A New Generation of Low Cost High Performance Geothermal Power Plants

Abstract

The financial and economic crisis that is involving the fur East fast developing Countries has caused a sudden setback to the development of geothermal power generation business in that region. At the present, it is extremely dficult to make forecasts on when the recoveiy process will start. But it is absolutely certain that development process sooner or later will sfart again. The trend in geoihemal power generation, before the stop, was in favor of plants of big unit rating, in the attempt of reducing the capital cost and in turn the cost of electric@. It is expected rhaf this trend will continue with even more strength. This paper will give an overview on the effects on the plantÆs main equipment (steam turbine/generator, condenser, plant lay-out) in terms of technology, perfomances and costs. The fiatures of the new steam turbines @la& size, thermo-jluodynamic desing etc.) will be discussed.