| Title | SATREPS: Geothermal Collaborative Research with Kenya |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yasuhiro Fujimitsu, Jun Nishijima, Tatsunori Ikeda, Kotaro Yonezu, Tatsuya Wakeyama, Keigo Kitamura |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | SATREPS is a Japanese government program that promotes international joint research, and is an acronym standing for Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development. Japan Science and Technology Agency and Japan International Cooperation Agency are jointly in charge of research themes about "Environment/Energy", into which the research themes about geothermal energy are classified. In FY2019, "Comprehensive Solutions for Optimum Development of Geothermal Systems in East African Rift Valley (Partner Country: Kenya)" proposed by Kyushu University was adopted as a 5-year project from FY2020. Research institutions of this research project in Japan are Kyushu University and other two universities and one company, and those in Kenya are Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and one university and two companies. This research project targets to obtain four outputs, i) High resolution geothermal reservoir models of Olkaria and Menengai geothermal areas are developed, ii) Silica scale formation mechanism in highly alkaline hot water environment is understood and countermeasures are examined, iii) A scenario for enhancement of social acceptance by the expansion of cascade use of geothermal energy is proposed, and iv) Human resources in geothermal development and research of the counterpart institutions in Kenya are cultivated. Unfortunately, this project was brought to a standstill caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in FY2020 both in Japan and Kenya. Although the influence of COVID-19 pandemic still remained in FY2021, we resumed some field researches in Kenya. And the project period was extended for one year. Results are being obtained for four outputs. |