CSP helping efficiency at geothermal plant in Nevada
Stillwater geothermal power plant of Enel, Nevada, (source: nbmg.unr.edu)
Francisco Rojas
10 Aug 2015
The concentrating solar power addition to the geothermal power plant has added 17MW to the existing 33MW of Stillwater in Nevada.
Back in 2012 Enel made the front page of geothermal news thanks to its new solar-geothermal hybrid plant of Stillwater in Nevada. This was meant as a pilot plant that has actually increased the efficiency and capabilities of the standalone geothermal plant.
According to local news, William Price, vice president of geothermal engineering and construction at EGP-NA, states that Stillwater was made into a hybrid power facility as a pilot to reduce risk and increase output (not due with output problems). The project is currently operating and producing electricity for NV Energy under a power purchase agreement (PPA).
“When we first looked at adding concentrating solar power (CSP) to Stillwater, the idea was that we could greatly enhance its production profile, as well as offer an opportunity for risk mitigation,” Price says.
Exploration costs and risk are costly and some the largest hurdles the geothermal industry has to face when developing a new project resulting in massive capital investment. Once developed the resource can vary in output but by adding a CSP system, more power can be generated without affecting the regular operation of the geothermal facility.
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Source: Solar Industry
