SIGMA - Novel Seismic Sensors for Improved Geothermal Monitoring and Development in East Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Abstract
East Africa sits atop one of the world’s most promising yet underused renewable energy resources - geothermal energy, the natural heat stored within the Earth. This energy is clean, reliable, and available year-round (baseload). Kenya has already shown how powerful this resource can be: since the 1970s, it has become the world’s sixth-largest producer of geothermal electricity. However, neighbouring countries with similar geological potential have not yet achieved the same success. Many barriers remain to unlocking East Africa’s full geothermal capacity, especially the deeper “supercritical” systems that hold far greater energy and mineral potential.
Context and Challenge
The project responds to two major global challenges: the need for low-carbon, sustainable energy and the growing demand for critical metals used in renewable technologies such as batteries, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. Supercritical geothermal systems - extremely hot and deep reservoirs - could supply both: vast amounts of renewable energy and valuable mineral-rich fluids. Yet exploring these deep systems requires new scientific tools, data, and training and an enhanced hazard awareness associated with the wider volcanic system.
Despite Africa’s enormous geothermal potential, progress has been slowed by limited access to advanced technologies and technical expertise. Developing safe, efficient, and equitable geothermal energy systems therefore requires both scientific innovation and strong international collaboration.
Aims and Objectives
This collaborative project brings together three major research institutions - Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT, Kenya), Addis Ababa University (AAU, Ethiopia), and the University of Oxford (UK). Together they will:
Test next-generation seismic technologies in geothermal fields, including portable low-cost seismic sensors (MEMS-based nodes) and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) that converts existing fibre-optic cables into dense seismic arrays.
Generate high-resolution images of geothermal systems, revealing how heat, fluids, and gases move from deep magmatic zones to the surface.
Develop advanced data analysis and uncertainty modelling techniques to reduce risk in geothermal exploration and management.
Build regional research capacity by training scientists from Kenya, Ethiopia, and other African nations in seismic monitoring, imaging, and data interpretation through workshops and field training.
Strengthen international and interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating physics, engineering, and geoscience expertise from Africa and the UK.
Potential Applications and Benefits
The project will deliver both scientific and societal impact. New, low-cost seismic tools and open-access methods will help governments and companies assess geothermal potential more accurately and safely, reducing financial and environmental risk. The research will also enhance understanding of volcanic and earthquake hazards, improving safety for nearby communities.
Training activities will expand regional expertise and create opportunities for early-career researchers, ensuring that future geothermal developments are led and managed within Africa. The project will serve as a model for sustainable, locally driven energy innovation, with Kenya and Ethiopia demonstrating how advanced science can support economic growth, climate resilience, and the global transition to net zero.
Ultimately, this partnership aims to unlock the full potential of East Africa’s geothermal resources - producing clean energy, securing vital materials for the green economy, and strengthening scientific collaboration between Africa and the UK.
Context and Challenge
The project responds to two major global challenges: the need for low-carbon, sustainable energy and the growing demand for critical metals used in renewable technologies such as batteries, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. Supercritical geothermal systems - extremely hot and deep reservoirs - could supply both: vast amounts of renewable energy and valuable mineral-rich fluids. Yet exploring these deep systems requires new scientific tools, data, and training and an enhanced hazard awareness associated with the wider volcanic system.
Despite Africa’s enormous geothermal potential, progress has been slowed by limited access to advanced technologies and technical expertise. Developing safe, efficient, and equitable geothermal energy systems therefore requires both scientific innovation and strong international collaboration.
Aims and Objectives
This collaborative project brings together three major research institutions - Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT, Kenya), Addis Ababa University (AAU, Ethiopia), and the University of Oxford (UK). Together they will:
Test next-generation seismic technologies in geothermal fields, including portable low-cost seismic sensors (MEMS-based nodes) and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) that converts existing fibre-optic cables into dense seismic arrays.
Generate high-resolution images of geothermal systems, revealing how heat, fluids, and gases move from deep magmatic zones to the surface.
Develop advanced data analysis and uncertainty modelling techniques to reduce risk in geothermal exploration and management.
Build regional research capacity by training scientists from Kenya, Ethiopia, and other African nations in seismic monitoring, imaging, and data interpretation through workshops and field training.
Strengthen international and interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating physics, engineering, and geoscience expertise from Africa and the UK.
Potential Applications and Benefits
The project will deliver both scientific and societal impact. New, low-cost seismic tools and open-access methods will help governments and companies assess geothermal potential more accurately and safely, reducing financial and environmental risk. The research will also enhance understanding of volcanic and earthquake hazards, improving safety for nearby communities.
Training activities will expand regional expertise and create opportunities for early-career researchers, ensuring that future geothermal developments are led and managed within Africa. The project will serve as a model for sustainable, locally driven energy innovation, with Kenya and Ethiopia demonstrating how advanced science can support economic growth, climate resilience, and the global transition to net zero.
Ultimately, this partnership aims to unlock the full potential of East Africa’s geothermal resources - producing clean energy, securing vital materials for the green economy, and strengthening scientific collaboration between Africa and the UK.