Experience of creation and operation of geothermal power plants at Mutnovsky geothermal field, Kamchatka, Russia

Abstract

The energy development strategy of the Kamchatka Region lies in its entire conversion to use of geothermal resources. The Mutnovsky geothermal reservoir is well-studied and found adequate to ensure the operation of a geothermal power plant with more than 300MWe total capacity. The program of construction of the geothermal power plant series at the Mutnovsky steam-field is under active implementation by Geotherm SC. In 1999, a 12 (3x4) MWe Verchne-Mutnovsky geothermal power plant was put into operation, and in 2002, the 1st stage of the 50 (2x25) MWe Mutnovsky geothermal power plant was constructed. It is planned to construct the 2nd stage of the Mutnovsky geothermal power plant with a capacity of 100 MWe and to start works on the creation of the 4th geothermal power unit with 4.0 MWe capacity utilizing binary cycle at the Verchne-Mutnovsky geothermal power plant.