Building information modeling needs to support Kenya’s
ambitious clean energy development plans to position the nation as a leading
global player in major energy infrastructure projects across Africa.
Kenya’s energy sector is undergoing a radical transformation
driven by policies engendered by the country’s vision 2030 and the big 4
agendas at hand. Although we are still in our nascent stages in
Drive for
Efficiency, Reliability, and Stability
Giant hydro projects like the gitaru, kindaruma and kiambere
are relatively well known even outside of Kenya, but to deliver that
nationalmandate; we need to see many renewable energy projects being built. Now,
projects are also increasingly being focused on expanding Kenya’s clean energy
capacity by enabling other types of low-emission energy production. One key
technology that can support variable output renewables like wind and solar is
pumped storage hydropower. Pumped storage forms a major plank of Kenya’s future
energy complex because it is able to respond to variations in supply and demand
in just a few seconds.
Demands for Efficient
Design
Large infrastructure projects and the growing complexity of
modern, more distributed, and variable energy networks is evidently placing
increasing demands on us the designers
and developers of energy infrastructure.
Building information modeling (BIM) is a relatively new concept to the
energy industry here in Kenya that can make a dramatic impact on such
developments. BIM methodology is an intelligent model-based process that
integrates all relevant information required for planning, design,
construction, and operation.
Efficiency is an important aspect in the industry, with
Kenyan power producers looking for ways to cut costs. Using a BIM approach will
cut down capital costs as well as reduce design and construction times, helping
these Kenyan power producers meet their goals. While major engineering projects
like large hydropower installations can benefit from BIM, more distributed
renewable energy generation projects can also take advantage of the benefits it
offers. And, although increasing power demand will see far more thermal
capacity built in Kenya over the coming decade, efficiency and specific outputs
ofemissions like NOx and SOx per unit of energy produced will likely improve
through the deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) and technologies such
as supercritical and ultra-supercritical steam condition power plants. While
modern thermal plants are incredibly efficient and much cleaner than their
predecessors, combined heat and power applications are the most energy
efficient and therefore produce the maximum usable energy for each kilogramme
of pollution emitted. As Kenyan engineers, there needs to bring real effort in
boosting the use of CHP energy technologies as a result.
**Find attached 2017-2037 Kenya’s Power Development Plans.**
