With 2% of capacity only, geothermal represents around 6% of Enel’s renewable energy generation

In its Quarterly Bulletin, Italian power company Enel has released its operating data for the second quarter of 2018 and the first half of 2018.

At the end of the first half of 2018, Enel has a total installed capacity of 86,352 MW, of which 46,566 MW are thermal (Nuclear, Coal, CCGT, Oil & Gas), and 39,786 MW renewables (Hydro, wind, solar & others, geothermal).

The company reports a total installed geothermal power generation capacity of 804 MW of which 762 MW are located in Italy, while the remaining 40+MW are located in Chile.

Geothermal energy thereby represents about 0.9% of the total installed capacity of Enel, while it represents around 2% of its total renewable energy capacity.

Looking at the generation, geothermal energy actually represents 2.4% of total generation, or around 5.8% of its total generation from renewables.

It is actually interesting looking at the capacity installed for wind, solar (& others), and geothermal as defined by Enel and compare it to generated electricity from those sources.

While solar (& others) has more than four-times the installed capacity it generates nearly a quarter less in electricity.

For fun, we did a little calculation on the capacity factors, based the first half year results, picture can be seen above.

Assumptions:

• First half of 2018 (Jan 1 – June 30, 2018) – 181 days
• Hours per day times days of the first 6 months of 2018 – total of 4,344 hours
• 100% capacity is MW times 4,344 hours

This shows geothermal energy as the highest capacity factor power plants of the Enel Group with a capacity factor of 83.9%, or around 2% more than the nuclear power plants of the company.

Source: Company release