- Globeleq’s 35 MW Menengai plant is on track for mid-2026 commercial operation, completing the Menengai geothermal complex.
- The project marks a milestone for Kenya’s geothermal expansion, bringing the country closer to 1 GW of installed geothermal capacity.
- The development underscores strong private sector participation and continued lender confidence in Kenya’s geothermal sector.
Globeleq is approaching the completion of its 35 MW Menengai geothermal power plant in Kenya, the third and final project in the Menengai geothermal complex. The development forms a cornerstone of Kenya’s strategy to expand baseload renewable energy generation, with all three 35 MW plants receiving steam from the state-owned Geothermal Development Company.
The Menengai complex began with the first 35 MW plant entering commercial operation in August 2023, establishing the field’s first privately operated geothermal facility. The second plant, developed by OrPower 22 with technology supplied by Kaishan, is scheduled to begin operations in March 2026. Globeleq’s plant is expected to achieve commercial operation by mid-2026, completing the initial build-out of the Menengai site. Together, the two upcoming plants will add 70 MW of geothermal capacity to Kenya’s electricity system.
Key project milestones have already been reached. Globeleq selected its engineering, procurement, and construction contractor in February 2023, transitioning the project from development to execution. A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held in June 2023, with site works and early construction commencing shortly thereafter. In January 2024, the project achieved financial close, securing a mix of development finance and commercial funding that reflects ongoing confidence in Kenya’s geothermal sector. Fuji Electric was selected as the turbine supplier in June 2023.
The Menengai projects follow a build-own-operate model, with Globeleq responsible for power generation and GDC supplying steam from the geothermal field. Once the second and third plants are operational, Kenya’s installed geothermal capacity will surpass 1,000 MW, positioning the country among a select group globally with more than 1 GW of geothermal generation.
Kenya already leads the African continent in geothermal power, with major production at the Olkaria fields and continued expansion through both public and private sector initiatives. The completion of the Menengai complex reinforces geothermal energy as a stable, low-carbon backbone of Kenya’s electricity system and a model for private geothermal development across Africa.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
