Considering Future Feasible Agricultural Projects for Direct Use of Geothermal Energy at Eburru Geothermal Field

Direct use of geothermal energy is highly dictated by economics, thermal needs and quality of thermal energy available. Among the factors that discourage direct use is prohibitive costs of brine piping, low probability of project sustainability as well as the remote location of geothermal resources. To overcome these challenges, it is crucial to match geothermal resources with local thermal needs and settle with applications that request minimal piping and pumping of brine, with fewer or zero well drilling and with minimal environmental impacts. This paper tackles these challenges through thermal load identification, via crop-calendar at Eburru geothermal field. The available exploration geothermal wells are matched to possible application scenarios and the best application scenario chosen through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The most economical crop drying plant should be located near well EW-01, (Site A), with a shallow percolation pond as a dumping option for exhausted brine.