reykjavik Geothermal aims to become the first major geothermal developer focusing exclusively on the developing and emerging markets. The company believes opportunities are plentiful, and hopes that their efforts will lead to other developers following suit.

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Objective

The initial expected outcome will be the drilling of three deep geothermal wells, and the installation of 5 - 10 MWe power plant.

Assuming the geothermal resource is proven and accessible, Reykjavik Geothermal shall be committed to continue the project by more drilling, preferably resulting in the commissioning of 50-100 MW of base load power no later than 5-6 years after being granted the Karisimbi concession...

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Results

The Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) and the Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) of Rwanda are fast-tracking the development of geothermal resources in Rwanda. The government of Rwanda has commissioned various studies that indicate that Rwanda has viable geothermal resources, which can be developed for least-cost base load power generation and direct industrial applications. Furthermore, the government has employed consultants to carry out environmental and...

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Relevant links

Reykjavik Geothermal, Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda

Karisimbi Geothermal Prospect

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Lead Nordic partner

Country of Lead Nordic partner

Local partner(s)

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Technologies

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Description

Objective

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