Privatization of Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant and New Approaches for Field and Plant

Abstract

Kizildere Geothermal Field is located between Denizli and Aydın Provinces in the northeastern extreme of the Büyük Menderes Graben of Western Turkey. Kizildere field is the first explored geothermal field in Turkey having adequate capacity to generate energy.
Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant is operated by Electricity Generation Co. Inc (EÜAS) on be half of the government for 24 years. With the acquisition of operational rights of the power plant and its surrounding (70 km2) by Zorlu Energy Group, Kizildere Geothermal Field License including current power plant operation is transferred to Zorlu Energy on September 1, 2008 for 30 years .
Zorlu Energy Group started to work in the field both to increase capacity of current power plant and to establish a new power plant with 60 MWe capacity as the first stage of power expansion in the license area.
As a first step in the project, the power generation of the current power plant has been increased from 6 MW to 15 MW by cleaning of wells. After that extensive geological, geochemical and geophysical and reservoir studies have performed at the license area for the new power plant during the feasibility study period.