Improving Geothermal Power Plant Performance by Repowering with Bottoming Cycles

Abstract

Additional generating capacity may be obtained in a cost effective manner by re-powering of existing geothermal power plants utilizing otherwise untapped geothermal energy, without drilling new wells. Often this re-powering also provides additional environmental benefits. The ability to increase power production, by modest amounts can lead to significant increase in profitability for operating plants.
This presentation looks at the case histories of several geothermal re-powering applications, including the 5MW brine recovery binary power plant at the Brady power plant in Nevada installed in August of 2002, the 10 MW brine recovery binary power plant at Momotombo in Nicaragua installed in early 2003. and the 20 MW Miravalles V brine recovery plant installed by ICE Costa Rica. With geothermal power plant owners and operators concerned with costs and competition, increasing plant output by re-powering, with its incremental advantages, is a highly desirable and cost effective option.