Renewable Energy World: Geothermal Project of the year McGinness Hills
McGinnes Hills geothermal plant, Nevada (source: Ormat)
Francisco Rojas
13 Nov 2013
The geothermal project has been achieved thanks to a strategic combination of conventional and innovative exploratory techniques respecting the natural habitat where it is located.
Finding the right place to place a geothermal power plant is always a risk and a challenge, yet the McGuiness Hills has managed to install it’s new 30 MW plant in Nevada, US not only very successfully but also respecting the wildlife around it.
One of the major achievements of this power plan developed by ORMAT is that it has been done in a spot know as a “blind resource”. This means that the preferred location could not be identified with the usual surface geothermal signs such as hot springs or gas emanations. In order to locate such hot spot, a series of new and conventional techniques were used, such as “soil mercury geochemistry, geologic mapping, gravity survey, 3-D GIS modeling, slim hole drilling, and well testing” according to the news source.
Another significant achievement was the minimal ecological impact that the project has taken on the local sage grouse habitat by applying noise reduction techniques, constant monitoring and underground piping.
ORMAT has a significant presence in the US and especially in Nevada where it has donated $ 200,000 for the continuing development of the geothermal workforce.
Source: Meg Cichon – Renewable Energy World Website
