Factors Influencing Utilization Of Direct Geothermal Energy In Kenya. A Case Of Menengai Geothermal Project In Nakuru County.

Abstract

Geothermal utilization is commonly divided into two categories; electric production for power and direct utilization, however, electricity strategic value has been, rightly, superior to any possible commodity that uses direct geothermal as a result, putting a strain on the power infrastructure and In turn, failing to achieve great supplement for geothermal power developments .Therefore, study sought to establish Factors Influencing Utilization of Direct Geothermal Energy in Kenya. The study was based on the variables of community support, government policy, technology and public awareness. Literature review supporting the study is documented. The research utilized descriptive survey research to conduct a study to an area of a total target population of 2545 households. The data provided by Kenya population and Housing census, 2009 is already in strata therefore, formula by Nassiuma (2000) applied to get the sample, For GDC expert purposive sampling was conducted to single out the department to be sampled, the direct use department was selected and census conducted on the staff of 9. Proportionate random sampling was applied to the two sub locations to determine each sub location proportion to participate in the research. For data collection procedure, systematic random sampling was done to determine who was to be included as a sample. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The content validity of the research instruments was established in order to make sure that they reflect the content of the research topic. Moreover, Cronbach‘s alpha reliability coefficient was employed to test the internal consistency. A threshold of reliability coefficient of 0.7 and above was sought. Before administering the questionnaire permission from the relevant authority including NACOSTI was sought. Data collected was analyzed Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 to generate frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation and presented inform of tables .Pearson correlation coefficients were established to help researcher draw various conclusion on the relationship between independent and dependent variable. Inferential statistic indicated a correlation of (r=-.219, P<0.01) between community support and direct use, it also indicated significant correlation of; (r=.999, P<0.01) between government policy and direct use, (-.413, P<0.01) between technology and direct use, and (.995, P<0.01) between Public awareness and direct use. The research concluded that GDC should facilitate utilization of direct geothermal energy and further recommended that focus should be emphasized on sustainability of direct use projects in future and the remaining aspects contributing to utilization of direct geothermal energy