Geothermal/Grid Connection

From Open Energy Information




Geothermal Grid Connection

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The Geysers power plant showing condensers being retrofitted with direct contact condensers (DCCs). The DCCs were designed by NREL researchers working with Calpine Corporation for improved efficiency. With a 750-megawatt output from 14 units, the Geysers is the largest producer of geothermal power in the world.

Geothermal power plants are located very close to the geothermal resource because the hot water/steam would cool down before reaching the power plant, unlike a natural gas plant which pipe gas hundreds or even thousands of miles. The technical limitations of geothermal power plant siting puts an extra emphasis on transmission lines with developers. Installing transmission lines is not only expensive but can require a significant amount of permits (see the Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap). [1]


Geothermal Transmission Links

Geothermal Regulations and Permitting for Transmission Siting & Interconnection

For information about regulations and permitting related to transmission siting and interconnection for geothermal projects, see the Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop Toolkit.



References

<references> [1]

  1. 1.0 1.1  "Guidelines for Siting Geothermal Power Plants and Electricity Transmission Lines"