Experience in Developing and Operating Geothermal Power and Heat Plants in Russia

Abstract

The article provides generalized information on state and prospects of geothermal energy development in Russia. Description of new geothermal projects is presented. Russia possesses unique geothermal resources. Nearly half of electricity generated in Russia is used for district heating, with that 70% of that half could be produced from heat of the Earth. Local geothermal district heating systems is an efficient way of electricity and heat supply. The article also gives information about prospects for providing the Center of Kamchatka region with electricity from hot dry rocks of Avachinsky volcano. In the center of Kamchatka near the foot of Avachinsky volcano there is a magma chamber with temperatures of dry rock up to 1000 oC. It is also covered in the article that new Mutnovsky and Verkhne-Mutnovsky geothermal power plants have been in successful operation in severe climate conditions since their commissioning, and generate around 30% of all electricity consumed by the Center of Kamchatka