[1/2] Pylons of high-tension electricity power lines are seen at the Olkaria II Geothermal power plant near the Rift Valley town of Naivasha, Kenya February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Kenya, currently the eighth largest geothermal power user, has more geothermal power capacity under construction than any other country, and plans to nearly double overall geothermal power output by 2030 as part of ambitious green energy goals. Once current projects are completed, Kenya will rank fourth on the global list of geothermal users behind the United States, Indonesia and The Philippines, and aims to generate over half of the country's electricity from geothermal sites, data from Global Energy Monitor shows. Map of global geothermal power facilitiesHowever, in areas where there is active tectonic plate movement and the Earth's heat can be tapped at relatively shallow depths, geothermal facilities can be a cost effective means to generate abundant clean power. WIDENING REACHRelatively easy access to geothermal sources has motivated Kenya to become a global leader in geothermal site development, and the country has boosted geothermal capacity by 375% from 2010 to 2022, more than any other major geothermal producer, data from think tank Ember shows.

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Persons: Thomas Mukoya, Peketsa, Gavin Maguire, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Global Energy Monitor, Kenya Electricity Generating, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Environment Program, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Naivasha, Kenya, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, Indonesia, The Philippines, Africa, Ethiopia, Djibouti, East, Eastern Africa