While climate conditions threaten the energy industry’s reliance on fossil fuel resources, solar, wind, green hydrogen, hydropower, and geothermal energy resources are helping countries decarbonise their energy mix while meeting fulfilling energy demands. Geothermal energy, though not quite popular as other renewable energy systems, has begun gaining momentum. This article highlights, in descending order, the ten largest geothermal plants in the world and their locations.
1. The Geysers Power Plant: Situated in the Mayacamas Mountains, North of San Francisco, California, the Geysers is the largest-ever geothermal facility. It comprises a complex of 22 geothermal plants and 350 steam wells. With a capacity of 900MW, it provides over 20 per cent of California’s energy needs.
2. Larderello Geothermal Facility: Heard of the Devil’s Valley? The Larderello geothermal facility was the first power station designed to convert energy from steam into electrical energy. It is currently the second-largest geothermal facility globally with a 769MW capacity and is located in Tuscany, Italy.
3. Cerro Prieto: The Cerro Prieto Geothermal facility is located in the Valley of Mexicali, Baja, California, Mexico. It has a capacity of 720MW and provides 2.3 per cent of Mexico’s energy needs.
4. Menengai: The Menengai geothermal power plant is Africa’s largest geothermal facility and the fourth largest in the world. It is located in Kenya and has a capacity of 630MW. The Menengai facility provides for 40 per cent of Kenya’s electricity needs.
5. Salton Sea: The Salton Sea geothermal facility is located in California, USA. It has a capacity of 544MW. Research indicates that the Salton Sea possesses more geothermal capacity than anywhere else in the nation. It has five generating units and contributes significantly to California’s renewable energy consumption.
6. Makban: The Makban geothermal plant located in the Philippines is the fourth largest geothermal plant in the world. It has a capacity of 458MW and a total of ten power generating plants.
7. Hellisheidi: Situated in Hengill, Iceland, Hellisheidi is the fifth largest steam power generating facility in the world. It is steam combined heat and power (CHP) plant that produces 303MW of electricity and 400MW of thermal energy.
8. Malitbog: The Malitbog geothermal facility has a capacity of 377MW; it is located in Eastern Visayas, Philippines. It has a total of three turbine generating plants.
9. Tiwi: The Tiwi geothermal station houses a capacity of 289MW. It is located southeast of Manila in the Albay Province, Philippines. Quite old (over 40 years), the facility has been providing power to Aboitiz Power Renewables since 2008.
10. Darajat: The Darajat power station is located in West Java, Indonesia. The facility has a capacity of 259MW with one power generating plant.