This archive report was first published on 19 October 2021.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has taken a significant step in enhancing the efficiency of its operations by deploying drones for plant inspections at its Olkaria geothermal resources in Naivasha.
According to KenGen, the high-end unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) purchased for Sh28.7 million will be used for monitoring in the huge Olkaria Fields. The drones are equipped with thermal and zoom imaging capabilities that can help detect defects before they become a problem.
KenGen joins utilities in other parts of the world that have turned to drones to scour large power plants and thousands of kilometres of grids for damage and leaks in an attempt to avoid network failures that cost them billions of shillings a year.
At present, firms like KenGen and Kenya Power largely use helicopters to inspect their critical infrastructure. However, flying robots that can travel dozens of kilometres without stopping are seen as the next big thing for power companies.
Italy’s Snam, Europe’s biggest gas utility, tested prototypes of long-distance drones three years ago, while French energy utility RTE has also tested a long-distance drone that flew about 50km inspecting transmission lines and sent back data that allowed technicians to virtually model a section of the grid.
KenGen chief supply chain officer Lois Gitau said in a tender disclosure filing that local firm Finton Logistics won the deal to supply the drones at Sh28.7 million.
KenGen stated that the drones will be deployed in the Olkaria Fields to help in operations and maintenance. They are high-end drones which can transmit high-quality images, as told to the Business Daily.
