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Geothermal power provides 20% of electricity needs on Hawaiis Big Island

Geothermal power provides 20% of electricity needs on Hawaiis Big Island Puna Geothermal Power Plant, Big Island, Hawaii (source: betterplace.com)
Alexander Richter 4 Sep 2011

Today, geothermal power from the 30 MW plant by Puna Geothermal Venture (Ormat Technologies) serves about 20% of the power demand on Hawaii's Big Island. With the planned extension of 8 MW this could go up to 25%.

The geothermal power plant ran by Puna Geothermal Venture (Ormat Technologies) provides today about 20% of the electricity needs on Hawaii’s Big Island.

“The Puna Geothermal Venture is run by Ormat Technologies and is located in the Mt. Kilauea East Rift zone. The plant has five wells that bring up 650-degree geothermal fluids to the surface where the steam is separated out and used to drive generators. The plant also captures waste heat from the primary circuit with fluid pentane to increase power output and efficiency.

The plant is currently contracted to provide 30 MW of electricity to Hawaii Electric and Light through 2030, but is looking to add another 8 MW of capacity soon, as well as building new reservoirs off the coast of Maui and near Mt. Hualalai to expand its electricity coverage across the islands.

With the vast amount of geothermal energy in the area, Hawaii could easily get most of their electricity from these sources within the near future.”

Source: EcoGeek