{"id":2131,"date":"2026-08-06T11:05:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T08:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/?p=2131"},"modified":"2026-08-06T11:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T08:05:36","slug":"new-strategy-charts-kenyas-geothermal-growth-to-2036","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/new-strategy-charts-kenyas-geothermal-growth-to-2036\/","title":{"rendered":"New strategy charts Kenya\u2019s geothermal growth to 2036"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kenya is setting an ambitious course for geothermal energy with the draft National Geothermal Strategy 2026&ndash;2036, targeting 1,413.5 MW of installed capacity by 2035.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The strategy prioritizes expansion beyond existing fields like Menengai and Olkaria, aiming to develop one new greenfield site every two years. It also emphasizes diversified use of <a class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Geothermal Resources&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;Geothermal resources are reservoirs of hot fluids that exist at varying temperatures and depths below the Earth&amp;#039;s surface.&amp;lt;br\/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;They range from the shallow ground to hot water fluids found hundreds of meters beneath the Earth&amp;#039;s surface.&amp;lt;br\/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/glossary\/geothermal-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex=\"0\" role=\"link\">geothermal resources<\/a>, including industrial processes, green manufacturing, and agriculture, promoting co-location of industries near <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Steam&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;Steam is the vapour component of geothermal fluid that contains thermal energy.&amp;lt;br\/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/glossary\/steam\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'  tabindex='0' role='link'>steam<\/a> resources for maximum value creation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0256.JPG-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0256.JPG-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0256.JPG-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0256.JPG-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0256.JPG-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0256.JPG-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Geothermal powerplants in Menengai<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To attract private investment, the draft proposes bankable power purchase agreements, cost-reflective tariffs, long-term industrial off take, and incentives like tax exemptions and green financing mechanisms. Addressing barriers such as land acquisition, regulatory gaps, and limited local demand is also highlighted as critical for unlocking the sector&rsquo;s potential.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0226.JPG-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0226.JPG-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0226.JPG-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0226.JPG-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0226.JPG-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/DCIM_100MEDIA_DJI0226.JPG-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><a class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Direct Use&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;Direct use of geothermal resources refers to alternative applications of geothermal resources other than electricity generation.&amp;lt;br\/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/glossary\/direct-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex=\"0\" role=\"link\">Direct Use<\/a> Demonstration site in Menengai<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By combining ambitious targets with investor-friendly reforms, Kenya is creating a more integrated geothermal ecosystem. The strategy signals a forward-looking vision that positions geothermal not only as a clean <a class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Energy source&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;Energy source is a&nbsp;source&nbsp;of useable power that can be drawn when needed.&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;resources are classified as renewable or non-renewable. Geothermal is a renewable&nbsp;energy&nbsp;resource. &amp;lt;br\/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/glossary\/energy-source\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex=\"0\" role=\"link\">energy source<\/a> but as a driver of industrial growth, job creation, and sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stakeholder input on the draft will shape the next phase of Kenya&rsquo;s geothermal journey, ensuring the sector continues to power economic transformation while meeting the nation&rsquo;s energy needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Download your copy of the <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Steam&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;Steam is the vapour component of geothermal fluid that contains thermal energy.&amp;lt;br\/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/glossary\/steam\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'  tabindex='0' role='link'>Steam<\/a> Magazine Issue 18 here:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Steam-Magazine-Issue-18.pdf\">https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Steam-Magazine-Issue-18.pdf<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kenya is setting an ambitious course for geothermal energy with the draft National Geothermal Strategy 2026&ndash;2036, targeting 1,413.5 MW of installed capacity by 2035. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,181],"tags":[10,53,100],"class_list":["post-2131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-steam","tag-gdc","tag-geothermal","tag-geothermal-development-company"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2131"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2135,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131\/revisions\/2135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gdc.co.ke\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}