19-07-2012, 11:44 AM
Potential Improvements to Existing Geothermal Fields in California
Potential Improvements .ppt (Size: 471.5 KB / Downloads: 35)
GEOTHERMAL FACILITIES
45 geothermal power plants in California
7 geothermal fields
Coso
East Mesa
Heber
Honey Lake
Mammoth Pacific (Long Valley)
Salton Sea
The Geysers
CAPACITY DEFINITIONS
Terminology to provide basis for comparisons
Original capacity (“rated,” “nameplate”)
Electro-mechanical capacity (“capability”)
Allows for conditions better than design
Accounts for turbine modifications, if known
2005 capacity (gross and net MW)
Accounts for limitations of resource supply
Actual annual average power (net MW)
POTENTIAL FROM IMPROVEMENTS INSURFACE FACILITIES
Most-likely resource capacity
minus
Electro-mechanical capacity
Total = 1,600 MW gross (excluding Geysers)
Salton Sea alone = 1,400 MW gross
This is the the amount of incremental power that could be achieved by improvements in existing plants (assuming no increase in resource supply) or by constructing new plants in currently producing fields.
O&M DEFINITION
Includes
Labor and benefits
Services and supplies
Property taxes
Royalties and lease payments
Insurance
Workovers
Administrative costs at plants
Excludes
Financing costs
Depreciation
Ongoing capital expenditures
CONCLUSIONS
Improvements to existing geothermal facilities are worth considering if less than the cost of a new plant, i.e. capital costs less than about $2,900 per kW improvement.
O&M savings of a fraction of a cent per kWh can be significant in comparison to total O&M in the range of 2.0 to 2.5 ¢/kWh.